Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Crayon Canyons
‹ PreviousLandscape GalleryNext ›

Crayon Canyons

by Nancy Lea Sandy

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 12, 2013434 views22 comments
Another from Death Valley...hopefully the processing is better with this one. I went back to this location 3 mornings in a row before I got the light I wanted. I love the way the hills here stumble over each other and blend there many colors in random ways. I wanted that sense of blending to come across in this scene, so I needed nice soft light. Pre-dawn seemed to do the trick. Please let me know if its working and feel free to suggest improvements. all suggestions are welcome and thanks for looking.

Comments

22 comments
Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on February 12, 2013 at 2:24 PM
great layers and great prespective

very nice, i suggest to crop a bit from the top

Hamed
Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments
Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on February 12, 2013 at 2:24 PM
This is great. I might crop down to eliminate that bit sky, and then you'd have solid geology. Nice.
Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Chet Dowell on February 12, 2013 at 2:32 PM
The variety of soft colors and the layered composition make this a wonderful image, Nancy. It is a quiet feast for the eye. Well done !!!! Chet
Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on February 12, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Fantastic work for me, Nancy. The layers and colors are most interesting and appealing to me.

My only thought would be to crop the sky, that might still enhance the abstract character of this image. Otherwise I enjoy it a lot as is.

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 12, 2013 at 2:58 PM
One more to crop the sky, and then print it HUGE! Fantastic color and great layers! :toast:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on February 12, 2013 at 3:19 PM
You nailed it Nancy, I agree with the others, slight crop at the top. Beautiful work.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 12, 2013 at 3:22 PM
I think this is terrific! It's very abstract, which I'm a big fan off. I can see why some would suggest cropping the bit of sky up top, but I like how it pulls just a touch of reality back into the image and there are some very nice textures and colors in the top strip, so I vote to keep it. Well seen!
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Cothran on February 12, 2013 at 3:35 PM
I'm going to be the odd man out here, and NOT recommend cropping out the sky. For me, that little piece of sky helps define the entire area more clearly in depth, size, and character.
Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 12, 2013 at 3:59 PM
Very nice Nancy! :smile: Great layers and really interesting colors. I'm for cropping out the sky too, but it also works well as is!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Gary McGhee on February 12, 2013 at 4:02 PM
This is definitely working for me Nancy, I love it.

Gary.
Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Beth Huebner on February 12, 2013 at 5:12 PM
What an amazing image. It' hard to believe it's a photograph. I love the colors, the textures and the dreamlike quality of the image. Those early mornings certainly paid off. Very nice work.
Registered on January 28, 2013, 19 Posts, 56 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 12, 2013 at 6:11 PM
Nancy Lea,

I agree with the others that this is a great image, I love the natural color and abstract nature of the geology. I also agree about the patch of sky. Just not necessary and pulls the eye, so a little distracting.

I hate to be the lone detractor so far. At least in terms of the light. Ok, so I'm gonna be nitpicky here... but this is "pre-dawn?" To me, this looks almost mid day; no shadows (direct overhead light) and also the patch of sky almost looks mid day and not pre-dawn. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very much enjoying this landscape image, but just doesn't seem to be the light I would expect; even if this was a heavy overcast, I would think the exposure would be a tad darker. Maybe it's the brightness that makes me see it this way? But considering I'm the only one to comment on this, clearly it's not an issue with others.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 12, 2013 at 6:13 PM
Splendid abstract Nancy! The variety of colors and layers are wonderful. I too think a slight crop from the top would emphasize the layers and colors best but that is just my opinion.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on February 12, 2013 at 7:19 PM
Hi Nancy, I think this is a fine image and not to take away anything from it but I do tend to agree with Lon about it feeling more like a midday shot than one taken during the pre-dawn hour. If I had not read your comments I would have just assumed this was taken in the afternoon. I'm on the fence about the patch of sky, in some ways I think it would be better without it, but on the other hand it does help to "ground" the image. Perhaps if there was a bit more of the sky it would help and be less distracting. Hope this helps. :wavey:
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on February 12, 2013 at 8:22 PM
Lots of interesting color and layers here, Nancy. The one suggestion that I would make would be to crop out the bit of blue sky at the top of the frame and go completely abstract with this. This is nicely done!!

EDIT: I guess I'm not the only one who suggested to crop the sky. I promise I wrote my comment before reading others' comments. :biggrin:
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 13, 2013 at 1:08 AM
This is crazy--i love it!! Definitely lose the sky though. :toast:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on February 13, 2013 at 2:16 AM
Nancy ..this is fantastic. Beautifully crafted and the depth is wonderful ..Love this one

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on February 13, 2013 at 6:33 AM
I think I also like this better without the sky. Amazing to see all those colors running into each other like this!
Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on February 13, 2013 at 7:57 AM
The soft colors are just amazing. No sky for me either. I just read others comments about the time of day. It's hard for me to tell because of all the layers but agree my first impression was not early morning, but since I was not there I will not make the call. I am wondering if you did something in post processing that changed the color or contrast...either way great image I really like it as presented.
Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on February 13, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Beautiful understated colors! I was thinking the same thing as the others on the crop, to eliminate the patch of sky. It is a beauty and worth the three trips to get it.
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 14, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Hi Nancy :wavey: Love the composition, and the layers of fascinating detail , and pastel colors :toast:
Albert Darmo
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on February 14, 2013 at 1:48 PM
lose the sky and go mad with TK's box of tricks, that's what i'd say. fabulous.
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments