Pot of Gold

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 16, 2013286 views15 comments

Decided to head out today for some monsoon shooting and maybe even try for lightning. Upon arriving here it was dark and the west look like it was going to block up, but I checked the weather before hand and knew this would clear enough for some awesome light. It began to rain lightly, and then a little heavier. After the rain stopped I got out of my car and looked to see if there was a rainbow. My buddy and I decided to venture off and look for something worth while to shoot. It looked really good to the west, awesome colors, golden light it was all happening. Then he said "turn around" and saw a double rainbow over the mountains which I was hoping to photograph. I've been here so many times, and this is only the first time I've seen a rainbow here. Of course, shooting the opposite direction I didn't quite have a composition facing the mountains, so naturally I would jump to the first thing that took interest. I'm slowly becoming aware that the desert starts to feel repetitive when shooting. Cactus seem to be the only foregrounds besides rocks, so lately I've found it difficult to be inspired by this desert. I think for throwing something together quite quickly, I managed to get the best possible image from this moment. Comments and critiques appreciated.

Canon 7d
Canon 17-40mm @17mm
f14
ISO 100
1/2 sec
CPL
Tripod

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Abdulmajeed Aljuha on July 16, 2013 at 4:49 AM

I think such photos will be great if you print it in big size.

very nice picture

Registered on December 4, 2010, 77 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Shane McDermott on July 16, 2013 at 11:35 AM

Hi Peter

You definitely made the most of your opportunity here, it definitely holds interest and some drama.
If I could offer my critique I would say... For me the composition is feeling a little compressed or bunched up, like there isn't enough space or middle ground between the cactus and the mountains. Did you manage to capture a horizontal comp as well? I would be interested in seeing that.

Later,

Shane

Registered on November 12, 2007, 49 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Ted Gore on July 16, 2013 at 11:49 AM

one of your best shots, Peter. Perfect front to back transition, perfectly filled foreground, and man, how lucky did you get with that rainbow?!?

Registered on April 25, 2013, 36 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on July 16, 2013 at 2:33 PM

Your experience is just like many I've had. Great conditions and a fine image result.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on July 16, 2013 at 2:39 PM

" I think for throwing something together quite quickly, I managed to get the best possible image from this moment"

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you here. This is a wonderful capture, Peter! Excellent skies & rainbow, the light on the monoliths is perfect and the cactus makes for a satisfying foreground. Perfectly 'developed', too.
While I can certainly see and appreciate Shane's point, I think that comes more from a critical eye rather than from the viewpoint of a more casual viewer. If the middle area was uninteresting, then I think you made a good choice. When you get circumstances like this, you get what you can while you can, and I think you did a great job here. There's certainly nothing repetitive about a scene like this one!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on July 16, 2013 at 4:05 PM

Looks great, Peter! You capitalized quickly and very effectively on some great conditions. An excellent addition to the portfolio.

Registered on May 11, 2012, 84 Posts, 931 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on July 16, 2013 at 4:11 PM

Thanks everyone!

Shane, I see what you mean. However, beyond these cholla it is fairly boring and desolate looking up to the mountains. I did take a few horizontal compositions, but the rainbow's were reduced about 50% trying to incorporate the cacti.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Evan Olson on July 16, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Peter, I really like this image, the rainbow really makes this image:)

Registered on November 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on July 16, 2013 at 6:59 PM

Sometimes a situation requires immediate action and we must go on photographic-auto-pilot, but all the time we've put in the field allows us to make the most of a rapidly changing scene. Nice work Peter, made the most of it!

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on July 16, 2013 at 9:51 PM

Peter,

This is just one frickin' awesome landscape! I guess there's an epidemic of rainbows these days...

Everything to love here and nothing to be critical of.

I think from your dialogue, you present a great example of how knowing a location(environment) so well that you can quickly adapt and catch things in a way that only someone who is familiar with that environment could do. Like anywhere.... one can only photograph sandstone and slot canyons so much. One can only photograph granite and waterfalls so much.... but when you're in those locations and magic happens... well, luck follows those who are prepared (or whatever the saying is.)

This is beautiful Peter.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on July 17, 2013 at 2:12 AM

A very well put together scene. The conditions are no dobut awesome but I love what you have done with it to come away with such a strong photograph. Kudos Peter.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on July 17, 2013 at 9:40 AM

Wow! Nothing repetitive about this (except the double rainbow) Beautiful light, detail and composition. Very nicely done.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 18, 2013 at 12:06 AM

Excellent color, light, and atmosphere Peter. Fantastic capture.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 18, 2013 at 10:48 AM

Nice when stuff lines up so perfectly.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on July 18, 2013 at 1:27 PM

Thanks everyone!

Mark- I was quite pleased to have this outcome.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments