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Red Rock in B&W
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Red Rock in B&W

by scott lanz

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 14, 20179,024 views15 comments
I shot this on the last evening of my week long trip to the southwest last spring. I had returned to Vegas for a business seminar, and I thought I was done with any photography. However, after my seminar ended late in the day, I saw from my hotel what looked like a nice sky. So, I made a beeline for Red Rock Canyon, arriving right at sunset. I quickly drove the Canyon's scenic drive trying to find  a comp in the direction of the clouds with a nice foreground. I stopped at this high viewpoint. I didn't particularly care for the rocks/slag in the foreground, which I assumed was placed there as part of the viewpoint construction and/or maintenance, and there were a number of people milling about taking selfies, but I loved the juniper and the rest of the scene. Not knowing if I would come upon anything better farther along the scenic drive, I went with it. The sunset colors are pretty nice, but I prefer this B&W conversion. Amazing that this is only 15 miles from Vegas (you can actually see the Vegas skyline if looking left from this spot). D600, 18-35 @ 35, .8, f22, iso 200, cpl, gnds (hh). I darkened the slag/rocks in the foreground to try to minimize them and make the foreground look more natural, but I am curious if others think this is a deal breaker? Suggestions and other comments welcome.  

p.s., to the mods, if the rocks/slag in the foreground is too much "hand of man," feel free to move this. 

Comments

15 comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on March 14, 2017 at 11:11 AM
FG is in no way a deal breaker for me.  Looks very natural there.  Great job with the conversion and tonal range.  Lots of depth in the image and the clouds are very dramatic.  Lots of character in the juniper as it appears to look upward toward those stormy looking clouds.  The mnts appear to be angled downhill, but I understand they are receding away.  Not sure if a CW rotation would help this, but looks very good as is.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on March 14, 2017 at 12:31 PM
No way does the immediate foreground take away from this, Scott.  Had you not mentioned it, I would not have a clue it was anything other than desert floor.  Excellent image.  I really like the near, far composition.  Sweet sky to top it off.  The b/w looks perfect to me.  Well worth the sprint out to Red Rocks.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 14, 2017 at 1:06 PM
Scott, The foreground looks totally natural to me and certainly not a deal breaker in any way. I like this composition and another excellent job with the b&w conversion and processing. Once again the clouds in this look awesome!! You sure came away with some wonderful images from your week in the southwest! Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on March 14, 2017 at 1:40 PM
There's a lot of movement and energy in this composition: The clouds arch across the sky. The juniper bent as though leaning backwards. Even the brush in the lrc seems to be trying to enter the frame. Beautiful image and great composition. You and Nick Bristol seem to be outdoing each other week after week, leaving the rest of us behind. From Annie Get Your Gun - "Anything you can do, I can do better"
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on March 14, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Scott, I think this very nice. As Gary said, I would have thought the foreground was natural desert, too. The composition is excellent, and you did a fine job with the conversion. The large version opens things up nicely. Well done!
--P
Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on March 14, 2017 at 4:06 PM
This is a beauty, Scott. The foreground is a non-issue IMO - it took me awhile to even understand what you were referring to. Very well composed with interest throughout and those clouds are killer. Worth the extra trip!
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 14, 2017 at 5:27 PM
Scott, this is an impressive take and well processed, with loads of stuff for the eye to ponder.  The immediate FG looks quite natural to me, as well.  The angle of the mountains Harry mentions is a non-issue for me.  On that subject, the lighter areas of the valley do suggest a slight CW rotation might be worth considering, however so many nice elements of the comp tend to obscure that.  Excellent work!
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Don Young on March 14, 2017 at 5:50 PM
Scott, I don't know whether I should say Wow or Fantastic.  I think I'll go with Fantastic!  Beautiful!
Registered on April 23, 2015, 56 Posts, 224 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on March 14, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Looks good Scott.  Foreground fits into the scene.  Clouds are awesome too............................................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Kearl on March 14, 2017 at 6:56 PM
You are just knocking these out of the park...
I like everything about this.
Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 15, 2017 at 10:59 AM
Scott, this looks very good.  I like the balance between the juniper (with all of it's structure) and that bright cloud.  The trailing into the distance of the peaks and playa adds a fine sense of depth.  This works very well in b&w and you conversion looks great.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 15, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Scott,

This is a beautifully crafted landscape.  Everything seems to fit together just right.  The juniper is showcased nicely, but balanced out, surprisingly with the yucca? in the foreground as well. (Not thrilled with the rock, but not an image killer.)  Add in the bg mountains and the glorious sky and you've got a winner!

Regarding the gravel or whatever at the bottom, I wouldn't have given it a thought unless you mentioned it.  It does NOT give me the impression this was next to a road or parking area. Not an issue at all.

Great work.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on March 15, 2017 at 10:48 PM
Very nice b&w image with good contrast and I like the weathered look of the tree.  Like others, I wouldn't of notice the gravel had you not mentioned it.
Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 16, 2017 at 10:03 AM
This is really sweet. No suggestions from me. The foreground looks totally natural and works. 

h
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on March 16, 2017 at 11:31 PM
I too wouldn't have even thought about the foreground without your prep, so not a deal breaker at all for me. I love the sky, and the earth elements come together to have a real "old west" feel to me. It looks like a scene from a black and white movie from last century.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments