The Monument

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 17, 20183,812 views9 comments

I was hoping to get the very first light that skips across the prairie as the sun just brakes the horizon. But we are getting smoke from the western fires and it obscures the sun. ( As I write that I think of all the tragedy that the fires are causing.) A little mist from the cool morning and just enough light to make the buttes glow a little. This is the Scotts Bluff National Monument as seen from a east. This is an unusual year that here we are in the middle of August and there is still a lot of green. Please see larger image. Thanks for your comments and critiques.

Canon 7D
Sigma 17-70
Shutter 1/8
Aperture f16
ISO 100
17 mm
Tripod and remote release

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on August 17, 2018 at 12:33 PM

I like the quiet understatement of this image. It's a peaceful scene yet the flowers provide a bit of excitement. I also appreciate the restraint in color.

Real beautiful work. The more I look at this the more I like it.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on August 17, 2018 at 4:18 PM

Lots to like here, Richard. Good job minimizing the sky in the comp. It's interesting to me that you have a centered composition which might normally be considered static. But the nice FG elements and vanishing point flow well from the center up through the middle ground to the BG, so that it doesn't feel centered at all. If I had one suggestion it would be to try and bring up the levels a bit in the FG and MG. Overall really good work.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 17, 2018 at 8:59 PM

Richard, I have been looking at your larger version for awhile and I think it it absolutely wonderful. You did a great job of capturing the feel and mood of this morning. You know the area so well and are doing a wonderful job of bringing that to us through your eyes and vision.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 18, 2018 at 9:57 AM

Very nicely composed, lit, and developed, Richard. There is a lot of depth and you seemed to have really captured the beauty of the place.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on August 18, 2018 at 5:16 PM

The subtlety in the colors is lovely. The blue-gray-green of the sage brush and that line of flowers, with the bluffs in the distance, it goes together really well. As Nick said, you know this area well, and that knowledge comes through in your images. Just a lovely image of this area, and well done!

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 20, 2018 at 11:08 PM

A finely crafted composition. The low fog helps a great deal to layer it. By todays trends it looks a somewhat flat and I see a lot of potential to punch things up. However I'm enjoying the natural approach to this presentation too.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on August 21, 2018 at 5:48 PM

This is wonderful Richard. Reaffirms my belief that it is possible to make evocative images without resorting to post-processing gimmicks. The contrast between the grassy field and the cliffs in the distance is so enjoyable. I also love the spattering of wildflowers that add so much interest to this scene.

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

Comment posted by gary phillips on August 22, 2018 at 10:56 PM

This is very nice, Richard. The soft morning light and fog, combined with the lovely foreground make a very compelling scene. It’s quiet, and begs you to enter and enjoy. Lovely.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 25, 2018 at 5:58 PM

The combo of the flowers, formations and fog is beautiful!! A most peaceful scene. Print it large.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments