An approaching winter storm over the Sonoran Desert east of the Superstition Mountains of Arizona.
The dramatic sky was achieved through the use of a polarizer filter.
Post processing:
1-NeatImage applied to sky only
2-Selective color: black, -5% black, on sky only
3-Brightness Contrast: +5% brightnest and +5% contrast on ground only
4-Channel Mixer: Set to monochrome, +108% red, -8% green, -16% blue
5-Levels used to set black point to upper left hand part of the sky
6-50% greyscale layer used for dodge and burn
7-Clone tool used to remove slight haloing on sky/ground boundary
8-Image rotated 1.19 degrees to right
9-Cropped and resized to 640X512 (1:1.25 ratio)
10-Autocontrast applied
11-USM 100%,.3,0 on sky and 250%,.2,0 on ground
12-Saved for web
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 292 Avg (all users): 7.6172 Avg (commenters): 8.5385 Avg (participants): 7.4966 Avg (non-participants): 7.7748 Views since voting: 16548 Votes: 256 Comments: 87 Favorites: 63 (view)
Instead of fussing with the channel mixer, I would have popped on a red 25A filter during the shoot and played with the combination of that and the polarizer. I think you would have been able to keep a LOT more of the detail in the foreground.
Added: How do you NeatImage only a portion of the picture? That black sky and the beautiful growing clouds are really good to look at. Congratulations again, I like this very much.
Delighted with seeing you in the Blue Ribbon Circle! Great desert photo, Steve. I love your desert spring photos on your website as well. Congrats from Oregon!
After close scrutiny of all of my top picks I have to choose your picture as the best AA tribute. For me it has all the aspects of a good AA picture. Great job.
Great job. I wonder if you could have changed your angle to capture more clouds and avoid the sky (dead space). Also, the leaning cactus on the left is a little out of norm for the rest of the group. All in all, a great pic. (9)
When I first saw your shot I knew it was a 10 to me. It has the tonal range and razor sharpness that is Ansel. It is hard to get the razor edge without a field camera, but you seemed to have done it. This is realy on par with the master. Great shot!!!!!
Beautiful capture of the spirit and style of AA! One of my favorites to win this challenge. I especially love the start contrasts so evocative of a desert landscape. Thanks for this stunning photo!
This has SO much potential. The sky's marvelous. It falls short for me, though, in that the shadows are too blocked up, especially on right center, and the "toppling" perspective on the largest saguaro is disturbing. A strong entry, regardless.
An Ansel Adams photo if I ever saw one, especially with those clouds. I really like the way the clouds sort of frame the cactus and draw the attention further into the photo.
Now this one has some drama! Nice processing to get that dark sky and light clouds. Congrats also for not blowing out your highlights! 9 A few more things: Ansel Adams was not afraid to shoot in stark sunlight; I think he liked the contrast between the deep shadows and highlights. You also have a natural line that runs from the largest saguaro at left to the one at right. The opuntias are an added bonus and lend a lot of interest to the shot as well. Just some more evidence on the quality of your photo! I'm tempted to give this a 10. Perhaps had your photo just a few more shades of gray in between your highlights and shadows? Hmmmmm.
My lone top pick - good luck. Although the details of the picture are not as clear as I think they could be - I think you composed a picture and capture drama in AA style. Good job!
VERY NICE! One of my favorites in this group. The softness of the billowy clouds are a nice backdrop to the more stiff skeletons of the cacti. Great contrast!! I'd hang this in my home.
Sonoran Spring
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