Taken with the Canon 10-22mm--
While I was at Delicate Arch, there was another guy there who came up to me and started talking cameras. Then he let me borrow his 10-22 for a few minutes. God I love that lens... now I just need to get my own.
I don't know why I left the camera on ISO 400.
postprocessing-
two Channel Mixer layers (both monochrome; bottom - 100/0/0, top 140/-20/-20, blended both to highlight the arch)
selected the background behind the arch and darkened it w/ 27% opacity layer of pure black (Overlay mode)
- cloned out my buddy Zeke running through the frame
- some dodge & burn
- neatimage to sky only
- duplicate sky layer (Multiply mode, 75% opacity)
my own thoughts-
I am ambivalent about the inclusion of people in this photograph. I cloned them all out in one version, but didn't feel that was honest (possible DQ issues aside). As they are, they add a sense of scale to this photo; it's hard to understand the size of Delicate Arch unless you've actually seen it, because photographs of it rarely have anything in the frame that demonstrate its immensity. In that regard, their presence is good, and it makes this picture of the Arch a little bit more distinct.
I am sure there will be people that don't like the figures in the foreground. If it weren't my picture, I might be one of them. I just don't know.
Is this my best picture of 2005? I have no idea. I am unfit to judge my own work in this way. I would say it is one of my better photos, and perhaps one of the most DPC-friendly; but I am utterly unprepared to render a final judgment that says that one image, out of the many thousands I have created this year, stands above the rest.
I probably wouldn't have chosen this photo to submit if Brent Ward hadn't recently posted his Delicate Arch photo in the forums; his photo reminded me of my own (I had half forgotten I had taken this photo), though I don't pretend my pictures are as good as his. Thank you, Mr. Ward, for providing me with inspiration.
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Place: 27 out of 833 Avg (all users): 6.8035 Avg (commenters): 8.4524 Avg (participants): 6.7622 Avg (non-participants): 6.9880 Views since voting: 3469 Views during voting: 686 Votes: 453 Comments: 55 Favorites: 19 (view)
great gray tones, sharpness and composition
- I think the people do a lot for the picture, they add more feeling to it and a sense for the greatness of the nature - so I think you did right to not clone them away
great clouds. nice dodge and burn. why didn't you yell at those people to move? lol. 9 from me. There is a little bit of fringing around the top of delicate. long hike isn't it?
dead on b&w, excellent texture, excellent dof, great light, great comp, good movement, just wish the tourists were not there but not displeasing, overall have a print available
These people just sitting there look really odd to me. I'm sure this is a really popular place but this looks like something from close encounters of the 3rd kind!
Love the composition, sharpness and large dof. Also a great b&w. It would be empty without the people, both the arch and the people make the photo what it is imo. 9
This would have to be one of the most remarkable, intense, magical B/W landscape I have ever seen.....I love the light on the arch.....I love the clouds, I love the textures, and I love this image.
I usually can't stand people in Landscape shots, personal preference. However, I think with a highly (over?)photographed subject, this served to add some interest to the composition. Usually the photo's of the arch look very desolate, and you never get the chance to see people enjoying the view along with you. This new view of an old workhorse subject, and the great quality to the light made me give this a 10 and a fav.
This is a refreshing shot, love the tones. The people add a nice element in as well. I really like how it shows the entire scene, and the contast of the arch to the backgroung. Primo. Wonderful :)
This is a nice B&W conversion.. tones are strong throughout. Nice compostion, clarity, focus.. everything comes together. One nitpick, I don't like the vignetting.. personal thing, but it really stands out and I don't think it should.
The composition on this is great. Normally the tourists in the foreground would be annoying when shooting Delicate Arch, but here you've shown me a great example in which they actually add to the photo: I think not only of the beauty of the arch and the expanse of the horizon beyond it, but I also am left to wonder what the peopleare thinking, too. The people also add a great sense of scale to the image.
The composition is superb, and you've got a great sky to top that off. What a lovely rendition of the arch. Going in my favs.
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