Hey Guys,

Thought I would add a new photo to the critique section. It was taken with the 20d at the Race Track. It took us 3 hours each way to get there from Stovepipe Wells. It is the first of...well...many.

James

Excellent James,
I think it’s a great shot. I really like it. Very well set up. I like the way the Mt on the left is there but shadowed and cropped drawing attention back to the field. I like this rock, it is prominent and leads you up and into the frame. The track, curves, diagonally, taking one through the frame. In all, it’s a very dynamic photo. I might add a little more contrast to the scene, but that’s about it.
Did you use a CPL or GND? A little more blue in the sky would have been nice. In fact the entire scene looks a little yellow. Obviously the low sun angle is why, but maybe a little more blue would help it “snap”.

Diffrent perspective on a shot that often gets taken from that area. ALways find these amazing. I like it, and only find one small issue. The line behind the rock. I would have elevated the camera up about 2-3 feet and angled the lens down a bit to get a little taller view and creating a more distinguishable line to follow from the rock's race TRACK to the horizon line.....do you get what I am saying?

The other slight thing is the horizon line...its just a bit tilted clockwise......about .4 rotation CCW would about do it......LOL...no wonder theirs no water....it all drained to the right!!! : P

Nice shot.....if you have any that were taken a little higher (you implied their were more shots) I would explore them as well.

Roman

"The other slight thing is the horizon line...its just a bit tilted clockwise......about .4 rotation CCW would about do it......LOL...no wonder theirs no water....it all drained to the right!!! : "

LOL. I thought that I had the horizon corrected. This was one of the things that I worked hardest on while I was out there...my lines.

I am also thinking that the image looks a bit yellow. I am debating trying it again with the sky a pumped up a bit (something I may try if I feel up to it when I get home).

James

I wouldn't know about the level or color since I wasn't there, but it is an excellent image of that fascinating phenomenon! I still can't believe the wind blows those rocks around....I think the rocks have tiny little legs underneath like a centipede!!

Was the three hours each way by foot?

Best regards,

Dick:)

Hey Dick,

Again, thanks for the praise. We had our own ideas as to how the rocks moved. At first, we were convinced that the Parks Department were helping to cause the phenominom. THEN we realized what had to be happening. Bocce. People were playing bocce on the race track. It had to be.

LOL.

James

Great photograph. Very visually pleasing. I can't really pick the crooked horizon. There is more beyond the lighter sand.
Or I may be looking at it with my head to one side, OR I might need new lenses in these specs for my tired old eyes !!

"Or I may be looking at it with my head to one side, OR I might need new lenses in these specs for my tired old eyes !! "

LOL. Thank you. This was by far my favorite race track photo. Some of the ones that I saw published by my friends who went on the trip were so very different - and beautiful. I find it amazing that two (or in this case, 7) people can come together, photograph the same place, and see things entirely differently.

James

James, that'a cool shot. I noticed the line right off the bat. That said, i'm no expert on getting my lines level with the earth, so this is just my observation.

I also think Roman is right on - a little higher, and a little more contrast/color in the sky.

Sweet job, I'd like to go there and see those for myself!

I just found this on the internet, so according to this guy, maybe level linse are not accurate?

"The mud flats are not perfectly flat. They are round to polygonal shapes with tiny channels surrounding each "pebble mud". When the winds are strong, the surface wet and slippery, a third force enters into the picture: The winds also travel beneath the rocks, swirling under the rocks, creating a Bernoulli Effect under the rocks, that is to say that fast swirling air create a pressure to "lift" the rocks and making them readily to be moved by high winds."