Joshua Tree NP

[KJ Smith]

From the road trip.

Joshua Tree NP

Shen-Hao
Rodenstock Sironar-S 135mm
Red Filter
TMY/HC110

Attachment 132079

[jeffkohn]

Looks like a neat place. The tree makes a striking subject, and the rock formatsions an interesting backdrop. Is the vignetting from the lens, or added in post? To me the transition there is a little abrupt, I might prefer a softer, more gradual effect (it looks fine on the ground, though).

[wclavey]

I, too, like this picture. I like the overall tonality and the detail in the shot. I do not mind the vignetting as much since I have used lenses with questionable coverage on LF and it often looks this way. But I am not looking on a calibrated monitor, so with a more regulated brightness, it may look different.

How far did you have to walk from the road to shoot this? I'm asking to see if it would have been possible to use your shooting platform to create a slightly different perspective. Actually, the way the foreground looks, I would not be surprised if you said you had done that.

[KJ Smith]

Thanks Guys.

There is no telling what happened with the vignetting. It was my fault, added in post. I will have to wait until I am on my monitor to correct it.

It was to far for the shooting platform.

Neat place though. I may have another one later. I hope to develop the last of the film this week.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

There are many roads into this park that are gravel and then a few that are asphalt that sometimes turn into gravel plus there are a couple good stands of Joshua trees outside the park in the back country that are on BLM Land. Since this is a very desolate area that has very low rainfall and the plants root systems can be compromised by compacting it is best not to drive off road to a location but most of the locations that I have seen there are just a few hundred yards at most from the roads, sure I guess that there are others that you can hike into but when I've been in the area it has been a bit too hot to hike excessive distances and there are many places to shoot that don't entail hiking far.

[KJ Smith]

OK, I dumped the vignette.

I don't think it was necessary.

I am sure I used a red filter anyway.

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by KJ Smith

OK, I dumped the vignette.

I don't think it was necessary.

I am sure I used a red filter anyway.

I like it better without the vignette, as you say it's not really necessary when the sky is already pretty dark.

[wclavey]

I agree, overall it is better, although I liked the darkening on the ground...

[KJ Smith]

I burned the ground in. Probably didn't get it enough.

[tml]

It is a beautiful shot, Kevin. Tri

[KJ Smith]

Thanks for the kind words Tri.

[tjavery]

It looks like there's a pathway in the grass that leads up to the slickrock and points towards the notch in the rocks. I like that.

I also like how the small trees sit in front of the dark shadow area in the middle left.

The scene overall just seems inviting. It's easy to imagine walking into the scene and climbing around on the rocks.

In a perfect world, I would love to see a few clouds up in that blank sky.

[wclavey]

Each time I look at this picture, I am captivated by the detail and the light reflections off of each individual leaf (needle?) on the branches. Even when you have a whole scene that works together as well as this one does, sometimes there are small details that capture my attention no matter how many times I look at it.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by tjavery

In a perfect world, I would love to see a few clouds up in that blank sky.

Thanks TJ.

As a general rule, if there had been clouds, I would have used a different filter. The red was used because there were no clouds.

If I hadn't wasted all that money on the IM's. I could have bought IC's.

I wonder if the IS's filled with helium would have worked?

[KJ Smith]

I am a little undecided on this one.

Shen-Hao PTB45
Rodenstock Sironar-S 135mm
Red Filter
TMY/HC110


Attachment 132143