Horseshoe Shadow Photo

Photographer’s Note

I know that we've all seen this image many, many times, but I just wanted to show it with this shadow present in the early morning. This was a very difficult image to process. I used every trick I know of here...highlight-shadow adjustment, gradient fill layer, opacity adjustment...I may have forgotten one or two enhancements. I never realized how much post processing work was necessary to get a good result shooting digital. I feel like I should have been a computer programmer...

Floydian, fulvio52, chpp, alexisborel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

danyy (68602) 2008-05-14 23:29

Bonjour Michael,
surprenante photo d'un des méandres les plsu spectaculaires du monde. Les couleurs de feu qui tranche bien avec les franges vertes. L'emploi du filtre que j'affectionnne aussi, donne son effet.
regards.
Daniel.

Floydian (30970) 2008-05-15 0:40

Hi Michael,
A famous location from were we have seen many pictures here. With the 20D and the 17-40m/m it's not possible to get the whole place in one single shot. I have upload two from there myself and it's indeed very hard working to bring out all the details. but seeing this i have to admit you did a great job, i really like these dark toning with 1/3 on shadow at the bottom. There is detail, that's the most important thing.
A fine shot with deep colours...i like it a lot.
Regards, Henk
p.s.
I've placed the picture in the Horseshoe Bend theme.

Leonie (8647) 2008-05-15 1:26

Hi Michael....fantastic colours and clearness! You have some of the best Arizona pics on TE! Love them! Congrats,

Léonie

michiels (4170) 2008-05-15 5:16

hello Michael,

even when a lot of people took already this view, it stays special. and like you say with the shadow, it's a very different look. i visited your gallery which is very beautiful ! i'm looking to make a trip next year to america, one part of it would be some national parks, but the choice is soooooo difficult. happily i found your gallery, giving me a better idea what to choose ( or it makes it more difficult, they are all so beautiful ;D )... i will return many times on your photos !!
greetings, inn

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-05-15 5:48

Hi Michael,
the amount of detail you've been able to capture is pretty damn astonishing, so is the light!
I'm really looking forward to get back to Page in about three months, and see what I can come upon with in this location.
Tremendous shot!
Have a great day, I'll see you soon.
Fulvio.

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-05-15 8:16

Hi Michael
Horseshoe bend is exciting, well not when you have a tripod and camera near the cliff edge and the wind is howling at 80mph, thats when its scary and like you I couldn't get the whole bend in but like you say the shadow makes up for this. Very good colour also, well done with the PP work.
Regards
Jim

dkeus31 (26154) 2008-05-15 11:22

Hi Michael,
the classic one, I would like to go there also one day...
you have here a good light, even if the price to pay is to have half in the shadows...
regards,didier

chpp (3972) 2008-05-15 13:26

Wow Michael
great dynamic and very nice compo. you did a great job in PP, I like the colours and the view
very nice job
cheers
c

Cpamoi (10327) 2008-05-16 14:57

Hello Michael,
très belle image, un endroit très connu en effet, mais ta composition avec cette ombre donne une belle image.

Raphaël

Waylim (10741) 2008-05-19 17:13

How can anyone get tire of seeing this kind of image especially if it's a good one. Very nice and sharp with good clarity especially in the shadow which is hard to do and not have the light part be over exposed. In this case the light are is almost under exposed and not as clear as the shadow part. It looks a bit strange as if you just darken the upper part. Anyhow, Great job. Love the colors and light and good composition. Thanks.
way

alexisborel (751) 2008-10-05 1:05

Hi Michael
and thanks for your critic.
I had take a look to your gallery, i did bryce, antelope like you, and the bend too that's why i stop here.
It's already very difficult to make a good picture of complete scene and with high contrast it's hell. I was there on morning, not early morning and got shadow too, so i can easyly understand your note about post processing, and i can say you did it well. Photoshop users can see you use highlight-shadow adjustement that give a signature on picture but there's no other choice.
Have a good day

Alexis