Walhalla Plateau, a photo from Arizona, West

Photographer's Note

This view is from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon at a high elevation level around 8,200 ft. This is Cape Royal and it is reached by a very curvy, windy 23 mile road called the Cape Royal Road.
This forested plateau, part of kaibab Forest, was a seasonal home for Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, who hunted game and grew crops here in the summer, then they moved to inner canyon villages during winter months. There is an ancient Native American Puebloan archeological site there as well.
We watched the storm roll in and it rained for a short while, but being summer we stayed out and visited the sites in spite of the rain storm.
The North Rim is less visited than the South Rim but really worth the trip.
I liked how the dark stormy clouds brought down wisps of greyness over the mountain tops.
I added a bit of contrast to the image and straightened the image just a tad to provide a sense of balance.
Any comments or critiques are most welcome.
Have a great day and enjoy my photo.

photoray, josepmarin, bukitgolfb301 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dkmurphys (79209) 2012-09-15 9:43

Hi Karen,
Very picturesque capture of the impressive mountains. I like the colors and the composition, enjoy a fine weekend.

Daniel

photoray (13981) 2012-09-15 16:44

Howdy Karen,

Fine view of the lesser visited North Rim of the Cyn, sunny tree foreground, then the dramatic red hued Canyon, offset by storm.

Perhaps a 'graduated neutral density filter' would reduce the clash between the darkness and bright sun?

Continue to have a fine end of summer and photoworks,
Cheers,
Ray

PS: I did not use a polarizing filter when photographing the America's Cup in SF Bay because it was foggy. I plan to use one next time if the sun is out there October 2nd.
Suggest checking www.Adorama.com for possible polarizing filters for your camera?

josepmarin (59385) 2012-09-20 11:27

Hi Karen,
your POV is perfect, and offers us a breathtaking vision of the beautiful landscape of the Grand Canyon.
The image is very deep and very sharp, has a great chromatic intensity and a special luminosity, with the fog in background, as well as a great graphical wealth.
It is a beautiful composition.
Best regards,
Josep

lousat (139926) 2012-09-22 15:32

Hi Karen,the perfect pic to who suffer of vertigo like me...ehehe...what a magnificent neverending view on the valley,great colors,details and a perfect management of the different light levels,i like it!Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2012-09-23 23:43

Hi dear Karen

A wonderful landscape presentation!
That seems to be a brethtaking view.
I enjoy your marvelous sereis for diversity of your great country. I think this shot can be taken vi F8.0 or more to be clear in the detail. Thanks for your sharing with finest work and have a good start of new week!

Takero from Tokyo

CanmoreKevin (2111) 2012-09-25 18:15

Karen,
I love all of the distinct layers this has. The background rim of the canyon with its flatness gives a nice contrast to the jagged forms in the foreground. I like how the colours become more muted as you move farther into the photo. Nice work
Kevin

eldancer1 (36343) 2012-09-27 9:18

Looks like rain is coming down. I like the different layers, due to lighting, of the mountains and wonderful colors of different shades. Someday I would like to visit the north rim. Very well done, tfs.

mjw364 (1466) 2012-09-30 1:08

Karen

Nicely composed shot which is clear and sharp. Strong contrast between the light in the foreground and the grey cloud in the distance. I like the way that the light highlights the colours of the rock in the canyon too. I think that mist needs more definition - maybe a little less blue and more greyness? Not sure how you might achieve this without maybe using an ND grad filter.

Great shot overall - really like it.

Mike

GREGG (7888) 2012-09-30 10:16

Hello Karen,
great composition of the Grand Canyon
different colors on the three plans
and wonderful light
have a nice evening,
Greg

mjdundee (4663) 2012-10-16 9:46

Hello Karen,
A carefully designed picture of one of the most magical places on earth. Fantastic shades of light with the blueish cloudy part as a great BG for the rugged rock formations decorated by fresh green and white in the front. Very well done. TFS
THomas

Waylim (25436) 2012-10-24 16:29

Hi again Karen,

Beautiful shot of Grand Canyon. Not too many people have seen it from the North Rim. I have seen it once, and it is as impressive and less people, though there are more view point and point of interest on the South Rim. I like very much the atmosphere here with the rain clouds touching down on the canyon and there is still some good light in the foreground.

Way

kiks (12805) 2012-11-28 6:19

Intersting image of the Grans Canyon with all the vegetation. You had difficult light and the including the white rocks at the fg made it difficult to get the light balanced. There for there is a bit of overexposure at the fg. I think you can easy correct this with some PP work. Still a beautiful composition that i enjoy much.
Best regards
KIKs

fotoguy22 (4795) 2013-02-11 7:36

Hi Karen:

This is pretty cool. Beautiful sunny weather in the foreground, yet stormy and rain in the canyon. The Grand Canyon truly seems to have its own unique climate. I also like the idea of half the photo in color and the other half seemingly black and white.

Greetings from Florida.............Greg

mayjayne (7204) 2013-02-16 21:12

Dear Karen,

A lovely composition. The layering of the mountains against the skyline is very interesting, and you have managed to capture the textures and colours of each payer well.

TFS,
May