Superstition, a photo from Arizona, West

Photographer's Note

Location:
This photo was taken in Lost Dutchman State Park, east of Phoenix, Arizona. The red rocks in the background are known as the Superstition Mountains.

About this photo:
It had been completely overcast all day long, which made most of the poppies (those yellow flowers in the photo) close up. I waited all afternoon for a break in the clouds, but was having no luck. I could see that just above the horizon was a patch of clear skies, but it was too far south. Fortunately for me the clouds were slowly moving north, and the clear patch of sky lined up perfectly with the sun for about 5 minutes. I guess if you want something bad enough (or pray hard enough).

Film: Fuji Velvia.
Scanned with Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED.
Levels adjusted in Photoshop.

maximage, SamB, Rodrigues, hispic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

maximage (15537) 2006-04-18 17:01

Ryan,
Lumière et couleurs extraordinaires!
Quel bel endroit!
Amitiés.
max

Cbill (4) 2006-04-18 17:13 [Comment]

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SamB (1948) 2006-04-18 17:25

Nice work! Great lighting, your patience paid off for sure. The poppies echo the background rocks well, being densest right below the largest sections of rocks, and this keeps the composition harmonized. Nice work!
sam

Rodrigues (1035) 2006-04-18 17:30

This time I know I'm not the first, but well...for me it's enough to keep watching your inspired gallery.

The frame is nicelly filled and the main subject is wonderfully framed. And of course, the sunset colours look awesome.

fallan (1860) 2006-04-18 17:30

Very nice. The lighting on the mountains and the clouds make the photo. The foreground has quite a bit of interest. Did you try a composition where you were closer to those beautiful flowers, making them more dominant in the photo with mountains as a backdrop?

fertxu (323) 2006-04-19 2:27

Hello Ryan
I like this one very much! The nature in this photo speaks for itself.
Regards, Fernando

dkeus31 (27739) 2006-04-19 6:36

Hello Ryan,
Nice composition, a good foreground with all the colored flowers.
Nice mountains under a good light.
Regards,
Didier

jluca (10377) 2006-04-21 11:14

Hi Ryan,
absolutly fabulous shot !
the subject is really great but the flowers, the colours and the light of the end of the day are making it beautiful.
I like it very much !
Jean-Luc

azleader (6) 2008-02-09 13:32

Good color, nice lighting. This image scanned well and retained good detail in the mountains.

2005 was one of the most spectacular wildflower seasons in the northern Sonoran desert of the last 50 years. Your picture was taken right at the beginning of that glorious season. Weeks later that green carpet in this picture became a sea of yellow.

hispic (9658) 2008-04-21 4:04

Hi Ryan,
Beautiful light! it was worth having waited such a long time. Deep saturation of orange rocks and yellow flowers gripped my eyes. This composition leaves nothing to be desired. Splendid!
This photo had been hidden in the favorite of my browser for a long time.
Have a nice day, Hisashi