Another example of an image that takes on a life of it's own only after you get home and start to work with it. Of course, it was intriguing enough at the time for me to set up and frame a few shots... and I pretty much had a black and white result in mind under these conditions, but somehow in real life and later in color on the raw exposure, it just didn't have the drama that came through ultimately. Shot near Desert View at the Grand Canyon a short time after my last one from this location (here), I was busy watching the sky develop minute by minute and searching out interesting foreground subjects to use as a foil for the clouds.I borrow the term "ghost tree" from a local newspaper writer who sometimes does articles about nature, parks and hiking trails, etc. (maybe she in turn borrowed it from someone:) I love it, since this is a fairly frequent subject for me (as you can see from an older post here) and I've always needed a descriptive tag for these skeletal trees. "God sky" speaks for itself.. I almost expected to see a bolt of lightning crash down from the heavens and this dead tree to burst into flames. Honestly, not a good idea to be standing on the edge of a canyon with a metal tripod if there is lightning about.. (there wasn't in this spot at the time).
Our job is to record, each in his own way, this world of light
and shadow and time that will never come again exactly as it is today.
- Edward Abbey
26 comments:
Excellent B/W Render! Kudos!
Cheers, Klaus
Outstanding! I also love your banner image.
This is a powerful image! I feel the storm energy at the canyon with excitement, and caution. Lightning not being uncommon. Excellent capture and the best in B&W.
Oh my! That is too amazing for words. The "ghost tree" is so perfect for these conditions. I will gaze at this scene for awhile! Powerful shot! And...I really like the term "ghost tree" too! That is a perfect term for these images...
fascinatingly fabulous!
Beautiful sky! great mono.
Very Dramatic Photograph in B&W.
Well Done !!!
Bob
aka Eaglesbrother
Fantastic...excellent photograph...Super! Thanks for sharing...am adding your site to my Favorites.
This picture is incredible. I'm so glad I clicked your link!
Wonderful. No words are enough to describe it.
Looks dramatic enough to be the 'burning bush' where Moses first heard from the Lord...beautiful!!!
This is Winter in heaven.
Lindas fotografias.
beijos
what's this i see? you have clouds yeah :)
superbly dramatic Mark, indeed of biblical proportions!!
you've got a wonderful eye for nature. Looks like something right out of the original Bible... very moving! {:-D
oh, very dramatic! excellent job.
This is absolutely AWESOME!!!!
It looks like it could be a fake Hollywood set it is so perfect.
Congratulations on this remarkable shot!
Breath taking Mark!
Great shot - lovely composition and beautiful conversion. I know what you mean as you begin to see the true potential realised in the digital darkroom. (My recent pony shots and Walking The Dogs were like that).
It's a bit like watching the print slowly appear in a wet darkroom as you wash it in the developing chemicals.
You know what? This picture is biblical. A classic in all its beauty. Work well done.
Roger G.
Awesome image, Mark. When I'm fortunate enough to be out shooting unde skies like these my adrenalin rushes through me so that i have to consiously think to myslef about calming down and thinking about my location and perspective for setting up shots. The air is electric and I can feel it well in this great photograph.
marius is right - there simply are not enough words - i am more than awestruck!
i have come over to your place several times and each time find that just browsing is never enough - one should bring a picnic basket and bottle of wine and plan to stay a while - seeing feeling absorbing!!!
magnificent work, mark!
Impressive atmosphere Mark, congrats for the shot !
A try a carbon tripod :)
Mark: good analogy.. I often think back to those days working quietly in the darkroom.. (of course I also remember a lot of wasted time and materials working through the trial and error method). "Developing" your images in PS is the equivalent process, though not quite the same, but still very rewarding. I know you like to concentrate on the craft of printing as I do.. it's what brings it all together for me.
Gaelyn: I really envy you that you get to see this stuff every day.. what a place to live.
Gary: I know what you mean about taking a minute to calm down sometimes.. it's easy to get carried away when conditions are great but changing quickly.. In some of the spots I prefer, not paying attention to where you are stepping can be kind of dangerous!
Gypsywoman: I like that idea.. a virtual picnic spot!
Patrick: Absolutely I should.. It's been on my list for a long time, but somehow I always find something more important that I need. Also, it's great exercise carrying my old one;)
Thanks to everyone else too, for the comments.. I appreciate them all.
oh, my!
Very Cool shot, Mark!
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