Lit Cloud Over Whitney Arch

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 12 October 2008 in Landscape & Rural.

Pre-dawn light paints the edge of a cloud above the Whitney Arch in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California. I took an extremely low perspective to ensure the lit cloud could be seen through the opening of the arch. I then converted two Raws - one for the cloud and one for the arch - and combined them in Photoshop CS3 utilizing layers and masks. To learn more on how you can accomplish similar techniques with your images, click on the Articles/Wrintings tab on my homepage at http://www.donsmithphotography.com. Or better yet, join Gary and me on one of our workshops. Just click on the Workshop tab on my homepage.

Comments (8)

JJ from Jersey City, United States

wow this is stunning, and thanks for explaining your thinking and process on this, I am a beginner at photography and trying to learn will definitely check out your tutorials and site now
Cheers

12 Oct 2008 3:08pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Thanks JJ. Even as a 30-year pro, I find myself having to re-think my process in the field. There is so much we can do now with digital cameras and software. I try to see the finished image in my mind, then find the the most efficient way of going about creating it - really no different that what Ansel used to do!

12 Oct 2008 3:11pm

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Fabulous Don.

12 Oct 2008 5:31pm

João Mourão from Amadora, Portugal

I love Ansel Adam's photography. When I look at your pictures I see you are greatly inspired by his work. That is fantastic because we can now see in the digital era what is the beauty of those landscapes. Thank you.

12 Oct 2008 7:39pm

Terri from Portland, United States

That's gorgeous Don.

12 Oct 2008 10:16pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Hi Ana, Joao, and Terri,
Thank you for your nice words. Joao, my earliest photographic influences were those of Ansel's images. When I was a teenager, I was going to meet him at a Carmel book store, but he got sick and had to cancel his appearance. I purchased two of his books (both of which he signed) but I never did get a chance to say thank you in person. Needless to say, both of those books are my most cherished posesssions until this day. My other major influence, especially on the color side, was the late Galen Rowell. After visiting his gallery about seven years ago, I made a strong commitment to pursue my landscape photography with greater passion. Much of his style is evident in my images.

13 Oct 2008 3:39pm

Evi from Athens, Greece

a truly magnificent image, awesome light. Thanks!
P.S: My daughter Eleftheria http:www.eleftheria.aminus3.com has something that you might be interested in as a nature lover, plz check it out!

14 Oct 2008 7:13am

Doug from Long Beach, United States

This is one of those shots that when I see it strikes me as obvious--of course it's great composition to frame the clouds with the hook in the rock--but I know which actually takes a good eye to notice when one is out in the environment where such shots are to be found. Also, given that this appears to be a post-sunset time, the lighting was undoubtedly trickier than it seems by how well that turned out.

19 Oct 2008 1:21am

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Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
4/5 seconds
F/11.0
ISO 200
51 mm