A View from Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 9 November 2009 in Landscape & Rural.

UPCOMING 2009 / 2010 WORKSHOPS:

Arches/Canyonlands Photo Workshop November 4-8, 2009 (Sold Out - Waiting List Only)
Spring Big Sur Photo Workshop - March 29 - April 1, 2010 (4 spots available)
Northern Arizona: Grand Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona Photo Workshop - May 3-7, 2010 (8 spots available)
Redwoods and Mendocino Coast Photo Workshop - June 15-18, 2010 (space available)
Kauai, Hawaii Photo Workshop - July 12-16, 2010 (8 spots available)
Big Sur Photo Workshop Summer August, 2010 (Exciting details TBA soon)!
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New Article on my Website: Creating a "Twi-Night" Image

Books Available for Purchase on my Website:
Photographer's Guide to the Big Sur Coast (e-book version - 102 pages)
On the Edge (printed version - softcover and hardcover - 120 pages)
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Sequoia National Park's Moro Rock (elevation 6,725 feet) affords one a 360-degree panoramic view of the Great Western Divide to the east, and the great central valley to the west. The glow on the horizon (looking west over the city of Visalia) lasted an hour past sunset (about the time I captured this image) and allowed for a nice transition to a starry sky above.

This is actually a single frame straight capture (no filters). It really needed very little post processing other than the normal RAW conversion and some tone balancing and contrast thanks to Nik Viveza (BTW - version 2 will be released soon)!

Although spectacular, this view did not come easy, as it required a 400-step climb up a steep wall of granite in ever-thinning air lugging a backpack full of gear and a tripod (I kept telling myself each step of the way, "this is why you go to the gym," I don't think my legs and back were listening)!

Digital sensors really shine when it comes to night photography; if you have not gotten out and played with these types of images, you will be surprised how easy it can be, and the images never seem to disappoint.

I am currently in Page, Arizona (scouting some locations for my spring Northern Arizona Workshop) having recently concluded my Arches / Canyonlands workshop. Hopefully I will get some time to respond to your comments. I will be returning to California later this week.

My Website: "how to" articles, galleries, stock photos, and more...
www.donsmithphotography.com

Software Discounts:
Photomatix Pro 3.0 type in code at checkout: donsmithphotography
Nik Software type in code at checkout: DSMITH

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