photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eight: Light and shadow shape meaning > Desert Texture, near Conway Summit, California, 2004
previous | next
17-OCT-2004

Desert Texture, near Conway Summit, California, 2004

The low angle of the morning sun and a 24mm vertical wideangle perspective brings out the rich texture of sage coating the rolling hills of the Eastern Sierra desert. To make this landscape photograph work, I used my spot meter to expose on the brightest spot in the picture – the distant snowcapped mountain peak. I locked in that exposure, allowing me to make the rest of the image much darker to bring out the wealth of detail in the field of sage that sweeps us out to a stand of brilliantly colored trees, the stunning focal point of this image. The wideangle lens also offers tremendous depth of field – everything from the grasses at my feet to the distant Sierra Nevada Mountains is in sharp focus. This image is all about space and the vitality of nature, made possible by the warmth and angle of the morning autumn light.

Canon PowerShot G6
1/1250s f/7.1 at 14.4mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis31-May-2005 23:36
Thanks, Derek, for your thoughtful comment on this landscape. I like the way you emphasized the role of the foreground grasses here. I find in my teaching that all too many photographers overlook the importance of anchoring an image with a strong foreground. It sets the stage for the rest of the image, and provides the illusion of a third dimension. It is particularly important to anchor wide angle photographs such as this with an effective foreground. Without it, it's empty space all the way to those trees!
Guest 31-May-2005 13:06
A Lovely Shot, Phil
Yes shooting early morning and late afternoon evening is a necessity of capturing great photos in Landscape Photography, and the way the sun has picked out the tree has given a great focal point to your picture. I also like the fact that you have included the grasses (which are also lit by the sun) in the foreground and the way the light has added subtle highlights to the hills. A Winner for me.
Phil Douglis27-Feb-2005 06:20
Be sure to see my new gallery on controlling perspective with the wide angle lens, Jean. It's at:http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/wideangle_lens . There's no greater tool in photography for emphasis than a true wide angle effectively used. Of course it's the early morning light here that intensifies the color and creates the shadowing that defines the texture, but its the lens and vantage point that creates the crucial emphasis.
Jean Ray22-Feb-2005 03:41
This is beautiful, Phil. I made liberal use of my wide angle in this area, too. Love that 24 mm.
Phil Douglis28-Oct-2004 04:26
It would have been very hard to make and expressive image at mid-day of this scene Anna. The wideangle is a wonderful tool, isn't it?
Anna Yu28-Oct-2004 03:33
Yes the low angle of the sunlight is crucial here, at midday everything would be flat and not so interesting. The joys of a wide angle lens!
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment