The wave 2
by TLL061

Comment:
Nice shot Tom! This is a perspective that I don't think I saw that day.

Golden Gate Garden
by yakatyou

Comment:
Well Chris, you know that I thought that this would be a top 10 percent finisher. I, too, am a little disappointed that this didn't finish higher or that some people didn't care for the faded tower look.

But I think that you will always remember my reaction when we downloaded your memory card and these images appeared. I was so excited when I saw this shot that I loudly called you to come see what I was seeing. I think that this shot is fantastic and definitely shows the artistic potential that you have in photography. You did this one without my assistance and prodding while you were away and your mother says that you even gave her tips on proper composition.

You've done very well here to place where you did among the stiff competition. And while I would have liked to have seen this image score higher, I think that you did a wonderful job and this hints that you have a lot more surprises in store for all of us.

Riding The Wave
by yakatme

Comment:
Thanks Melanie and the Critique Club for the comments. To answer your question, yes, that's exactly what I did. The camera was upside down on the end of my monopod with the timer set to 5 seconds so that I could "compose" the shot based on where the lens seemed to be aimed. I did this while exiing The Wave because the rest of the GTG were leaving to get the passes to the others in the GTG. I didn't have much time to take a large number of shot like I normally do, but at least a couple came out pretty good without the need to crop the shot. A level horizon didn't even matter here either which made this even easier than others that I have done.

I first started doing this low perspective type of shots from my kayak with the Sony F707 which had a swivel body so that I could see the LCD screen. When I decided to go DSLR, I had to accept that I would no longer have an LCD to compose with and knew that I would just have to "wing it". I have gotten better at it with practice, but really I just take a lot of shots and keep varying the aim of the lens and the horizontal tilt of the of the camera body. I've thought about getting the right angle viewfinder attachments that I've seen advertised or even an 8 inch level or two.

As far as the colors in the shot go, especially the sky, they are actually more saturated than I like because of that blue and gold polarizer that I was using. I decided to go with it because others in the GTG were somewhat impressed after giving it a try. I tried it again out there after not having used it for more than a year because of the exaggerated effect. But, after I hiked out through the desert to The Wave, I was actually too lazy to change to a normal polarizer even though I knew that I should. Couple that with the limitations of post processing on my laptop without Photoshop and that's why the colors are a bit off.

Considering everything, I am very happy with my entry's placement in this challenge. Thank you, and all other commenters for taking the time on my image.

Navajo Spirit
by ericwoo

Comment:
You JUST edged me out of 12th. Again, I admire your patience in waiting for that shot. While everybody else was jostling around the crowds trying to get the perfect picture, you just stood by your tripod waiting and waiting. And it paid off. Congratulations!

Natural Bridges
by Nikolai1024

Comment:
Nice combination of photos from your trip out west. It's nice to see so many well scoring entries resulting from the GTG. I love that look of Bryce when there is snow around to really make the rock formations stand out. That bottom shot is awesome and I would like to see it as a super large panorama.

The American Southwest
by Cutter

Comment:
It does show the diversity of that area. A well deserved finish in the top ten. It's good to see some of the photos from the GTG doing so well.

Swirled in Stone
by rjkstesch

Comment:
Great use of all that time trying to get the shots without people in it. Good job editing on the laptop in the evening after being out all day too.

Advanced Editing Debate
by Art Roflmao

Comment:
Obviously you're wit and creativity come natural to you, otherwise this kind of fun that you are having would take ALL of your time and then some. Maybe you have some assistants working for you because I can't figure out how you have the time to make all of these creations. I truly wonder (I have for a long time now) what your career is that allows you to spend so much time on photography, post processing, and posting on DPChallenge. I want to be like you when I grow up :)

edit to add the current workshop on Photoshop that you are conducting in the forums.

Message edited by author 2007-05-05 12:04:39.

i00016.jpg
by rjkstesch

Comment:
You were really able to bring out a lot of detail in this early morning shot, even in the shadows.

i00088.jpg
by rjkstesch

Comment:
Fantastic capture with the two guys on the ledges. They look so tiny and really lend to the perspective. This helps to comprehend just how large the rock formations are out there.