Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Nice! But #1 is best by far! What an Incredible photograph!

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Over saturated? Maybe.
But I ask you, how much detail would otherwise get lost in blandness? It's a fine line we sometimes walk.

I like them!

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

#1 is from a hundred feet to the right of the 'offical' Viewpoint area --i.e., the place the paved walkway leads to from the parking lot-- at Green River Overlook in the Island In The Sky district. The view in the pic is similar to, but wider than, the shot that had been used (throughout the '90's and up to about 2010) -on the park brochure visitors would be given when they arrived. I first saw/photographed the place in the middle '80's (before there was pavement), and since then -- the same as now-- have considered the place one of the most sublime places I know. Slightly off to the left of the official Viewpoint fence and stuff is a large hump of rock. Its there that Max von Sydow (in the role of Jesus) was positioned to give the 'sermon on the mount' in the 1965 movie 'The Greatest Story Ever Told.' "Blessed are the peacemakers....." with Turks Head, the Green River, Millard Canyon, the Orange Cliffs & etc. as a backdrop, all trying their best to look like the Jordan River and Palestine and thereabouts. Who'da guessed? Beyond the place I shot this shot, a quarter mile or so toward what's called 'Little Half Dome', we carried out the body of a guy who'd committed suicide, the details of which I won't go into here.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I thank you for coming to my 'defense' so-to-speak, but it really isn't necessary. As well, I hope Mr. Greenwood sees this note as well, since before now I haven't quite known how to reply.

One of the hardest things I know is how difficult it is to try to describe what happens to colors and tones and hues on certain sorts of sandstones in the Southwest when and where it torrentially rains. And how every aspect of a half black, half bright stormy sky, late in an afternoon when sunlight is filtered through clouds that are purple here, brown there, and yellow elsewhere affects the land. If you haven't seen it --countless times, in all its varieties-- for yourself, you'll never understand it, and you'll never believe its real. Which, from one fleeting moment to another before it all goes blah, it is.

The contrast ranges in each of these shown, and others I shot but have yet to post, go beyond extreme. Shooting multiple images at differing exposures (for HDR) was not an option; light was changing rapidly and wind was scudding clouds just as fast. I tend to be a little fastidious with exposure, and under conditions such as these, and in particular when shooting multiple images to merge as panos, whomever doesn't control the highlights, doesn't control the image. That leaves shadow areas dark, almost to the point of non-recovery, and it thus becomes necessary to rely on experience with processing software to actualize an image. Obviously that means lifting shadows/darks while trying to maintain veracity in the tones, never a simple thing to do. Especially when the actual tones are slightly 'unreal' to begin with.

So, "overcooked"? Perhaps. To some. But the sky and land conditions at the time are as much the culprit as me.

Gene Spearman Loc: Greenville, South Carolina.

Wonderful set. No. 1 barely.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

You're on a roll Jim! Really nice images.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

Excellent! I can't pick a favorite

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Excellent set!

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Gorgeous images Jim

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Outstanding set. Couldn't pick a favorite. Well done.
>i< Doc

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Outstanding and two pots of gold to boot.

George Limle

#3,Would hang that on my wall any day!

merrytexan Loc: georgia

gorgeous shots...no 2 for me!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

These are all beautiful. That said, the first one is my winner by far. Congratulations on an excellent set of photos--my winners for the day.

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

Absolutely stunning photographs. I love your work, Cany.