1 Eastern Sierra Sunset, 6 different views

Mjollnir

First of all, thanks to all those who offered advice on what I thought was a catastrophic LR3 implosion. My RAW files have all been found.

On July 4th, I was driving down the 395 w/my g/f, much later than usual, and as we were approaching Independence, CA, the clouds were indicating it would be a mutha of a sunset. We decided to pull in to the Alabama Hills by Lone Pine if the color and clouds held by the time we got to Lone Pine.

None of these have had color/saturation mods, only slight contrast and white balance tweaks.

I have stopped numerous times on Black Rock Springs Rd., since it offers really nice, wide-open views of the eastern escarpment and the valley, and can often include shifting light/weather system changes with a grander, more cinematic perspective than other areas where one can just pull off the 395.

The only problem is that often its hazy from northerlies that blow up dust from the lake bed of Owens Lake, so in between quick rain fronts is the best time to catch decent atmospheric conditions. This is just north of Independence, the first indications we had the the clouds/light/sunset might be good. The mountain most of the light is on is Mt. Williamson.



The first shot taken after we entered the Alabama Hills, taken from the turn-around that people usually use for the hike to Mobius Arch. Sort of a pre-sunset view of the clouds over Mt. Whitney. Whitney is the formation almost in the middle of range.



Relatively same view/clouds, as the light starts to intensify. I didn't want it to be too Maxfield Parrish-y, but it sort of turned out that way.



Color starting to turn, w/Lone Pine Peak to the left and Mt. Whitney to the right with the peach clouds next to it.



Turning around 180 degrees from where I was, looking east towards the Inyo Mountains.



Finally, looking north, with the good luck to have separation between the color layers and clouds, making for a high contrast shot that's not the forte of the small sensor of the LX5, but I tried. The mountain to the left is Mt. Williamson. If anyone has any suggestions on how to improve this shot, I welcome them.

pete4130

I feel like I want to keep looking upwards because there is so much sky in them, like I want to tilt my head back and keep wanting to see more at the bottom of the frame if that makes any sense?

red_ice

pete4130 wrote: »

I feel like I want to keep looking upwards because there is so much sky in them, like I want to tilt my head back and keep wanting to see more at the bottom of the frame if that makes any sense?

yeh i get you. number 1 is nice, needs some shop tho imo!

Mjollnir

pete4130 wrote: »

I feel like I want to keep looking upwards because there is so much sky in them, like I want to tilt my head back and keep wanting to see more at the bottom of the frame if that makes any sense?

Yeah, that makes sense, but as you can tell by the mountains, and the contrast, the sky was where it was going off. Anything you don't see in the frame was basically just black rock and scrub brush that was left out.

pete4130

initially saw on an iphone so got a better look now. I really like the 1st shot.