Bob Israel
Well-Known Member
I've been on the road for the past week in the southwest. This image is from a couple of days ago during an overnight at Shiprock in New Mexico. When we arrived, the skies were gray, the wind was gusting to 40 mph and the sky was gray. I was hoping for some blowing sand or maybe a long exposure to streak the clouds but neither were in the cards. I was focusing on foreground compositions with this majestic rock in the background. Honestly, none of it was working out.
As the sun was setting, there was the beginning of a glow. Still, nothing dramatic but I clicked away anyway thinking I could come up with a gloomy black and white or something like that. Then, the sky exploded with color. Everything was bathed in tones of red, orange, magenta and then the rainbow! Of course, we were more than excited. The rainbow lasted for only a few minutes but the fire in the sky continued with different cloud formations or light and color (more images to come)
I was attending Mark Metternich's Ultimate Southwest and White Pocket workshop. If you have ever considered this or any of his workshops, just do it! I have so many positive things to say about Mark and the workshop. First, Mark is the hardest working workshop leader I have ever experienced. I think he got about two hours of sleep each of the first two nights. He was scouting locations, checking the weather and making sure any of the many possible locations would be accessible . . . not only getting in but getting out. It is monsoon season in the southwest and many of the locations are only accessible by 4x4 high clearance vehicles. So, if a storm hit while on location, it might be difficult to impossible to get out.
Mark's clear knowledge of the area gave us many possibilities to locations few, if any, have ever seen let alone photograph. The workshop had an open itinerary which is based on weather and light. Some would say we were blessed with great light throughout the workshop. However, Mark's hard work and diligence certainly contributed to greatly improve our chances.
It was clear that Mark's goal was to make sure the workshop participants had a great adventure, learn new techniques and have a ton of fun along the way. It was a resounding success. I knew of Mark from this and other forums but never met him till now. Along with some great images and memories, I have a new friend!
As the sun was setting, there was the beginning of a glow. Still, nothing dramatic but I clicked away anyway thinking I could come up with a gloomy black and white or something like that. Then, the sky exploded with color. Everything was bathed in tones of red, orange, magenta and then the rainbow! Of course, we were more than excited. The rainbow lasted for only a few minutes but the fire in the sky continued with different cloud formations or light and color (more images to come)
I was attending Mark Metternich's Ultimate Southwest and White Pocket workshop. If you have ever considered this or any of his workshops, just do it! I have so many positive things to say about Mark and the workshop. First, Mark is the hardest working workshop leader I have ever experienced. I think he got about two hours of sleep each of the first two nights. He was scouting locations, checking the weather and making sure any of the many possible locations would be accessible . . . not only getting in but getting out. It is monsoon season in the southwest and many of the locations are only accessible by 4x4 high clearance vehicles. So, if a storm hit while on location, it might be difficult to impossible to get out.
Mark's clear knowledge of the area gave us many possibilities to locations few, if any, have ever seen let alone photograph. The workshop had an open itinerary which is based on weather and light. Some would say we were blessed with great light throughout the workshop. However, Mark's hard work and diligence certainly contributed to greatly improve our chances.
It was clear that Mark's goal was to make sure the workshop participants had a great adventure, learn new techniques and have a ton of fun along the way. It was a resounding success. I knew of Mark from this and other forums but never met him till now. Along with some great images and memories, I have a new friend!
