Moore's Gulch at Sunset near Black Canyon City, AZ

[Douglas Sherman]

I have been looking at this area for an image for almost twenty years. Tonight, on the way home from our trip to California the lighting was perfect and I pulled over beyond the shoulder on busy I-17 to try to capture an image. Here it is. I didn't have enough time to set this up so I plan to go back tomorrow and try it from a different angle. I'll use your input to improve the image. Suggestions please.

 

[AlanLichty]

Neat to have clouds for your sunset as well as blooms on the saguaros.

As for return suggestions - I almost wish you were shooting this from a bit higher up. The foreground shrubs make the saguaros seem short and both are crowding the view of the mountainside behind.

 

[Tom Narwid]

Hey that's a beauty there Duggie.

 

[MonikaC]

I agree with Alan -- minimizing the bushes would help. The flowering saguaros are really cool & could anchor the shot nicely.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Beautiful scene, maybe you can take a ladder with you

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Neat to have clouds for your sunset as well as blooms on the saguaros.

As for return suggestions - I almost wish you were shooting this from a bit higher up. The foreground shrubs make the saguaros seem short and both are crowding the view of the mountainside behind.

Unfortunately, this is the highest I could get at this location, Alan. I know of a better spot just fifty yards from this location but I didn't have time as the light was waning quickly. I can get there earlier and set that one up to capture more of the mountain and the mesquite is not as high there.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Beautiful scene, maybe you can take a ladder with you

That is not a bad idea, Ben. I'll see if the other location I have scouted out is better. I think it is.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Hey that's a beauty there Duggie.

Thanks, Tom.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I agree with Alan -- minimizing the bushes would help. The flowering saguaros are really cool & could anchor the shot nicely.

I agree too, Monika. I will find out this afternoon when I go back.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Lovely image Doug. Looking forward to the image from the alternate location. A shift lens would also work to give you a higher perspective.

 

[sweetgrass]

Wow Doug, that color popping! But agree with the forum. Isolate the saguaros but include the hills in the background.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Doug, what a very cool scene. I sure like this, and it's worth a return visit.

I will pose the opposite view then Alan as I think lower down is better. The one thing I like to do on these is to get as much of the cactus as possible above the horizon by shooting lower. That brush that Alan mentioned does pose a problem for that, but maybe you can find an area with more time where the underbrush is not so thick.

I also think you could pull back on the yellow in the ground layer by adding some cooler blue to it. That will help separate the elements down on the ground a bit more.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Neat to have clouds for your sunset as well as blooms on the saguaros.
As for return suggestions - I almost wish you were shooting this from a bit higher up. The foreground shrubs make the saguaros seem short and both are crowding the view of the mountainside behind.

Hey that's a beauty there Duggie.

I agree with Alan -- minimizing the bushes would help. The flowering saguaros are really cool & could anchor the shot nicely.

Beautiful scene, maybe you can take a ladder with you

Lovely image Doug. Looking forward to the image from the alternate location. A shift lens would also work to give you a higher perspective.

Hey Doug, what a very cool scene. I sure like this, and it's worth a return visit.

I will pose the opposite view then Alan as I think lower down is better. The one thing I like to do on these is to get as much of the cactus as possible above the horizon by shooting lower. That brush that Alan mentioned does pose a problem for that, but maybe you can find an area with more time where the underbrush is not so thick.

I also think you could pull back on the yellow in the ground layer by adding some cooler blue to it. That will help separate the elements down on the ground a bit more.

Thanks for all of the good suggestions. I have nothing to post. I went back last night but the light was terrible. Win some and lose some. I'll go back again when the conditions are better.