Sunrise at Mt. Whitney

[ProCaliberTraveler]

This sunrise shot was taken in the Alabama Hills during Presidents Day weekend this year. All of the other photographers had set up shop at Arch Rock, so I wandered around looking for another vantage point. I stumbled upon this blooming Indian Paintbrush plant, the only one I saw all morning. In order to get this shot, I had to lie prone in the dirt. The Sigma 17-50mm lens was used.

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[Ben Egbert]

Beautiful image, your efforts really paid off here.

 

[AlanLichty]

Very nice - much better than fighting the mobs for the same shot everyone else got as well.

 

[Timmeh]

It's still a good time of year for the sunrise in the Lone Pine area, with the shadows that Lone Pine Peak casts on itself. Excellent choice on avoiding Mobius Arch. On a cloudless day it doesn't really have much draw unless it's someone's first time in the Alabama Hills. The paintbrush is an excellent find. You didn't mention whether you'd like critique, but I have some thoughts if you'd like them.

Tim

 

[ProCaliberTraveler]

It's still a good time of year for the sunrise in the Lone Pine area, with the shadows that Lone Pine Peak casts on itself. Excellent choice on avoiding Mobius Arch. On a cloudless day it doesn't really have much draw unless it's someone's first time in the Alabama Hills. The paintbrush is an excellent find. You didn't mention whether you'd like critique, but I have some thoughts if you'd like them.

Tim

Go for it! Critique is always welcome.

 

[Timmeh]

I feel like this would be stronger as two separate images. The middle ground between the flower and the Sierra isn't bridging the gap between them since it's mostly featureless scrub. Based on your choices I would call the main subject the Sierra since it is in focus, but the rich color of the flower draws my eye more. Were you inside the minimum focus distance of the lens? If you weren't I would either focus on the flower and let the mountains go out of focus, or focus stack.

 

[JimFox]

Love that early morning light on the peaks. I will come back to this one again tonight when I have a little more time.

 

[ProCaliberTraveler]

I feel like this would be stronger as two separate images. The middle ground between the flower and the Sierra isn't bridging the gap between them since it's mostly featureless scrub. Based on your choices I would call the main subject the Sierra since it is in focus, but the rich color of the flower draws my eye more. Were you inside the minimum focus distance of the lens? If you weren't I would either focus on the flower and let the mountains go out of focus, or focus stack.

I see what you mean. The middle of the shot is like no man’s land unfortunately.

Yes, I was at the minimum focus on the lens. It was an awkward angle, and it was one of those moments where you know you have to hurry because the light is changing so quickly. I also have a vertical shot of this scene which has Lone Pine Peak on the left and Mt. Whitney on the right, with the Indian paintbrush at the bottom. That image may Work better than the horizontal shot

 

[JimFox]

Love that early morning light Michael.

I like what you were going for here. The biggest issue for me is the Indian brush being out of focus. You would almost be better to have the mountains be slightly soft then the foreground not in focus.

What was your aperture set at?

One solution to situations like this that I use sometime is to back further back. You will have more of the scene in your frame then you want, but you just crop that out. By backing up though, the area in the scene that you really want, will be in focus, if you focused on the Flowers.

 

[ProCaliberTraveler]

Love that early morning light Michael.

I like what you were going for here. The biggest issue for me is the Indian brush being out of focus. You would almost be better to have the mountains be slightly soft then the foreground not in focus.

What was your aperture set at?

One solution to situations like this that I use sometime is to back further back. You will have more of the scene in your frame then you want, but you just crop that out. By backing up though, the area in the scene that you really want, will be in focus, if you focused on the Flowers.

You're right. After I looked back at the photos I took, I was a little frustrated that the indian paintbrush was out of focus. This was a tricky spot because I was lying down on a downward slope. Had I moved backwards, it would have been more difficult and uncomfortable for my neck to get the flowers in the shot.

The aperture was set to f/8.