Sunset over the Santa Ana Mountains

[J. M. Livingston]

Yesterday afternoon I took a drive up Ortega Highway to scout out a location I'd heard of that has a waterfall during the winter and spring months. On my way back home I saw this scene where the mountain ridges layered across each other, even though the sun was already slipping over the mountains I knew I had to get this shot. Did a u-turn down the road a mile or so and came to wide-out where I could park and went for a little walk with my camera and tripod. Ended up capturing this image, looking forward to going back for both sunrise and another sunset, hopefully with some clouds in the sky next time.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the sky colors and the mountain layering - that sun angle adds a lot of depth to the scene. The bushes on the right and the trail in the foreground feel a bit too bright for the sun angle.

 

[JimFox]

That's a pretty nice scene John, no wonder you want to go back. Did you find the waterfall? Or where it would be?

 

[Ben Egbert]

Good eye here, and looking forward to other shots from this place.

 

[J. M. Livingston]

Thank you gentlemen.

Yes Jim, I found the waterfall (Ortega Falls, currently dry). Not sure it will work for what I was hoping, will need to go back and scout it again. It's a short trail but a lot of side-trails and wandering to get there, it's narrow and required a little "boulder hopping" which left my quads sore the next day.

Alan, I'll take another look in PS/LR and see how it looks when I lower the foreground brightness.

 

[Zeph]

I like that the setting sun isn't directly visible and blocked by the right flank of mountains. The golden hills have a special light.