Dawn of Time, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

Location: Mesa Arch, in Canyonlands National Park. This area of the park is known as the 'Island In The Sky'. This is a shot looking through Mesa Arch towards Washerwoman Arch at sunrise.

About the photo: This was my third attempt at this shot. Twice before I'd made the journey to Mesa Arch for a sunrise shot, but there were clouds on the horizon both times, blocking the sun. Third time was the charm for me. The sun came up and lit up the underside of Mesa Arch with the strongest orange glow I've ever seen on a rock. My photo doesn't even come close to capturing the brilliant color on the underside of the arch. The bright glow only lasts about 10 minutes, but it's amazing to witness.

Film was scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED.
Levels were adjust in Photoshop.

Floydian, Rodrigues, cyrrhus, alainh, Mistral, lucinka oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Floydian (30970) 2006-04-21 18:14

Hi Ryan,
Great shot from a well known place. The best picture i've ever seen from this place is from Peter Lik and David Munch.
But you did also well on this one, although i prefer it a bit wider.
Nevertheless high quality photo and a perfect scan.
Velvia rules...!!! ;-)
Regards, Henk

FAMELITY (16) 2006-04-21 18:28

Nice pic,good depth and contrast. Try a panorama lense next time, you 'll have a much more impresive outcome. Worth waiting!

Cheers,
Yiannis.

CycleEyes (24) 2006-04-21 18:49

Hi Ryan! Beautiful shot!
I see one picture of this location yesterday, in Tamrac (camera carryng systems ) 2005 catalogue cover, Sunrise in Red Rock Country - Susan and Neil Silverman.
Congratulations, nice exposure!
George

daddo (28748) 2006-04-21 19:34

Greetings Ryan. Magical shot that captures the grand forces at play that control us all. The sun and its companion Time carve their impressions on rock and on every face. Lovely, subtle use of light. Clever PoV giving us a rich, elongated vista. regarsds Klaudio

clickrick (385) 2006-04-21 21:44

Ryan,
I admire your perseverence in getting this shot. Often, a great shot comes with luck but in this case, you made your luck... Good for you
I like the fact that you've kept some sky in the shot: it gives a better idea of the scale of what we are looking at.
Richard

jjcordier (79299) 2006-04-22 1:11

Ryan
Un point de vue trčs original sur ce canyon. Pas facile de contrôler ces zones éclairées trčs différemment mais le résultat final me séduit assez.
Best regards
JJ

tjanze (5674) 2006-04-22 2:13

Hi Ryan!
Wow! Fantastic.Specialy I like orange roof and gold sun rays.Bravo!

poulinp (4528) 2006-04-22 8:04

Wonderful light, original framing. A gate to an other world...I like it very much.

Rodrigues (1035) 2006-04-22 17:34 [Comment]

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yesterday (9833) 2006-04-24 5:26 [Comment]

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cyrrhus (2878) 2006-04-27 17:28

Hello Ryan,
This one looks like the mouth of a glowing furnace... I appreciate that you've needed three trips to Mesa Arch to capture it.
I don't know the place so that I can hardly compare to other POVs but as a geologist I find this rocky composition very attractive.
Eric /.

alainh (33209) 2006-04-28 5:53

hello Ryan
great picture !
fine compostion and a light perfectly managed but the must is the angle and how you framed your composition !
fantastique place and great shot.
congrtas for your gallery
have a good day
alain

paolino (1024) 2006-05-06 4:56

Hi Ryan,
I agree with many other comments: it is an excellent shot, though it was realized in difficult light conditions.
Best regards Paolo

dsidwell (9783) 2006-05-07 1:19

This is a classic location and a well done image, Ryan. Nicely handled light here, and depth of field.

Mistral (15416) 2006-05-18 17:20

Hi Ryan
another example in how you can manage the light so well.
Composition and framing are excellent too!
A smile (again)
Luca

corsicastorm (3236) 2006-06-01 13:37

Une gallery magnifique! difficile de faire un choix...voici une image puissante avec une composition originale et une parfaite gestion de la lumičre!

Dari (24) 2006-06-02 4:47

Hello, Ryan. Looked through you gallery - great, everyone your work deserves 2 points, but let me comment this one (pity my keyboard :)) . Your creative eye found this perfect frame. Breathtaking landskape and amazing sun light. Just great
Dari

Polonaise (5802) 2006-09-07 7:47

You have discovered this incredible land for...me!
Most unusual, most beautiful photographs from this place...ever.
And there is about two gazillions of them, yet...Yours tops the list!
I'm your debtor
g.

dbyoungster (29) 2006-10-17 21:51

Hey Ry,

As good as the other version is, this is much better. The tighter shot gives a more intimate view of the rugged texture of the face of the arch, and I really like the light play of the orange underside on the left versus the pale yellow on the right in the distance.

Sweet!.

Keep shooting.

Deeb.

lucinka (9976) 2007-06-20 15:56

Hello Ryan, I was going through your portfolio and I've noticed how little attention this photo got compared to its beauty. I remember looking at it some time ago and really don't understand why I didn't leave any comment. Well here it goes, (better late than than never) - wonderful work, fantastic light and excellent composition. I definitely have to ask you to be my guide once I get to be close to your region. Lucie

smarcell (19965) 2007-09-21 8:29

I also like this version more than the other with wider view.
I know this is a famous point, and you caught the perfect light. When I was there, it was cloudy !
Your gallery is really excellent. Great landscape pictures, (and not only landscape) but not "fake" landscape, like very often they are also here on TE (I mean, fake dramatic skies, unreal sunsets, blurred waves etc).
Also your POVs are very different from picture to picture. Not the usual wide-angle lens landscape, but also very beautiful compositions of different kind. Congratulations.

Regards Stefano

deud (1920) 2009-01-23 22:17

just great! very nice pov, light, colors.
the atmosphere indeed is great!

tfs

ikhw4ns (12) 2009-10-17 23:04 [Comment]

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Photo Information

Copyright: Ryan Thayne (euryan) (8442)
Genre: Miejsca
Medium: Kolorowe
Date Taken: 2004-03-24
Categories: Natura
Camera: Canon EOS 3, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, Fuji Velvia
Naświetlenie: f/22
Details: Tripod: Yes
Wersja zdjęcia: Oryginalna wersja
Temat(y): Twins? [Part VIII], American Southwest, My Best Shots [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-04-21 18:02
Ulubione: 6 [Widok]