The featured photo perfectly illustrates how light affects our photography.
The day I took this photo I drove from Knab (Utah) to Zion National Park early in the morning. The sun was rising behind the White Cliffs and they look less than spectacular, just huge grey rocks, nothing more. I did not even bother to stop the car and take a couple of shots.
On the way back from Zion in the late evening, I witnessed completely different landscape. The setting sun illuminated the White Cliffs with the warm evening light and I could swear that was the most beautiful rocks I have ever seen in my life.
Loc: 37°15’40” N 112°46’13” W
Shooting & Processing
I took 3 bracketed exposures (-2, 0 +2) using a tripod for support.
I used Photomatix to merge 3 bracketed photos to HDR and I put an extra effort to make sure I could emphasize the colors and the textures of the White Cliffs.
The main challenge, while processing this photo, was to remove all the distracting elements from the composition. I used the Stam Tool in Photoshop to mask/erase multiple road signs and electric wires.
Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: Sigma 17-70mm
Focal Length: 53mm
ISO: 100
Aperture: F9
Bracketing: 3 shots (-2; 0, +2)
Tripod: FEISOL Tournament CT-3442
