Moving Rock

Without a doubt one of the best images I have seen of the Racetrack; and yes, I have seen a few. What stands this image apart is the crisp and brilliant clarity presented. The textures of this hardened mud form an almost hypnotic pattern that lofts the viewer deeper into the beauty beyond. The question of originality, especially for landscapes, has itself been viewed many times before, and I see nothing here in this discussion that is original on this point. I, myself, will continue to be delighted with images such as this, seeing as I do the shared appreciation for the everchanging and infinite variety of moods that nature imparts...

Mark, although I agree that tripod hole shots should never be the ultimate goal of any photographer, it is fair to say that the vast majority of photographers never get to the point where they can do what is necessary to get this shot. Are all Martin's shots "tripod hole" shots? Have you never taken any? (Haven't we all?)

Actually, I can articulate something that feels fresh and original about this image. It's really about the sensation I feel of scudding across this landscape. Where the clarity and expanse of this landscape -- an expanse that is being traversed by both cloud and rock -- imparts an almost proprioceptive sensation of scudding...

 

Part of the originality of any image is its ability to evoke original responses from the viewer. You might want to ask what you bring to the table.

Nathan Wegemer wrote:
Also, if the rock were moving by the wind, it would want to show itself to the wind in such a way as to offer the least resistance... by this I mean it would tend to rotate to offer the least drag, and in the case of this rock I think the sloped face that is before the camera would have turned around, and the the taller, more vertical face that is not looking at the camera would have then been facing us. Really perplexing.

So true. But what if the wind blew backwards over this rock?

:^)

I love the framing and the way the complete silhouette of the first ridge contrasts with the color of the second ridge. A lot of things had to go right to make this the shot that it is.

Perfection! Perfect lighting. Perfect composition. Very interesting subject matter! 7/7

I don't know if all of Martin's shots are tripod shots or not. I've certainly taken my fair share. While I was learning the technical skills required to take them, it was fun, and it's still fun sometimes, but more in the sense that it's fun getting outdoors and doing it rather than any satisfaction at the results.

 

There's no doubt that Martin's shot is technically much better than most of the photos I googled up, which are mainly snapshots. I only object to being accused of being "jaded about the environment" or whatever it was. It's quite possible to be very interested in the environment and yet find this photo, or even nature photography in general, mostly boring. Photographs of the environment are not the environment.

Sorry, should read "I don't know if all of Martin's shots are tripod-hole shots or not."

The ice element was explained by scientists in a scientific magazine published 4-5 years ago.

The precipitations at the Racetrack are very, very low. If the playa was getting very wet the

rock would tend to sink a bit in the mud and the tracks would also tend to dissapear. From

my recollection of the article the cold of winter nights allows the surface humidity to freeze

hardening a bit the playa and allowing the rocks to kind of float thus allowing the winds to

slightly move the rocks. Keep in mind that it take years for a rock to make some patterns as

they sometimes change directions.

I always thought this discussion was about the photo. Most of the comments I have read seem to be about why the rocks move, which is pretty easy to find out by using google with "racetrack death valley moving rocks". This is a very good photo (and I won't add "not perfect" because I don't see what that is supposed to imply other than say "very good but it could be better) I don't see why it should be any better - and yes, I would love to see the results of the 5x4 shots. Can I also say that I got a bit lost looking at links in the photographers website, but he missed out www.christopherburkett.com and www.harrycorywright.com. Thanks for the piuc, and I hope you sell a shedload of them for $350 or whatever you are asking - you evidently know what you are doing.

Cheers robertx

This is an excellent photo. I have been to this place, and I have seen numerous other photos of this same subject. So far, this is the best photo of a rock on the "Race Track" that I have seen. The photo has great, dynamic, intriguing composition: in contrast to the many flat views, this one is very three dimensional. The angle of view positions the sinuous track to drive this composition. The lighting and complementary hues couldn't have been done better in a studio. I bet it took some patience to get the lighting you got here.

 

There are a lot of other rocks out there, and the choice of this rock makes the scene; it looks like a detached head of a prehistoric saurian. It creates the feeling of a silurian sea creature stranded on a drying seabed as it vainly tried to reach a receding ocean.

 

There's a lot of art in this image.

I've never seen in real this extraordinary phenomena but it let me totaly speechless viewing it in picture.

I've already seen it from other photographers and tried to understand....

As it is a mystery (for me), great part because of my poor English, I just want to say I'm in admiration viewing this wonderful quality and dimension of this photograph.

The wide angle gives to the picture a complete view of the track, from the point where the rock is stopping to the wonderful sky.

A rare and admirable POW.

Bravo.

It makes you wonder how the rock moved? I like the composition but it lacks some colors and level adjustments. Anyhow very interesting photo.

For those who can read French, a good explanation about this phenomema of the "rolling stones"... :

 

http://chezclaude.mon-blog.org/index.php/Les-pierres-qui-bougent

Nice picture

 

 

Reminds me of the one Fred Miranda has in his gallery:

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/hosting/showphoto.php?photo=2197&sort=1&cat=500&page=4

 

Mark

Looking at the world in a truthful way requires that we clear our

minds as much as possible of our preconceived notions and

simply view what we see with new vision every moment.

This is a wonderful photograph and if it is the only one you ever

saw of this strange phenomena it would be worth remembering.

Good composition, color, strong elements. If the explanation for

this were simple, i.e. simply ice, simply wind, simply slippery

mud, etc. you'd see it on every dry lake bed in the world but you

don't. Go see it your self and experience a bit of wonder. It is

unlike any other place in the world.

I am saddened by how many responses to this photo can be

summed up by 'I've seen better'. Better of course is in the mind of

the beholder. What criteria do you consider paramount? Dinner

with some of these people must be a real gas. "Nice steak but

I've had better', 'Jeez, this wine again?'.

For every photographer that values sharpness (impossible to

judge on your monitor in most cases anyway) over content, there

is another that values color balance over shadow detail. Some

like pinhole photography. Some just like the look and feel of a

photo.

Photography encompasses a huge range of qualities and it it is

about capturing an aspect of something fleeting, a flicker of

existence. Just look, just experience the moment that has been

captured. If the photograph doesn't speak of the moment, then it

has failed. If it says something, anything, about the moment,

then it has succeeded.

 

Say something constructive.

 

Great moment captured, Martin.

Great image.

 

I can't get past the people claiming this is not original, not good enough, etc..

 

Everyone of those comments reads as a thinly veiled, "I'm better then this and I'm jealous I don't have a PoW." It is really sad that all the PoW discussions have degraded to this over the last year or two.

 

There is almost no constructive criticism of the image in this thread, I guess that means it really is a stunning image of this phenomenon, because everyone would rather act jealous then critique the image.

 

The only things I can think of that could make this better would be waiting around (for years?) for dramatic weather and maybe adding a bit more sky to the image. Without dramatic weather this composition seems the best choice. Short of someone developing an Ansel Adamsish dedication to this place, this seems to be the best we can hope to see.

I do like the 'adjusted levels' version. Perhaps it just a wee smidgeon too saturated, but does help give the image a bit more 'pop', as they say. It's close to how I would adjust it. -Greg-

Perhaps somewhere midway between the two (maintain natural look, while adding more contrast & color saturation).

I like what Javed's version with adjusted levels has done to the rock (i.e. makes it stand out far more agqainst the lakebed) but not what it's done to the sky (it's a bit vulgar and velvet-Elvis, plus tends to draw the eye away from the rock). I'd keep the levels adjusted rock/lakebed (the bottom half of the picture) and do a mask to erase back to the original on top. Just a suggestion.

I have adjusted the levels again. This is for you Phillip.

Are you suggesting that rocks migrate????

 

Very clever well executed image.

 

FWIW, I prefer the original. I think the colors in the second image are oversaturated and garish and take away from the concept.

Isn't there any possibility that rock has been moving against wind? If wind dug sand in front of rock and piled behind, rock has no way to go but windward. It can be occurerd by the weight of rock itself, not by the pushing force of wind. Wind has been pulling rock and yet now.

Now, don't start thinking about photographing our sun setting; it's been done before.

The original work is an excellently executed image celebrating a quiet mystery.

The original is an extremely well executed photo - very good clarity, sharpness and balance. The dark hills (where some viewers say details have been lost) don't bother me at all - they sit comfortably where they are in the composition. One of the better shots of this phenomenon that I have seen.

 

The alternative versions do have a bit more 'pop' but the blueness of the stone seems totally unnatural in them.

 

On the originality or lack of: perhaps we should be thankful that a photo taken recently somewhere in the world still looks like one taken years ago, thankful that there are still some unspoilt places. The bumpier the trail to this place the better IMO.