moving rock

I have to agree with both Patrick and Chris completely. I too have photographed this area and struggled to find that unique perspective that would separate me from all the others before me. I didn't not succeed any where near what you have present here. A very well done on a beautifully unique image!

Jane, as I said over two years ago, I appreciate the unique perspective (more eloquently described by Philip Doyle and Patrick Flynn) that

provided more emphasis to the foreground. Regarding some of the comments, yes, you can increase the contrast, but one of my standard

phrases (especially regarding photoshop manipulations) is "just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should." Actually, I

like both variations, and I'd probably be tempted to increase contrast on some portions of the image (e.g., the playa, maybe the clouds)

rather than others (e.g., the hills). Finally, I'm a bit envious of you, Chris, and Leo in that you've actually made it to the racetrack. I

headed out there once in a Ford Tempo, got about two miles and realized there would be little left of the car if I continued on that

washboard road, so I have yet to see the phenomenon with my own eyes. All the more reason to appreciate the photograph you have

shared. Thanks.

This is an excellent composition, but in my opinion there are some minor technical adjustments that I would make. Straighten the horizon by two and a half degrees, crop a little off the bottom to bring the horizon line exactly into the upper third of the picture, increase the tonal range so as Tony Hadley said, we have tones from the value of zero, (shadow under the rock), to the value of two fifty-five, (a spot in the clouds), finally I personally feel slightly more comfortable with the picture rotated 180 degrees. As per my example. Congratulations and thanks for sharing

I think this is a wonderful picture. As other contributors have said, it is a different interpretation of the scene compared to the clichéd versions. By doing her homework, Jane has gone in with a fresh view and captured something different.

 

What I really like about the picture is an underlying feeling of edginess and mystery. It is well known that these rocks have never been seen to move, and yet the trail of this rock seems to snake its way from behind the hills in the distance. It is almost as if the rock is coming towards you, but only moves when you aren't looking at it (Doctor Who fans will recognise this concept from the excellent Statues episode a year or two ago). The wide expanse of foreground gives you the feeling that the rock is heading your way, and you need to keep your eyes on it or else it will be on top of you...

 

The deliberate distortion of the 14mm lens works well, and the range of tones is fine. Just because you can get a little extra doesn't necessarily mean you have to. Having seen Dimitrius's revised version I actually prefer the original orientation and expanse of foreground as it helps to give it that edginess. Having the horizon on a third and reading left to right just makes it more conventional, which goes against the original spirit of the image for me.

 

The only tweak to make is the horizon which is slightly askew - use that spirit level next time Jane as it's never easy to get them right by eye.

 

This is a place I've wanted to get to, but we couldn't get there last time I was out there because of rock falls and I don't think we'l ll be able to make it when I'm out there in a few weeks time. So I'm envious!

wonderful shot, well done and wonderful compotition, congratulations

Jane, as stated above by the many, this is a superbly photographed version of a frequently photographed icon of SW USA. In looking at your many wonderful landscapes in your portfolio, I came away inspired. That wide angle lens does wonders generally, but in this picture I find it at fault. In fact, the only problem aside from the not too level horizon is the distortion of the very near foreground. Not only is there distortion, but the image darkens as it nears the bottom of the picture. This makes one feel that the immediate foreground drops off and that the photographer is standing in a hole. You could fix that with the bottom quarter of the pic cropped away, or as a minimum, lightened a bit to reduce the effect.

 

Had you taken two or three photographs, one at your feet, another midway up the scene, and a third of the horizon and sky you could use one of the several very good stitching programs and not have this problem at all. I like the vertical panorama effect you have here, but am bothered by the distortion.

 

Willie the Cropper

I think this is a marvellous image. The foreground is almost hypnotic as it rushes forward to meet you.

The way the rock is placed high in the frame giving it a secondary role leaves you with the impresion that weird thing happen here, but this isn't quite weird enough to bother giving much attention too, which makes it even more weird (if you get what I mean)! The slightly misty hills on the right add to the mystery and the whole scene is given a final touch of other planetness by the wide angle distortion which makes me feel as if I could be viewing the whole scene through the window of a lunar module!

 

Simon

Congratulation on getting POW.

 

A great angle on an oft photo'd subject and I wondered why, what did you do that was different. I had a look at some of the more famous takes on this place like Michael Fatali and Alan Briot versions for example. Well there are a lot of great points above, and somehow this image gives the impression of speed and pace, yes it is a bit like the "Blink" episode of Doctor Who as was mentioned above. By the way if you havent seen this get a hold of the show its great.

 

Id say this image being so dynamic (which is the complete opposite of what is really happening which makes it all the more interesting) is down to several points:

 

- rule of thirds is pretty close to the position of objects, but not slavish so works well on the eye

- lots of space for the stone to zoom into

- the foreground with its geometric pattern also gives you a great sense of progression and distance to the stone

- and the other stone or object, its a tiny dot at the end of the trail giving a bit more mystery, is it being chased, is it in a race, why did it veer off onto another direction, gets you thinking

- or was it merely running from that nasty looking cloud

 

Did you think of all of the above or did you just compose it this way cos it felt right?

 

Being really picky, there are some minor technical improvements, like bottom part of image that isnt sharp, blown out highlights, and maybe some lense distortion that needs correction.

 

But lets face it, with composition like this the suggestions for improvement are finessing a great image.

 

Cheers M

Congratulations, Jane, for your Photo of the Week. It is always great to recibe apprreciation from others. It is a quite uncommon nature phenomenon this one of the moving rocks, because the extra conditions of temperature - probably water to help rock to be lighter ? - and wind that are needed to move it could be very extraordinary - depending on the weight; unfortunately, I can not appreciate if this rock is 150 grs. or 5 kgs., what it would give more extra points to the phenomenon. I read something about it in NG magazine. Great to hear from you and your images, Jane. Josemi Gondra.

P.D.: Personally, I would have focused from somewhere more to the left, trying to show better the path made by the rock in his movement.

Thanks for the comments...

 

I wasn't sure how to approach this amazing phenomenon....it was an erie atmsophere on the race track.. it felt

very empty and lonely (despite my husbands presence), there was also a feeling of encroaching time due to the

need to get back along the very rough track before dark.....

I felt somehow I wanted to capture some of this feeling.. and being present within the large expanse of the

playa which I thought was achieved using the wide angle....The 14mm lens also felt like it was working for me

while shooting as it exaggerated the wonderful cracked earth. I experimented with lower and higher viewpoints,

with this image, the lens was only a few feet or less off the ground and I was scrabbling around on my knees. It

gave a more

intimate feeling of the cracked earth... I was only a few feet away from this stone but again the distance is

exaggerated and I liked that effect. I did have more close up images and others further away, used standard WA

but they just didn't provide the surreal affect. I must admit though I didn't pick this image as my favourite

until I converted to black and white, it was then that the image really worked. So I wasn't able to see the

potential of the image in capture at the time.. It was in the quiet of the digital dark room that I surveyed my

different approaches and chose what worked the best. This approach reflected my inexperience but I still would

say I haven't matured enough as a photographer to only take a few captures of a given scene, I still have to take

a selection and chimp at the results, before deciding on a final vewpoint that really excites me... I have spent

some time over the last year with some large format photographers ( David Ward, Chris Andrews, Nigel Halliwell

and others) who amaze me how they can decide on 1 exposure that encapsulates their feeling about the scene in

front of them.. These guys suggest that I spend more time exploring the landscape with my eyes and less time

looking at the LCD but my ability to see without the camera has definately improved as I gain more experience.

 

Jane

Interesting.

 

There was one other thing I forgot to mention, western culture expects things to go left to right, we are

accustomed to reading this way, hence the little change of direction and the positioning of the rock to the left

of the image also gives that impression of dynamism, its got plenty of space to zoom into. Try taking a photo of

something moving and flip it both ways around give it more space to move into you'll soon see what I mean.

 

Yeah it is all about putting the time in and working a place, finding the right angle, subtle changes of position

can make a big difference and then it often all clicks (pardon the pun) not to mention getting the right light

too. Might have to go back many times to the same place for it all to work. I also find that I change my mind

over time about which ones hit the spot, so yeah work the location but also take plenty of shots. Holidays are a

real problem cos you

just dont have that luxury, often one chance for it all to line up, so this result is all the more impressive.

 

Cheers M

This is just an excellent shot. The mood created by the clouds is wonderful. The wide angle really adds to the desolation of the location. Very well done, you have to be happy with this.

Although this scenery has been photographed many times, the detailed ground pattern, the placement of the rock, the misty sky, the proportion of objects all meld together to give a refreshing perspective. Great job!

Nice photo. Don't change it; it looks fine. Congratulations.

 

Some of the posters have said that this is a cliche topic; but, I have spent years of my life in deserts around the world and have never

seen this. I thought it was interesting. In fact, when I first saw it, I thought it was another photo editing trick.

 

As far as the "flipping" discussion goes, with the mirror imaging of the picture, I just wanted to point out that many masters of European

painting were left handed; if you check out their works some of what makes their works stand out from the crowd is light entering from

the right instead of the left; a natural approach for a left handed illustrator in a western culture. The photo looks fine. Nice range of

middle grays. Again, congratulations. J.

movement, poise and desolation all capsuled in one composition. this is most interesting indeed and you ought to be

praised for offering us this photograph.

Great shot. Looks like a perfect day for B&W too.

Caspar Knox

Some of the posters have said that this is a cliche topic; but, I have spent years of my life in deserts around the world and have never seen this.

That's really beside the point. Spend years of your life looking at landscape photos and you'll see it a hundred times. It's right up there with Slot Canyon and Arches National Park.

Anyway, it's better than the average snap, but I don't think the composition is too interesting. The most interesting feature of these shots is the sinuous tracks the rocks make, and you've reduced that to insignificance.

What a nice shot. A lot of compliments

I like it. Even the wide angle distortion works well here; enhances it really.

 

 

 

Congratulations Jane.

In response to Mark Ci's comments, I don't think the track has been reduced to insignificance. You are perhaps confusing small with insignificant. As I mentioned in my original post, the track leading off into the hills is very significant in giving the picture an edgy feel. The picture is about the feel of the place, not what it looks like, and the track is one part of that.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3881884

Another Moving Rock picture chosen by the Elves in 2005. But I like this one from J Goodall better.

I am more intrigued by that phenomenon which is unfamiliar to me than by the appearance of the whole image, which is mystical. The structure of the cracked earth is beautiful because everywhere is equal.

When I look the image longer I wish I could see a video clip captured from the air, lower to the earth that from distance moves toward to the moving rock. That would be an awesome spot.

simply stunning!

Maybe a faster shutter speed to stop the action?, Just kidding, looks fantastic!

I think it is beautiful. Surely, moving rocks are a phenomenon, but I don't think it is too important whether it's a moving rock

or if it would have been a cactus or nothing at all - Just the beautiful landscape in itself, with the desert and the mountains

in the background makes it a great shot. I wouldn't say it has any specific weaknesses, really. It just looks really beautiful.

Beautiful grayscale.