Yucca and White Sand

Cliché or Classic?  A case could be made for either designation.  I prefer Classic.  We've all seen many images of this location over the past few decades and really, all are unique.  I like the framing even though the Yucca shadow runs out of the frame arguably causing some tension at that spot.  But the shadow is very narrow, minimizing that tension.  Not a major consideration and certainly not a deal breaker!  Thanks for filling us in on your sensor problems.  Seems it's best to keep lens changes to a minimum.  I part company with Larry on the contrast issue.  The highlights here are already on the verge of being blown so you wouldn't want to add any contrast to the scene.  Perhaps a tad of "Highlight" control but even then it would require a light hand lest the impact of this one be minimized as well.  I think you've done an excellent job here, and the others in this series for that matter.  You've made this location look like a place one would like to visit rather than one to avoid.  And, to reveal the textures of the sand to best advantage, it is apparent that one must catch the last light of the day or be an early bird.  Nice reward for your efforts.  I'd love to see the large print you should make from this file.  Best, LM.

Len, thanks for the comment.  IMO, a cliche is a beautiful picture that has been taken many times because of its special beauty.  Even though it may have been taken many times, it is still a beautiful photo.  It's like Antelope Canyon back in the 1980s: the initial images were stunning, and so everyone wanted to go there.  Now such images are everywhere, and perhaps those images of light shafts within curving and multi-colored sandstone walls have become cliche.  But to me, they are still beautiful.  In addition, I've never been there, and I don't have one of those photos of my own; for that reason, I'd love to go to Antelope Canyon and have my own adventure in the canyon.  [However, the thought of sharing a small area with dozens of other people does not appeal to me, so I'll wait until the photos become so cliche that people actually decline in numbers.  Maybe Mesa Arch would be a better choice for me.]

You find the perfect combination of element, lighting for a perfect and beautiful photograph. Excellent.

Cheers.

Bela

I have to say, this is definitely one of my favorites.  There's something about the tone of it, a certain softness punctuated by the Yucca that makes the image compelling and  very interesting.  The dunes in the distance could easily be mistaken for lenticular clouds if not in context. I wonder if you've ever considered a slight clock-wise rotation?

Jeff, it's hard to know which way is straight up, isn't it?  I don't have a level on my tripod head, so it's just a guess.  However, I do know that my innate tendency is to tip the camera to the left, which would require a clockwise correction.  I'll try it with this one to see how it feels.