"Dawn of Phacelia"

Of all the nearby places I like to shoot, this location truly has to be my favorite. Something about the way the land lays, the impression of height is well conveyed. The dramatic diagonals while looking down and then back up give the viewer a sense of scale. For this image, however, achieving this sense of scale requires walking step by step along a slippery slope to get into position. On this morning, I was running a little late and when I arrived, the light was getting good. I decided to skip putting on my boots, jumped the fence and began scampering downward to get the Phacelia as a foreground component. It just so happens that I was wearing laceless shoes which began to roll off my feet with each step. Haste makes waste they say. Lenticular clouds shrouded the rising sun, a perfect compliment to this dramatic landscape. Thanks for your impressions!!

While I love all of your work, this image is particularly evocative of the Tehachapi scenery in the spring.  It's a shame it will all be toast in a few weeks but then again maybe that is the magic of the place.  Unfortunately it results in your annual semi-estivation and a reduction in your photo posting ;-)  I'd favorite this but then I'd be afraid of doing that to most of your portfolio.

Technically perfect as always.  My only nit would be to clone out that solitary little bright spot on the nearest ridge... but then I'm a nit-picker and who wants to be that!

What an amazing view. The composition, the light, the colours. Everything is just perfect.

Sidsel

Mark...  Well, the rolled ankles will heal :-).  And, you've done it again; caught this scene perfectly.  Excellent... Mike

Thanks Dave, Sidsel and Mike! Dave, that spot has already been cloned out on the original, I'm not sure if I am going to repeat the posting routine and I am thankful for you spotting that. I also appreciate the kind regards!! Mike, the ankles faired well, but I have one trick ankle that gets me from time to time. Getting down to here was not near the challenge of scrambling back up the slope, therefore I switchbacked my way up. The other challenge was to avoid mauling the flowers, though I doubt anyone will even see these because of their location. Like Dave said, mauled or not they will be toast in about 3 weeks!

Mark, inspiring as always. The moment is slow fleeting in CA and particularly in your region. Thank you for the suffering on the way to the image. I just did a full swing around your region and on the way back north I decided to go high desert and death valley rather then drop through the Tehachapi's. I made the lesser choice, the high desert was haze and dust filled. All the best to you and your efforts. 

Thanks Craig! This region is so tricky for timing the right conditions for photography. I watch the forecasts and then scratch my head when it's time to decide when I will go out. Because we live normal lives, we must plan our attacks. I just wish I could go out at the drop of a hat when I see the right conditions unfolding. I have witnessed many spectacular sunsets from my bedroom window while the vacuum cleaner is running. Nothing worse than a half vacuumed floor. Half vacuumed floors never get completed. I look forward to seeing what you came away with. I'm sure with your creativity, the lesser conditions did not stop you from producing some remarkable stuff!

Good light and colors and a really nice composition!

Magnificent landscape. i admire your effort to get in location and create such kind beautiful work. congratulation.

Regards,

Shahram

Thanks Mario and Shahram. I appreciate the positive comments!

Amazing!  I can see why you love this place, steepness and all...the layers are just perfect!

I haven't seen more beautiful landscape composition than this one.