ShipRock

Landscapes and sunsets are hard to put your own finger print on the image, and I have very few to share. These quests for the holy grails are usually a long distance from home so you find yourself driving a long time till you see the goal in site. The road is the only course but the choice of when to stop and set up the camera is constantly on your mind.  Roads twists and turns while the object of interest gets closer and closer.  The fence line that runs adjacent does not change course from the road and a reminder you can’t just hike anywhere.  You take the only turn in the road to get closer and find yourself in a turn about, with a state information marker letting  you know this is the best view.  Jumping out of the car in the late afternoon you realize you have little time before the light leaves the small rock in the shadow of a large formation.   Camera in hand you avoid stepping on the tripod holes left by other photographers.  A quick bracket and the shot is done, the light has moved off the small rock.  The only thing I did differently than others previously there is the post processing, the choice of contrast, dodging / burning, darkness of the vignette, the amount of structure & clarity to use and not to mention the elimination of color. I do feel this is a good shot, and that my years of looking & seeing have paid off this time.  And I suppose that is my tiny finger print that I have placed on a large cosmic creation. Such a small imprint that I find it hard to claim it as my image.