The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was hanging around on a turnout on the Sonora Pass Highway (CA 108) watching the late afternoon light and the cloud shadows on the peaks. It was a bit breezy, so I wasn’t sure if a large format shot would work out very well. I am glad it worked.
The yellow plants are rabbit brush and the trees are red fir. The elevation was 9,000’.
With Autumn on the way to the Sierra, I thought this would be a nice one to post.
-P
Specific Feedback
Any comments you might have are always welcome and appreciated.
Technical Details
Tachihara 4x5
Nikkor M 300 mm
Fuji Astia 100 (ISO 100)
Exposure Not Recorded
Recently tweaked in PSCC 2025
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Preston,
This image makes me eager to get on the road to Yellowstone for my Fall colors trip in about three weeks. You have a beautiful sky with well exposed clouds, just the right color of blue above those dramatic peaks arising above that beautiful shadowed valley and the promise of Fall colors arriving sooner rather than later. That rabbit brush is going off. Looking forward to seeing some of your upcoming Fall images. Thanks for getting the balls rolling for all of us thinking about the changing colors.
What great terrain. I love the contrast of yellow brush and blue sky. And the dark shadow on the right emphasizes the long sweep of that gulch. Your equipment is outside my experience, but I think it gives a very natural look to the scene. An exciting shot.
You captured the Sonora Pass perfectly with is photo. The terrain, the trees, plants, sky, and the atmosphere (how the further peak on the right is enveloped in hazy light) in this phot just make me feel like I am there. The mountains are calling me right now.
Thanks gents! If memory serves, that somewhat misty/hazy light in the far background is blowing rain. It wasn’t raining where I was.
The farthest mountain in the image is Leavitt Peak 11,573 ft (3,527 m). I’ve been to the summit twice starting from Sonora Pass. It’s an 11-mile hike round trip. I got caught in a thunderstorm during descent the second time. The temperature went from high 60’s to mid 40’s literally within minutes. Fortunately, I was well equipped, so I didn’t get soaked, but I did get pretty chilly.
The Sonora Pass country is a hidden gem; one I have been enjoying for forty years. I hope you guys can get there one day, especially in the Autumn.
-P
Wonderful open mountainous terrain here, Preston. The clouds are a real plus with providing a bit of insight to a changing weather or upcoming season as you and others mentioned…
I could go for a very minor change by cropping up to the tops of the vertical standing rocks at the bottom. I think that just provides a cleaner edge at the bottom there while still leaving much of the rabbit brush in view as well…just a thought…
Cropping the bottom is an interesting idea, but I think I will leave the image as-is because I like where the grove of trees is positioned in the frame. If I crop the bottom, the trees will be too close to the edge for me.
-P
I’ve never been to this area, but looks like I need to add it to my ever-growing list! The way the light accentuates the ravine running up the slope works well here Preston.
My only wish is something you didn’t have control over, for there to be as much cloud drama on the left as on the right. (Love those thunderheads!)
