Desert Renewal

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
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Desert Renewal NPN 15
Desert Renewal NPN 151277×1498 230 KB

Desert Renewal +repost
Desert Renewal +repost1600×2000 339 KB

Image Description

This image is part of an ongoing project on the impact of a desert wildfire, that burned this area in 2020, and recovery of the desert area near my home northeast of Phoenix. This image was taken four years after the fire and displays the renewal of desert life. After being damaged by wildfire, Arizona’s state flower, the saguaro cactus blossom, opens at night to be pollinated by bats and nocturnal insects followed by birds and insects during the day. I had been hiking all morning looking for the combination of the cactus bloom and a surviving saguaro cactus, scarred by the fire. Had pretty much given up for the day, but with one last look back down the trail I found this cactus. I saw the bees coming to the blossom only after I was starting to take some shots. This one has turned out to be one of my favorites.

Feedback Requests

Any comments are welcome.

Pertinent Technical Details

Nikon D850, Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens
500 mm, 1/3200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1400
Cropped and processed in LRC with noise reduction

@Steve_Diephuis and @Mark_Seaver , I owe you both an apology for “ghosting” you over this last month or more. Lets just say it has been a month. Finally able to get back to photography! Thank you both for your comments. At first I was going to push back on re-cropping because I had wanted to focus on the blossom and I have other pictures in the project that show the cactus scars, but on different cacti. Because you both made the comment, I had to re-think my position and I agree that as a standalone image, and even for the project, showing more of the scars on this cactus works better. Let me know what you think. Did I oversharpen, trying to get the bee sharp?

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Hi Marlin, I like your presentation of renewal. The saguaros always get my attention hiking in the desert. I look forward to see your project of wildfire impact. I was wondering if there was more of the saguaro trunk to show its struggle from the fire, otherwise good job on the subject.

3

Marlin, this is an excellent look at the old cacti, the new growth, the cluster of buds, the one open flower and the bee. I too think that seeing more of the burned cacti would make the story of renewal stronger. Getting the bee sharp is important.

4

Hi Marlin, I like your rework. For me I think it helps the story of your project. Especially like seeing some green in the trunk scar and widening out I think moves the bee and blossom to more of a supporting role in the renewal theme.

5

Thanks, @Steve_Diephuis, it took me a bit, to get over my tunnel vision, but I agree. I am working on submitting the project. I have had some input from others who have seen it and am curating it to find images that tell a better story. When I submit I will let you know. Trying to see if I can get it down to 5-6 images.