Moab, Utah - Easter Jeep Safari

[BJ Denning]

In addition to Photography, I enjoy a Jeep life. I'm by no means "hard-core", but I do enjoy the community. I have a goal of taking, and enjoying, more vacation. So I decided to combine a couple of my hobbies.

Road into town ...


"Top of the World" -- It was a fairly easy 4x4 drive and the outlook was amazing.


Arches National Park. I tried to use the man and his son to add perspective to the distance and size of the rocks. Desert, direct sun is a challenge.


Practicing composition with an interesting tree


Another perspective shot, using the resting hiker in the lower right. This was on the hike up to Delicate Arch.


Jeeps are not the only ones enjoying the landscape.


Remaining images .... https://goo.gl/photos/M5SfnJAvq9cMEZqt9

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[rpcrowe]

Nice captures of a beautiful area... Utah is one of my favorite states for landscapes... A polarizing filter is a great addition to desert southwest photography...

[Manfred M]

A very nice series, although I would be tempted to quibble about the horizon on the second shot.

One area of the world I haven't gotten to yet is the Western USA. Somehow, whenever it gets to the top of the list of places we want to visit, something happens and the trip out there gets bumped down the list again. This just reminds me (again) that we do have to get out that way sooner rather than later.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Went thru that neck of the woods back in '92 when ferrying a friend's Porsche back to Kansas City.
I need to go back with a camera some day.
Nice shots, thanks for sharing.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Bryan,

Not sure if you were looking for critique on each specifically, but you did mention 'Practising composition' and 'trying' things in a couple of places.

#1 - gives me a good impression of the scale of a landscape alien to an Englishman who has never visited an area like that

#2 - as does this one, although I concur with Manfred's query on the horizon (in fact I also wondered whether #1 was level, looking at the most distant horizon on left)

#3 - works very well, as you intended

#4 - got any more of the interesting tree?
I ask because; for me, it is too centred in the composition, but I fear that merely panning/cropping slightly to left or right with this shot wouldn't be ideal, due to the positional relationships between the foreground tree and the background rock outcrops. I think a slightly different grouping would be required to give a good composition with the tree on (say) the left or right 'thirds' line and some of those background elements.

#5 - also works well, my only slight query, because of the less helpful sun angle, is whether a subtle adjustment to Local Contrast and/or sharpening might give it just a bit more 'pop'.

#6 - I like the darker foreground, can I ask; is that natural, or a gradient filter in PP? This is another where I'd be tempted to increase Local Contrast, but it may be that what you have reproduced is more accurate to what you experienced.

I hope those thoughts are helpful the next time you combine hobbies.

All the best, Dave

[BJ Denning]

A very nice series, although I would be tempted to quibble about the horizon on the second shot.

One area of the world I haven't gotten to yet is the Western USA. Somehow, whenever it gets to the top of the list of places we want to visit, something happens and the trip out there gets bumped down the list again. This just reminds me (again) that we do have to get out that way sooner rather than later.

Thanks. Good catch on the second shot.

[BJ Denning]

Hi Bryan,

Not sure if you were looking for critique on each specifically, but you did mention 'Practising composition' and 'trying' things in a couple of places.

#1 - gives me a good impression of the scale of a landscape alien to an Englishman who has never visited an area like that

#2 - as does this one, although I concur with Manfred's query on the horizon (in fact I also wondered whether #1 was level, looking at the most distant horizon on left)

#3 - works very well, as you intended

#4 - got any more of the interesting tree?
I ask because; for me, it is too centred in the composition, but I fear that merely panning/cropping slightly to left or right with this shot wouldn't be ideal, due to the positional relationships between the foreground tree and the background rock outcrops. I think a slightly different grouping would be required to give a good composition with the tree on (say) the left or right 'thirds' line and some of those background elements.

#5 - also works well, my only slight query, because of the less helpful sun angle, is whether a subtle adjustment to Local Contrast and/or sharpening might give it just a bit more 'pop'.

#6 - I like the darker foreground, can I ask; is that natural, or a gradient filter in PP? This is another where I'd be tempted to increase Local Contrast, but it may be that what you have reproduced is more accurate to what you experienced.

I hope those thoughts are helpful the next time you combine hobbies.

All the best, Dave

Thanks Dave.

#1. This is alien to me also. Beautiful, I could spend another week out there to practice landscapes (there are so many possibilities), but arid. Generally I like green and trees.
#2. Good catch. I use the excuse that I had a new friend take the photo (it's me in the photo), I still should have caught it in post.
#4. I have a few. I tried several compositions, but liked the shallower depth of field in the first one.


#5. Thanks, I'll give post processing another go and try adjusting the contrast along with straightening horizons.
#6. The darker foreground is a posting processing burn. I am a novice at landscapes. I struggle to convey the depth and scale. The area was truly awe inspiring.

[carloshpvp]

Two great options for hobby

I like these kind of photo adventures, the 4x4 for sure helps a lot in these offroad grounds. Good photos!