Joshua Tree NP 2012 C&C

Starting a bit of a new tradition here, which is an annual Thanksgiving trip to Joshua Tree to climb, camp, and if lucky, take photos. Last year I was really new to climbing, and pretty new to Joshua Tree, so I took a fair amount of photos that were opportunistic more than anything (except the star trail photos, which where pretty deliberate).

This year I did a ton more climbing with mainly just one partner, and so didn't have a chance to focus on the photos or get creative. But I also felt like this year I knew the park a lot better, and I knew climbing a lot better, so I was able to at least figure out how to work the subjects and light a bit. The high desert is amazing in winter because you can get really dramatic light, practically every day you are there. It's pretty unreal.

C&C appreciated ... next year I want to do more shooting involving rigging, like setting up fixed lines, wireless flash, more RF triggered shots (my RF trigger ran out of batteries). But as far as improvement goes, composition and basics before fancy tricks I think.

1. Album Cover
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8502/8...bde4120d_c.jpg

Like last year, night time was a time to have safety meetings and mess around ... and that's when the laser came out. Feels like a boring comp to me and could maybe use more interesting foreground elements. The most awesome surprise was the laser scattering off of dust and cigarette smoke to make for a more dynamic image. Makes me want to buy a laser now for interesting ideas.
Exposure 30
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 2000


2. Under the Desert Sky
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8...9cb5be53_c.jpg

On the topic of night shots, atmospheric conditions weren't great for star shots - strong moon phase and warm nights, much warmer than last year. Still, the stars were pretty bright. I actually don't like how impersonal this comp is and I figure moving the legs forward and to the left a bit would go a long way - more personal and add more out of focus elements in the lower left of the image.
Exposure 20
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 2500


3. Intersection
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8...193e09ef_c.jpg

I loved the sidelight on the rocks and the climbers here. The cars aren't so hot, but more interesting than empty spaces I think. Just trying to capture rappelling on this iconic rock, but I ended up with the entire scene as a whole.
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 20 mm
ISO Speed 200


4. Old Woman
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8...e7fc02a6_c.jpg

On the topic of sidelight, it made for some incredible contrasts with the polarizing filter. I was sure how to process this one ... I had to pull down the midtone (brightness) to protect all the detail of the rock face, but wasn't sure how much to saturate the insane light. I decided not to saturate much, and that's how it came out. Not such great subject contrast - maybe recruit some dark skinned females climbing this face at the same time of day is the way to go next year.
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 200


5. Throwing Rope
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8...c5335d56_c.jpg

This was an interesting dilemma ... the desert floor itself was hot and bright and non-polarized light, but my buddy here not so much. Maybe without the CP, I could have balanced the desert a lot better against the contrast I was looking for of my buddy and rope getting sidelit. I intentionally crushed the shadow tones to really contrast the hell out of my buddy up there on the rock, but it had the effect of making the desert lose all of its detail (crushed shadows, blown three-quarter tones).
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 160



6. Contrasts
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8...8ea2d08e_c.jpg

Talk about sidelight and contrasts. We were finishing up a climb and I hear this girl's voice on the next crag over. Wow! What sidelight, what legs! The only thing is that due to her belay position, you can't tell what the hell she is doing, but does it matter? Symbolically, I guess it would be nice if she was on the tallest rock.
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 160


7. The Eye
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8...b510fba2_c.jpg

The park also has great backlight opportunities, especially in this classic route that tops out in a cave. I don't know what the hell I was thinking about the comp when I shot it ... all negative space on the left, cropped out the rest of the opening on the right. I think I was more focused on the climber than on the opening of the cave.
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 100


8. Belay
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8...276dea00_c.jpg

Shooting from inside a shadow with open sunlight in the background, not sure to ignore it or do the best I can to shoot around it? Finally using my wide angle to get more personal with the subjects.
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 160


9. Worked
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8...36d8873e_c.jpg

A climber's portrait. Climber, expression, skin damage, relationship to rock and anchor. I think I could have added more depth by getting closer to the bolt anchors and then shooting across them to the climber.
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 1000


10. Rock
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8...1aa92dff_c.jpg

Not really sure what I was trying to capture here. The light, colors, and texture were tripping me out but I didn't know how to compose for all of those things.
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 1600

Im surprised you havent had comments. These are great. Nice work. I will post more critiques or what not when I have more time (ie not at work)

#7 is money. I'd buy it and hang it on my wall.

As far as the others I don't see much that screams "print me." #6 would probably work better as a B&W and #5 would be pretty sick if there wasn't so much coming together to create empty space (the sky and the ground merge to make a less than striking background). #8 would be pretty damn awesome if you had the climber instead of the belayer in focus and I think that one would actually work better as a B&W also.

We all have different artistic eyes though so YMMV.

# 10 - I would crop out that red foot/bag/whatever as it distracts from the rest of the texture.

#9 - I don't know - light is too flat, or perhaps just lacking contrast. Something about this seems off to me.

#4 - My favorite. Wish the climber popped more, but I am quickly able to spot them.

#7 FTW. What a beautiful area! Like the night shots too.

more tittehz!

I like these, one place i haven't been yet. Nothing i'd really change although i keep wanting to see more of the sky/less foreground in #2