Hot Creek Twilight

[Kyle Jones]

Here's a pre-dawn look at hot creek, from a viewpoint near Mammoth in the Eastern Sierra. I didn't expect it to help, but my polarizer actually brought out some detail in the sky.

Any thoughts are welcome.

 

[Zeph]

Wonderful shot, great place! Love the stars, sky and the Sierras, but the "blue hour" is a bit strong, maybe warming things up would help bring out some of the color in the foreground.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Wonderful shot, great place! Love the stars, sky and the Sierras, but the "blue hour" is a bit strong, maybe warming things up would help bring out some of the color in the foreground.

Totally get it - I keep going back and forth with the blues on this one. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[AlanLichty]

Zeph has a point on the blues but it still adds a calming mood the the scene. I love the combination of elements in this comp.

 

[JimFox]

This is awesome Kyle! I am hoping to plan a trip there to shoot Hot Creek in the next month or so. I need to start laying out some plans for 2018.

As for the blue, for me it works because with the stars showing it's pretty natural to end up with a cooler looking shot. It would be interesting to see a version of this though where you warmed up just the ground layer to get the steam to be white and then we could choose between the two?

 

[Raphael Sombrio]

Nice composition, Kyle! And I like much the dragged effect.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Delightful image. The blues feel just right to these eyes.
Being pre-dawn, I wouldn't mind it a bit not so bright, if that makes sense.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Loving it.

 

[Kyle Jones]

This is awesome Kyle! I am hoping to plan a trip there to shoot Hot Creek in the next month or so. I need to start laying out some plans for 2018.

As for the blue, for me it works because with the stars showing it's pretty natural to end up with a cooler looking shot. It would be interesting to see a version of this though where you warmed up just the ground layer to get the steam to be white and then we could choose between the two?

OK, here's a warmer version. Happy to hear what people think.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the more visible colors in this newest version down in front. The creek area itself looks much nicer.

BUT - as an overall scene from the bottom up to the remaining stars in the sky I find the first version to be more compelling and consistent with what I would expect to see during this blue hour shot. The newer version looks more like daylight that is too far along to still allow us to see stars.

 

[Zeph]

I think the warming helps bring out the vegetation colors and the image appears more realistic, imho.
My buddies and I use to drive up from LA to Mammoth Hot Spring in the '60"s, and camp, well actually, party all night in the hot springs. It probably why camping is prohibited now
Seems fishing dominates the creek now-a-days.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice image - the warming definitely improved it although the original image with the strong blue hour mood is nice as well.

 

[Jim Dockery]

I like them both, but agree with Alan that the warmer one looks conflicted with the stars.

 

[Jim Sanderson]

Nice take on the scene. I like the warmer version a bit better.

 

[Ben Egbert]

About 1960, I was on a fishing trip with a bunch of guys, none of us old enough to drink. We stopped at hot creek for a swim. I don't recall it looking like this probably closer to 395 than here. Or maybe another hot creek? We had just left Convict lake heading to LA.

 

[Bart Carrig]

I understand the warm up, and it is lovely. But I can't help it, I love the blue. There are many times I enjoy the slight departures from pure reality that really convey a mood.

Bart

 

[Kyle Jones]

I understand the warm up, and it is lovely. But I can't help it, I love the blue. There are many times I enjoy the slight departures from pure reality that really convey a mood.

Bart

Thanks. As I noted above, I've gone back and forth with this one. In the end, I'd settled on the more "fantasy" presentation with the stars and blues. I can definitely understand people wanting to see something that looks more like daylight.

 

[Martín el Escocés]

I like the blue too, although both work very well. It's a beautiful scene either way and being pre-dawn the dark suite. I like the stars appearing in the pics, as well as the rising steam.

 

[MonikaC]

I agree that the blue one is more consistent. While I like the warmed up foreground, it makes me wonder why the stars are visible.

 

[Guy Schmickle]

I prefer the initial post...a really wonderful shot. Love the comp and those blues.