Mesa Arch in Winter Light

[JimFox]

Going to Mesa Arch when it's off season is a much more enjoyable experience, especially when it's winter with snow and cold. The sunrise wasn't anything special, and although it wasn't crowded by Mesa Arch standards, there were still about 12 to 15 people there. After the no show sunrise because of the clouds on the horizon, everyone left. I hung around for a while as I actually was liking some of the shapes in the clouds and was hoping that the sun as it got a bit higher would actually break through a bit and help with the clouds. And that's what happened.

Here are 2 different compositions of the same cloud/light. I think I prefer the angled one a bit more.

All comments are welcome.

Jim

 

[Ben Egbert]

I have always wanted to do this in winter. I have been there in March with snow on the ground, but not real winter. I have also been there with nobody else but a ranger who wandered in. What i like about these shots are that you can get back far enough to include the entire arch and at different angles. When it is crowded, you need to be near dead center even with an 11-24 lens.

You got some glow too, as well as snow and great clouds whats not to like?

 

[Bill Swartzwelder]

Nice glow! looks a bit radioactive.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Love that subdued light in the cloudy conditions, and that you managed to get a bit of glow anyway. Really nicely done!

 

[AlanLichty]

I really like that second one Jim - the colors under the arch are just a bit more saturated, the rays in the cloud formations are a bit more focused over the arch and lastly it seems to bring my focus down to the plateau behind the arch better. The snow on the right is nice in the first one but it doesn't feel quite as balanced as the second one.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I'm with Alan. Both are nice but the second seems better balanced.

 

[Vieri]

Very nice work Jim! Like them both, and I am wondering if a long exposure would have done anything good to the clouds? Difficult to know without being there and knowing which way the wind was blowing, but it looks like they could have made some interesting leading lines

Best regards,

Vieri