hoodoos

[Dennis Bishop]

Just a little west of the main road between Albuquerque and Santa Fe is Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. It's interesting from several standpoints. Geologically, it's punctuated with hoodoos resulting from ancient volcanic eruptions. Visually, there's not much color (kasha-katuwe means white cliffs in the language of the native people). Instead, it's the shapes and lines that demand attention. Hiking to the highest point takes one through a slot canyon and ends in a steep climb that necessitated lifting some of my photo gear to a ledge and climbing to it with the help of footholds carved into the rock. Oh, but it's worth it.

Nikon D3S, ISO 200, f/22, 9-exposure HDR at 1 EV intervals, zoom lens at 17mm

processing

• Topaz Simplify -- Watercolor II
• Alien Skin Snap Art -- saved Watercolor preset, Color blend mode
• a stamped layer from those two, Filter>Stylize>Emboss, Linear Light blend mode, 59% opacity
• Nik Silver Efex Pro -- 90% opacity
• Flypaper Textures texture -- one texture on two layers, one Lighter Color blend mode at 23% masked off sky; other Vivid Light at 37%, partially masked off sky
• Photo Filter adjustment layer -- sepia, 40%
• Photo Filter adjustment layer -- deep blue, 23%, masked to reveal only on sky
• five black & white layers -- two Fractalius, 46 and 58%, Multiply blend mode, one masked; two Snap Art Stylize Line Art, Multiply at 18%, Divide at 20%, both masked; Topaz Simplify edges, Multiply at 85%, masked
• gradient vignette

[Jackie Schuknecht]

I really like this Dennis. The vista is beautiful as is the toning. I like the one whispy cloud coming off the hoodoo on the right as it looks like smoke from a teepee. Just a halo coming off the rocks which I imagine is from the emboss filter, minor point though. Is this for a cover?

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . Just a halo coming off the rocks which I imagine is from the emboss filter, minor point though. Is this for a cover?

Thanks very much for your comments, Jackie. The white line on the right side of the rocks is from the emboss filter. Having it show was the reason for some of the masking; getting rid of it, I thought, would've diminished the embossing effect.

This isn't for a cover. Every once in a while, I'll make text be part of an image. Sometimes, it's because of a relationship between the text and the image say. At other times, like this one, it has more to do with graphic design. I haven't posted it, but, a short while ago, I worked on an image from the Hocking Hills area of Ohio and gave it text consistent with a post card from decades ago.

[Anita Bower]

Wow!
I never heard of this National Monument.
I think your image should be on a large poster advertising the Monument.
The image shows me exactly why it is called Tent Rocks.
Marvelous composition. The repetition of forms is powerful. The subdued colors just right. The letters you used, with the native american design are perfect.
I wouldn't change a thing.
It makes me want to go visit.

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . I never heard of this National Monument. . .

Thank you for your comments, Anita. The site was designated a National Monument by President Clinton in 2001, and it's probably not been on the radar of many people. There were others on the trail when I was there, but it certainly wasn't crowded. When I travel, I always take some books to help find locations I don't know about. This one was in Volume 3 of a series, Photographing the Southwest by Laurent Martres. I'd definitely recommend the series to anyone traveling there whether for photography or not.

[Randall Farhy]

Dennis- I usually come back to an image a couple of times before commenting, doing so allows me to absorb some of the more subtle elements present. I've visited this one more than a couple of times. Even though it's somewhat monotone-there is a lot going on here. I really like how the watercolor treatment affects the tree line, forcing the eye toward the more detailed HooDoos (which I too was unaware of the national park status). The white lines are one of those things we rarely see used intentionally, I think a critiquing prejudice sets in whenever they are so strong. While they do create an edge, they're a bit on the heavy side to my eye. I feel the most intriguing element is how you made the sky feel as though it too is carved out of stone, giving the overall image the feel of an engraving. Proportions and composition feel spot on. Nicely done, as usual.

[Paul Lagasi]

Very nice work, Dennis as always. Good work using emboss to give it that 3d look, good use of text, love the result.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Dennis, I'm very late commenting on this but it is so nice in so many ways including your use of the emboss filter and the subtle fractalius. The text and the sky are very nice touches. I missed going there this year but will definitely put it on my schedule for this fall! I'll also bring that book!