#capitol butte

[nocternalrandomness]

Winter storm clouds over Sedona, Arizona

[thorsenmark]

Don't Wrestle Over Tiny Matters In One's Head (Coconino National Forest) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Don't Wrestle Over Tiny Matters In One's Head There's too much wonder in the world to pass A simplicity that often escapes in the confusion of hurriedness So I will learn to be thankful for the day My health is good, and I can walk Those angels watching over can help me wander a little now. Another work of short poetry or prose to complement the image captured one afternoon in Coconino National Forest while driving around and exploring locations I would hike the following day. I came across this view while on Boynton Pass Road and heading back into Sedona. The view is looking to the east while at a roadside pull off looking to the towering buttes and cliffs present in this part of the national forest. My thinking in composing this image was to use the road ahead as a leading line and then have the buttes and mesas off in the distance in the upper middle portion of the image. Kind of a balance, if you will. I did some initial post-processing work making adjustments to contrast, brightness and saturation while playing around as I learned how to work with Nikon’s NX Studio that had recently come out. I then exported a TIFF image to Nik Color Efex Pro 4 where I added a Polarization and Pro Contrast filter for that last effect on the image captured.

[ghostsandgod]

Sedona By Night by Guy Schmickle Via Flickr: One of my goals for the new year is to do some more night photography so I kicked that resolution off last night with a shot of my hometown. While the moon has gotten a bit too bright in its current cycle for my tastes (thus wiping out a lot of stars and what there is of the milky way), I thought this turned out pretty decent anyway. The high clouds were definitely a nice bonus.

[thorsenmark]

Hiking Early One Morning in Coconino National Forest by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While along the Devil's Bridge Trail in Coconino National Forest. The view is looking to the northeast with trees and distant cliff face of Capitol Butte towering above.

[thorsenmark]

A 5-Star Day in Coconino National Forest! by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While waking the Cockscomb Trail in Coconino National Forest with a view looking to the east-southeast through a break in some nearby evergreens to the more distant peaks of Capitol Butte. My thinking in composing this image was to have a more leveled-on view and use the trees as a portal like view of the peaks beyond.

[thorsenmark]

Taking One Day at a Time in Coconino National Forest... by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While along the Devil's Bridge Trail in Coconino National Forest. The view is looking to the south with trees and distant cliff face of Capitol Butte towering above. I later worked with control points in DxO PhotoLab 4 and then made some adjustments to bring out the contrast, saturation and brightness I wanted for the final image.

[thorsenmark]

Deciding What's Next Can Be Complicated...Just Enjoy Nature by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While along the Devil's Bridge Trail in Coconino National Forest. The view is looking to the northeast with trees and distant cliff face of Capitol Butte towering above.

[thorsenmark]

Ditching a Zoom Conference Call for Things Natural by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A view looking to the east-southeast while walking the Cockscomb Trail in Coconino National Forest. Nearby is the forested setting present with peaks of Capitol Butte off in the distance. My thinking in composing this image was a balanced one with the look ahead and horizon. There would be a slight sweeping view to the trees around me, but the skies above would be this wistful type setting with the cloud wisps. Not a negative space, so to speak, but rather a complement with the more rugged landscape in this part of northern Arizona.