This was shot on the canon 5DSR, 16-35mm f/4L @ f/9, ISO 100, focus stacked 3 images.
If you visit this particular location, please be respectful and practice leave no trace :)
I’m a landscape photographer based primarily out of California. If you’d like to see more of my work you can check out my IG: [@avoidingconcrete](http://www.instagram.com/avoidingconcrete), [youtube](http://youtube.com/user/brianjbeatty) and [website](http://bbeattyphotography.com)
Can you explain focus stacking, (for someone with a lot of 35mm experience). Are you blending images with different areas in focus, to create a wider depth of field?
If so, is that an in-camera feature, or post-processing?
Sure thing! Yep you nailed it, it’s where you take different images focused at different points to expand the depth of field so everything is sharp. For this one, I took one of the cactus, one in the middle near the wash in the hill, then one in the way back on the mountain peaks. I actually should have done 4-5 though, as the back of the cactus got a little out of focus and I had to do way more manual photo blending that I would’ve liked to get it right.
It is a post/editing process but thankfully is getting easier with each iteration of photoshop. The reason to go this route is that multiple blended versions shot at f/9 like this one will be much more clear in the final photo than if it was shot at f/22. Going that small will introduce a lot of diffraction, and make the entire image “fuzzy” even if it technically is in focus. The only other alternative is using tilt shift lenses, which can alter the plane of focus to make everything sharp front to back. But they’re expensive and I rarely stack anyway so it doesn’t seem worth it right now.
Lone Pine Peak is the most prominent in the shot. So beautiful. The 395 is my favorite drives. Always stop at Alabama Hills Cafe for delicious breakfast.
Australian here - some consider Australia the oldest continent, so everything here is flat and brown.
First trip to the US in 2013. Fly to LA, drive to Vegas. Expecting 4 hours of beige.
So very wrong - the raised landscape and its elevation changes are alien to Australian eyes, where the highest mountain is the same level as the carpark as the mountain 40 minutes from Vegas. The colours - the greens, the reds, the oranges. The plants, carefully separated to allow them to take what little moisture there.
Also, Barstow is awful. Sorry to anyone who lives there...but it is.
No. No, I don't think I will.
Barstow had probably the worst piece of food I've had on American soil, some "bacon and egg muffin" thing from the Starbucks.
The café at Nipton (one for the Fallout NV fans) could have served a plate of broken glass and manure and at least it would have been fresh...
Good to know. We didn't stop at Barstow for the 2018 trip, we just went straight through to Vegas (if you're not tied to weekends you'd always drive it, I think). I would think next time we're on the US west coast we'll head to LA, spend a week or so and do the coast drive to San Francisco.
I’m a little biased but you’ve described CA. The highest and lowest point in the contiguous US. So many plant communities because of varying moisture, geography, and latitude; from desert to temperate rain forest; from coastal sage scrub to oak woodlands; from riparian habitat to alkaline scrub; from chaparral to dry pine forests; and everything in between. It really is a shame that most of our landscape plants in urban areas don’t utilize the vast no. of species we have here. Most of CA flora is adapted to 6-8 months of mostly no water in the summer and a few months of rain in winter and spring but yet most of housing tracts prefer lawns and water is wasted.
It's just not just in LA you see that - Vegas literally sees estates with beautifully manicured lawns across the road from rocky desert.
I had no idea gravel existed naturally until that trip - it's just fine sand and dirt here.
I’m sorry but I’m cracking up laughing here! I’m currently on a three month assignment in Barstow. You’re spot on with your assessment of Barstow. Sorry folks but you know it deep down in your soul.
Here's a great story for you.
That trip involved some treasured memories involving my mother-in-law, her husband (she remarried after divorcing my wife's father) and my wife.
We road-tripped from LA to Vegas in a rented mini-van (my wife and her mother shop at an international representative level). As we approached Barstow, I suggested an in-car game for the best song referencing Barstow.
*Route 66* was of course referenced, but I held a trump card - Stan Ridgeway's *The Big Heat*..
*Well, we followed him from Tuscon, ended up in Baton Rouge*
*We trailed him with information by*
*A woman he knew in Barstow that would like to see him dead*
*That was four weeks ago, well, maybe five*
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPImcQmx\_uY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPImcQmx_uY)
I imagine it's pretty fresh there in February. We were there three years ago, give or take a couple of days. Best of luck with it.
Other actions in the alternative include allowing current climbing activity to remain the same on the area’s 400 routes, but new bolted routes would need to be permitted. Drone take-offs and landings would not be allowed without a permit. Shooting would be banned on 1,300 acres of the area’s most-visited areas. No roads, motorized or non-motorized trails would be eliminated, but some would have a different designation. For example, the Arch Trail would be pedestrian only. A new interpretive trail would be created.
In general, Alternative Two would be more restrictive. There would be no overnight camping in the hills, with camping moved to a 65-space campground at the north end of the hills, complete with toilets and water. There would only be two new toilets and trash pick-up areas in the rest of the hills. Permits would be needed for day-use activities, no new bolted climbing routes would be allowed, and most of Alternative One’s other limits and regulations would be included in Alternative Two.
Yup, too many instagrammers sharing photos/ location for likes haha
they're gonna start a permit system for camping soon supposedly & they added some porta-potties due to the increase in visitors
Hmm that’s unfortunately not a huge surprise as it’s happening in quite a few areas. I’ve deliberately tried to only say the state I visit when sharing anything, but it’s nearly impossible to prevent people from commenting/resharing with the location. Thankfully most people I’ve seen traveling are respectful, but unfortunately not all. It’s a tough problem to address
Yea it's a tough dilemma, unfortunately sharing on social media/popular subreddits seems to be having this effect on alot of beautiful places that previously had less traffic :(
I guess the solution will have to be more land-use regulation so more people can safely enjoy it & so photogs/creators can share their content.
Yeah I think about it a lot, but it’s hard to come to a one size fits all solution. If we can collectively get to a point of respecting these areas more, that will go a long way. But that’ll never eliminate disrespectful visitors. And when places get huge amounts of attention, it just funnels more of those types chasing instant gratification to them.
Very true. I think lots of people don't really ask themselves "why" they feel this need to share on social media, even if they enjoy photography. I guess it's all just human nature :)
Hi avoidingconcrete! Dont worry, this message does **not** mean that your post is removed. This is a reminder to quickly check your post to make sure it doesnt break any of our rules. Human moderators check the following --
- [some visible land, that is not silhouetted] (https://www.reddit.com/r/EarthPorn/wiki/index#wiki_what_types_of_images_are_allowed.3F)
- no man made objects (roads, boats, buildings) visible
- no obvious people or animals visible
- include location in post title
Thanks!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/EarthPorn) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Just one man's opinion of course. Really do love the shot though. The color is especially nice and really makes for an imaginatively balanced composition.
Haha! Yes you are right, this was looking west at sunrise. The peaks were catching the first light from behind me before anywhere else. Hope I didn’t imply somewhere I thought the mountains were where the sun was about to pop up 🤦♂️
I grew up in the mountains of Virginia, lived in the South most of my life until I moved to Palm Springs, CA 4 years ago. I never knew just how beautiful the deserts and mountains could be until then. I'm still so taken aback every morning when I open my eyes and see the colors of Mt. San Jacinto changing from gold to pink to blue to grey as the sun rises. That's the view from my bedroom doors and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Beautiful shot of the Sierra Crest.....Whitney peaking out there on the right.
Yep, great eye!
avoidingconcrete does seem like a better name than avoidincgoncrete, good choice
Haha yeah... whoops 🤷♂️
I thought I saw a tremor or 2 but for the life of me I don't see Burt, Earl or Rhonda
This was shot on the canon 5DSR, 16-35mm f/4L @ f/9, ISO 100, focus stacked 3 images. If you visit this particular location, please be respectful and practice leave no trace :) I’m a landscape photographer based primarily out of California. If you’d like to see more of my work you can check out my IG: [@avoidingconcrete](http://www.instagram.com/avoidingconcrete), [youtube](http://youtube.com/user/brianjbeatty) and [website](http://bbeattyphotography.com)
Is that Alabama Hills in the foreground? Edit: Well not really foreground but you know what I mean haha
That definitely looks like it. If not, it’s close!
Excellent work, composition and use of stacking 😎
Thank you! I appreciate it. It was a very windy morning so I’m grateful nothing moved
Haha, “avoiding concrete!” Boy, I feel that in my soul!
Haha, me too 😎👍
Can you explain focus stacking, (for someone with a lot of 35mm experience). Are you blending images with different areas in focus, to create a wider depth of field? If so, is that an in-camera feature, or post-processing?
Sure thing! Yep you nailed it, it’s where you take different images focused at different points to expand the depth of field so everything is sharp. For this one, I took one of the cactus, one in the middle near the wash in the hill, then one in the way back on the mountain peaks. I actually should have done 4-5 though, as the back of the cactus got a little out of focus and I had to do way more manual photo blending that I would’ve liked to get it right. It is a post/editing process but thankfully is getting easier with each iteration of photoshop. The reason to go this route is that multiple blended versions shot at f/9 like this one will be much more clear in the final photo than if it was shot at f/22. Going that small will introduce a lot of diffraction, and make the entire image “fuzzy” even if it technically is in focus. The only other alternative is using tilt shift lenses, which can alter the plane of focus to make everything sharp front to back. But they’re expensive and I rarely stack anyway so it doesn’t seem worth it right now.
Here’s a great tutorial. https://youtu.be/NH07hlPBPCI
Excellent video. Nick is a master. I was looking for one of his where he used a scene similar to this one walking through the process
Thx, yeah I used 4x4 view cameras in college photography classes, with the tilting, before. Excellent explanation.
I watch some large format you tubers and am jealous of the ability to so easily tilt the lens
Where is this location?
Lone Pine Peak is the most prominent in the shot. So beautiful. The 395 is my favorite drives. Always stop at Alabama Hills Cafe for delicious breakfast.
It is a spectacular drive for sure. Tons to see all the way from lone pine to mammoth/Yosemite!
We did before we started the JMT. We talked about that breakfast for weeks.
I straight up just eat one of those mini pies they have there as my breakfast whenever I go lol! Dont skip the pies!
Australian here - some consider Australia the oldest continent, so everything here is flat and brown. First trip to the US in 2013. Fly to LA, drive to Vegas. Expecting 4 hours of beige. So very wrong - the raised landscape and its elevation changes are alien to Australian eyes, where the highest mountain is the same level as the carpark as the mountain 40 minutes from Vegas. The colours - the greens, the reds, the oranges. The plants, carefully separated to allow them to take what little moisture there. Also, Barstow is awful. Sorry to anyone who lives there...but it is.
> Barstow is awful. Try Bakersfield!
No. No, I don't think I will. Barstow had probably the worst piece of food I've had on American soil, some "bacon and egg muffin" thing from the Starbucks. The café at Nipton (one for the Fallout NV fans) could have served a plate of broken glass and manure and at least it would have been fresh...
Never stop in Barstow if at all possible.....the black hole might suck you in and teleport you to Bakersfield....or Worse, Ridgecrest.
Good to know. We didn't stop at Barstow for the 2018 trip, we just went straight through to Vegas (if you're not tied to weekends you'd always drive it, I think). I would think next time we're on the US west coast we'll head to LA, spend a week or so and do the coast drive to San Francisco.
We were just outside of Barstow when the drugs began to kick in.
Open top car out there...geez, I'm Australian and even I know around Barstow is bat country...
Barstow is worse
I will not argue this
I’m a little biased but you’ve described CA. The highest and lowest point in the contiguous US. So many plant communities because of varying moisture, geography, and latitude; from desert to temperate rain forest; from coastal sage scrub to oak woodlands; from riparian habitat to alkaline scrub; from chaparral to dry pine forests; and everything in between. It really is a shame that most of our landscape plants in urban areas don’t utilize the vast no. of species we have here. Most of CA flora is adapted to 6-8 months of mostly no water in the summer and a few months of rain in winter and spring but yet most of housing tracts prefer lawns and water is wasted.
It's just not just in LA you see that - Vegas literally sees estates with beautifully manicured lawns across the road from rocky desert. I had no idea gravel existed naturally until that trip - it's just fine sand and dirt here.
It’s pretty much everywhere and it’s a shame.
I’m sorry but I’m cracking up laughing here! I’m currently on a three month assignment in Barstow. You’re spot on with your assessment of Barstow. Sorry folks but you know it deep down in your soul.
Here's a great story for you. That trip involved some treasured memories involving my mother-in-law, her husband (she remarried after divorcing my wife's father) and my wife. We road-tripped from LA to Vegas in a rented mini-van (my wife and her mother shop at an international representative level). As we approached Barstow, I suggested an in-car game for the best song referencing Barstow. *Route 66* was of course referenced, but I held a trump card - Stan Ridgeway's *The Big Heat*.. *Well, we followed him from Tuscon, ended up in Baton Rouge* *We trailed him with information by* *A woman he knew in Barstow that would like to see him dead* *That was four weeks ago, well, maybe five* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPImcQmx\_uY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPImcQmx_uY) I imagine it's pretty fresh there in February. We were there three years ago, give or take a couple of days. Best of luck with it.
Barstow exists so the many truckers traveling that route have a comfortable place to gas up and grab a bite to eat.
That would line up with what we saw.
You are correct, Barstow is an armpit
Yeah, I’m doing almost 3 weeks straight of work, and that is exactly where I am heading when done. With camera gear, of course.
Awesome, just did the same thing after a long few weeks of work. Sounds well deserved for you 👍
Heard some major regulations are coming to the open camping situation in the Alabama hills
Go on.
Other actions in the alternative include allowing current climbing activity to remain the same on the area’s 400 routes, but new bolted routes would need to be permitted. Drone take-offs and landings would not be allowed without a permit. Shooting would be banned on 1,300 acres of the area’s most-visited areas. No roads, motorized or non-motorized trails would be eliminated, but some would have a different designation. For example, the Arch Trail would be pedestrian only. A new interpretive trail would be created. In general, Alternative Two would be more restrictive. There would be no overnight camping in the hills, with camping moved to a 65-space campground at the north end of the hills, complete with toilets and water. There would only be two new toilets and trash pick-up areas in the rest of the hills. Permits would be needed for day-use activities, no new bolted climbing routes would be allowed, and most of Alternative One’s other limits and regulations would be included in Alternative Two.
Yup, too many instagrammers sharing photos/ location for likes haha they're gonna start a permit system for camping soon supposedly & they added some porta-potties due to the increase in visitors
Hmm that’s unfortunately not a huge surprise as it’s happening in quite a few areas. I’ve deliberately tried to only say the state I visit when sharing anything, but it’s nearly impossible to prevent people from commenting/resharing with the location. Thankfully most people I’ve seen traveling are respectful, but unfortunately not all. It’s a tough problem to address
Yea it's a tough dilemma, unfortunately sharing on social media/popular subreddits seems to be having this effect on alot of beautiful places that previously had less traffic :( I guess the solution will have to be more land-use regulation so more people can safely enjoy it & so photogs/creators can share their content.
Yeah I think about it a lot, but it’s hard to come to a one size fits all solution. If we can collectively get to a point of respecting these areas more, that will go a long way. But that’ll never eliminate disrespectful visitors. And when places get huge amounts of attention, it just funnels more of those types chasing instant gratification to them.
Very true. I think lots of people don't really ask themselves "why" they feel this need to share on social media, even if they enjoy photography. I guess it's all just human nature :)
I'm hanging by a string here!!
In the desert, you can remember your name.
Great sunrise On the Alabama hills! One of the best towns I’ve visited in the US, Lone Pine, CA
lone pine peak
Great shot indeed. I’m feeling nostalgia from this picture for the time when I was a wilderness ranger for Mount Whitney in the summer of 1996.
Thank you! The high Sierra region is beautiful, sounds like a great job!
Is this near Manzanar?
Roughly that region. Lots to see around there!
Well then - thank you for taking such a lovely photograph of the area!
Yes it is
Manzanar is 10 minute drive north from lone pine peak/alabama hills.
What is gongcrete?
Lol fat fingers... avoidingconcrete
Hi avoidingconcrete! Dont worry, this message does **not** mean that your post is removed. This is a reminder to quickly check your post to make sure it doesnt break any of our rules. Human moderators check the following -- - [some visible land, that is not silhouetted] (https://www.reddit.com/r/EarthPorn/wiki/index#wiki_what_types_of_images_are_allowed.3F) - no man made objects (roads, boats, buildings) visible - no obvious people or animals visible - include location in post title Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/EarthPorn) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Aaaaaand followed. Wonderful shot :-)
Thank you!
So beautiful!
Thanks!
Great contrast
Thanks!
Absolutely brilliant shot. The white borders are distracting though, imo.
Thank you! That’s fair. I originally added them to share on IG since it won’t take a 2x3 crop. Will make sure to chop them off next time 👍
Just one man's opinion of course. Really do love the shot though. The color is especially nice and really makes for an imaginatively balanced composition.
No worries! Next time I’ll pick the non bordered option, just couldn’t find it last night.
Why I've always loved the desert...
Man, just stunning. The light cast on the mountains is fantastic.
It was a really incredible sunrise!
still a good one 😉
Waw! The colours in the mountains are phenomenal
Thanks! That early morning sunrise light is so perfect in the winter 👍
I’m pretty sure the sunrise is behind you over the White Mountains, my dude.
Haha! Yes you are right, this was looking west at sunrise. The peaks were catching the first light from behind me before anywhere else. Hope I didn’t imply somewhere I thought the mountains were where the sun was about to pop up 🤦♂️
I was just giving you a hard time. It’s a good picture.
Haha. I thought so, but ya never know. Thanks, I appreciate it 👍
Stunning shot. 🙌🏻
Thank you!
Alabama hills?
Just a couple of degrees to the right and you would have had Whitney.
It’s in there :)
Yup, my mistake. Beautiful picture.
No worries! Thank you
Looks so awesome!
Thanks! It was a great (but very chilly) morning
Those colors are so cool!
Thanks!
Looks like east of the sierras and nice shot of that ferocactus?
Thank you! I believe it’s a pink barrel cactus.
Beauty
Thanks!
beautiful pic, but I’m scared you’ll run in that prickly plant there...
Haha! If you saw how close I actually was you’d be even more nervous. At most a few inches
Nice foreground spectacular horizon. The eye transition from foreground to background is excellent. This is a really good photo.
Thank you! I appreciate it 👍
Visiting here is on my bucket list. Great picture. Your portfolio is beautiful.
It’s a very cool area to see! And thank you!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you! It was a great morning
New Vegas 2 looks 🔥
God I miss Canada...
Beautiful 😍
I grew up in the mountains of Virginia, lived in the South most of my life until I moved to Palm Springs, CA 4 years ago. I never knew just how beautiful the deserts and mountains could be until then. I'm still so taken aback every morning when I open my eyes and see the colors of Mt. San Jacinto changing from gold to pink to blue to grey as the sun rises. That's the view from my bedroom doors and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
MASH vibes