Found this last night in my pictures taken at the Arches

[Mira]

http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/arches/photographs.html

should you look at the link, you will see "delicate arch", the world's most famous limestone arch. I did not get too close to it, only got shots from a distance, my companions did not want to do the 3 mile hike.

BUT
I have better pictures of the rest, and I'll bring some around.

Tell me if you agree this one is special.

[Celebration]

1. I agree

Good grief, the colors are amazing. Turquoise shade, really, in orange rock? What a great way for the girl to be framed.

Okay, I need to plan my next vacation.

[Mira]

2. Thanks, Celebration. I can't, for the life of me, retain some of the depth in the

upload. I'm sure that is what we all say.
I really am fond of this one.

[alfredo]

3. Excellent image. She turns it from just a pretty picture

into an interesting picture. The blues are those wonderful blues you see in old technicolor movies.

[JeffR]

4. Sorry, that's not special.

It's incredible!

Did you take any bad pictures out West? No sign of it so far.

:hi:

[Mira]

5. I am smiling really big now. Thanks. I consider it a personal favorite.

I ditch stuff as I find time, and as I do so, I find these ones that worked.
Actually, I find it has been a gold mine of a trip for photos, and because I have so much yet left to show I have exhibited hesitancy to not hog the posts.
It's unusual to see so much, and three weeks is a lot of time if all you have is a road trip from one world wonder to the next.

BTW
I have read up on RAW in my Sony book, I get the concept now, but have not even found how to switch the camera to it, or to Raw and jpeg, which is what I would like.
Ritz photo will have me batting my eyes and asking for help in a day or two.

When I post my first photo that comes from RAW I will dedicate it to you.

Thanks for your encouragement.
(did you see the Vulture gold mine thread I posted ? I fell in love with the place)

[JeffR]

6. I might be wrong here

but I think you can set for RAW or RAW+ (meaning RAW and jpg simultaneously) from the image quality setting in the camera main menu. I actually bought one of these cameras, but Sony screwed up big-time on their promised delivery date and I finally decided to go with a Canon instead. Keep in mind that changing to either of these modes will fill up a card much faster than you're used to, and of course you'll also have to use Sony's supplied RAW conversion software (Image Data Converter SR) or a freeware or commercial alternative to convert from RAW to a standard digital image format. But my experience is that doing post-processing in RAW saves me a ton of time that previously would have been spent in Photoshop working on the jpg, so it's really a wash once you change your workflow a little from what you're used to. I've read that the user interface in the Converter SR is not the best, but it's supposed to be quite capable otherwise.

And don't worry about hogging anything here. People are voracious to see new images. Sometimes that's the only reason I log onto DU, to check out whether there's anything new posted here.

I did see that thread you mention, but it was one of those days when I got to drop in briefly and had to rush out again because someone was holding me to some unreasonable deadline. And it looked like a fascinating place.

[NV Whino]

7. Is there an opened mouth smilie?

That is stunning!

[Mira]

8. Thanks, so much NV WHINO. I think it is a personal best. :)

[CC]

9. Beautiful.

About as perfect a photo as you can get. Bet it would be great printed as a 20 x 30.

[ConsAreLiars]

10. Damn! If I'd ever taken or even imagined a photo like that

I'm not sure what I'd do. Toss the camera into a ditch and work on Haikus or just sing Omm for 10 years? "Perfect" would need everything here but putting the girl in the lower right third or facing the other direction. Yours is better than perfect.

[Mira]

11. Thanks for your enthusiasm. It made me laugh out loud, that's a good start

for the day. I had everything going for me, an indescribable place, a gorgeous day, little kids and a camera.

[Maestro]

12. Oh my!

Friggin amazing!

[Mira]

13. Look at this Maestro:

Just 20 min after taking that the picture of the arch with the girl I stepped back out and took this one. I had said to myself: it needs a bird. And then it came around the bend. And then I thought: Maestro would know what that is.

No lie.
I'm glad you liked the photo.

[Maestro]

15. Looks like a Black Vulture

I need to get out West.

[Mz Pip]

14. Lovely picture

The girl standing under the arch gives a sense of scale to the arch. It's really a good picture.

Another place I need to visit someday...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

16. I took 500 frames at Arches, and none of them compared to yours

Most people expose only for the red rocks at Arches, and the interior of an arch like this usually comes out much darker. But you got HDR-like detail inside the arch itself. Very cool. I've learned to look forward to your posts--I think you're an accomplished photographer and I like seeing your work. Thank you.

[Mira]

18. I'm strutting after finding such a personal and kind comment. A real encouragement.

I'm an amateur who gets lucky sometimes, and as soon as I can carve out some concentrated time I plan to embark on a learning curve.
Thank you very much.

[Tindalos]

17. I keep coming back to view this picture over and over

I'm glad it was kicked back to the top. It deserves another view or two, or a hundred.

[Mira]

19. Thanks, Tindalos for that. I might get that one printed and hang it up.

With such comments I might be encouraged to post another set from my Western Swing. I'm not done showing where all I was lucky enough to go.

Though the little girl under the arch is one of my top 5 favorites for sure.

[Celebration]

20. I'd like to see you try to top this one!

Honestly, it just stays with you. Other great photos come and go, but this one absolutely STICKS! It's kind of like when a gymnist nails the landing on the vault, or a slam dunk to win the basketball game, a service ace for the championship tennis match.

Go on and post your other photos from the trip, but I am seriously betting you can't top this one.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. It's a lovely photgraph, Mira....I like the contrasting colors

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

22. Mira, I love going on journeys with you....I rarely travel...I have always .....

had a terrible fear of flying and long road trips have been too few.

Sadly I only take bereavement flights.

The new restorations of the gardens are at a stand still for 3 weeks as the house restorations have taken priority.

I have been busy ordering the hardscaping materials and hiring a small crew of stone workers.

On the 20th I am taking advantage of the break for my stone carving seminar.

I love sculpting stone....pictures to follow.

Keep snapping, my friend

[Mira]

23. Thanks for filling me in. I've been envisioning you working in the heat

to reclaim a garden at an impossible time. Sounds like you have the priorities in order, and are you REALLY using my photo of the critter as a base to carve a stone?
The sheer idea of you considering it is a thrill to me, whether you end up doing it or not.

Looking forward to your entry in the back/front/sideyard/porch/walkway contest.

I myself might have to post a poll.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. heat....what heat?

Seriously, their hasn't been a day above 75 here yet and last night I saw my breath.

on the 4th I found asters blooming in the side yard and mushrooms everywhere (these usauly come in September). It was freaky.
Nights spent in flannels and socks under down comforters...even tonight I am freezing my ass off.....never mind what my veggie garden is feeling ( and not doing) :(

Here's a maple leave I carved into a patio stone on the 4th and my kids and grand kids did a few as well ...just for the fun of it.

I can't wait to start carving the lizard :D





I added the veins and smoothed out the edges since this picture was taken

[Tuesday Afternoon]

25. love it

:thumbsup:

[Elfin Yeti]

26. I sure am glad...

... you didn't smash that camera! Just beautiful, Mira!