How do I shoot the desert

'Cause I don't have a clue.

Here's a Pano.

Composition-wise, I'd like to see what it would look like from 15 feet in the air to get the full shadows.

I don't feel that lower would make it any better.

NB, the desert holds no secrets, at least fotografy-wise--you have to start with an interesting subject.

What is the subject of your pic?

jeffreybehr wrote in post #15880854
NB, the desert holds no secrets, at least fotografy-wise--you have to start with an interesting subject.

What is the subject of your pic?

What, I need a subject? Just one?

I guess I'm trying to illuminate the uniqueness of the Joshua Tree in it's natural setting. I also wanted to get a good shot showing how many trees are bulbing all over.

I likely would have framed the trees in the sky, so shot from lower, or singled out a tree with some bulbs and then made sure to manage my DOF and line of sight to include others in the background that were distinguishable. If I had to grab from this pic, I'd take the tree to the far left with three bulbs in a trident formation, and crop to rule of thirds on that, see what happens

Sometimes the scene is the subject; but it has to be a compelling scene evoking some emotional response. A bunch of scrub and some minor rocky hills doesn't do it. Keep looking.

Joshua trees are interesting for multiple reasons: Rare, many textures, anti-coagulants in the leaves, and more.

Try capturing some as individual trees. While having a bunch of them together tries to evoke the integrated scene, I think it loses impact because of the rich detail that is lost.

Thanks for sharing. I used to live in the Joshua tree area.

cpam.pix wrote in post #15882083
Joshua trees are interesting for multiple reasons: Rare, many textures, anti-coagulants in the leaves, and more.

Try capturing some as individual trees. While having a bunch of them together tries to evoke the integrated scene, I think it loses impact because of the rich detail that is lost.

Thanks for sharing. I used to live in the Joshua tree area.

Thanks all; great advice, especially this one.

Unfortunately it's a 2 hour drive and I probably won't return for years but this advice helps me in-general. Maybe next time I'll have half a clue.

The thing with the open desert is the colors wash each other out so much that I have a trouble isolating. Some of you make it look so easy. People shots are so much more obvious; I suppose you're saying to shoot one of these trees like it were a model. I got a few from low angle (different area, earlier in the day) and they were equally uninspired.

Like the crop version more. With the original, I found myself searching and trying to get a closer look at one of the Joshua trees.

For me the Joshua tree's are getting lost in the background, (e.g the colours are nearly the same). You could have tried shooting a single tree from a lower angle, isolating it against the sky. That would not have helped with shooting the Desert area though, shooting from a higher angle (another hill or even a step ladder) would have given some shadow between them, but you could still included the hills. Hope this helps a bit, keep shooting as digital cost you nothing to get the shot.

revluke wrote in post #15881651
I likely would have framed the trees in the sky, so shot from lower, or singled out a tree with some bulbs and then made sure to manage my DOF and line of sight to include others in the background that were distinguishable. If I had to grab from this pic, I'd take the tree to the far left with three bulbs in a trident formation, and crop to rule of thirds on that, see what happens

Like this?

Yes, like that ^^^ and closer, too.

Isolate down to a single tree and then go in closer for single bulbs and small groups of the spines or trunk.

cpam.pix wrote in post #15889153
Yes, like that ^^^ and closer, too.

Isolate down to a single tree and then go in closer for single bulbs and small groups of the spines or trunk.

Thanks.

They're pretty tall. Getting right up to one; it's about all you'll see. Here are a few other takes.

I honestly was stumped on how to take it all in as a scene while preserving the detail. I think maybe the prior one was my best.

1. Texture and stature.

Anyway. I meant to ask about how to shoot a desert *landscape*.

The colors wash out except right at and after sunset. Even with with Joshua Trees to add something interesting, I just don't know how to fit it together. Don't know what to look for.

Thanks much. I appreciate all the pointers.

I like the first and last of the new images you put up. Well I have found that the best times to shoot Desert shots is at dawn and dusk, but it depends on what sort of desert you are shooting. E.g if its dunes then you can use the sun to your advantage, so it shows all the ripples and ridges, and very strong shadows. I would try to avoid between say 12-2 as this gives very harsh lighting. One other thing if proper sand dunes take 2 bodys and different lens on them as change lens could lead to untold troubles.