Badlands Nat. Park, Mt Rushmore, and Devils Tower

I'm finally getting around to editing some of the photos I took on our road trip last month - Kansas City to Yellowstone NP and back. Here are some of the shots I got from the Black Hills area and Badlands.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/935639​1146/

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/943074​0423/

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Really like the Mt Rushmore shot. Others are good, too.

All photos are great, but I really like Devils Tower! Love the contrast!

Love the Rushmore. Never did understand why "Teddy's" on there though. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln... & "Teddy" Not really in the same league... No?

Teddy is on there because of his strong conservation ethic, and he basically started the idea of national parks.

ickmcdon wrote in post #16206221
Teddy is on there because of his strong conservation ethic, and he basically started the idea of national parks.

Ok... well I guess that's equivalent to winning a war to create the USA, writing the Declaration of Independence, and ending slavery in the US...

Great stuff; nice work with the sunflowers in the foreground in that first one

Thanks for the comments. It's difficult on road trips having to limit yourself to shoot in whatever conditions present themselves during your short pit stop. I was happy with the trip to Rushmore, but would have loved some different lighting/cloud cover at the Badlands and Devils Tower.

Eric - Thanks. This was originally a horizontal shot, but all the other sunflowers on the left were wilted, so I cropped to the most lively flower.

Dr Lazarus wrote in post #16207973
Thanks for the comments. It's difficult on road trips having to limit yourself to shoot in whatever conditions present themselves during your short pit stop. I was happy with the trip to Rushmore, but would have loved some different lighting/cloud cover at the Badlands and Devils Tower.

Eric - Thanks. This was originally a horizontal shot, but all the other sunflowers on the left were wilted, so I cropped to the most lively flower.

I always struggle with the same issue. Your shots turned out terrific, though. You captured the colors of the Badlands very well -- I had horribly harsh lighting when we stopped there, as it was mid day and we had to be in Keystone that evening.

I especially like the b&w rendition of Mt. Rushmore. What did you use for the b&w conversion?

Scott M wrote in post #16208141
I always struggle with the same issue. Your shots turned out terrific, though. You captured the colors of the Badlands very well -- I had horribly harsh lighting when we stopped there, as it was mid day and we had to be in Keystone that evening.

I especially like the b&w rendition of Mt. Rushmore. What did you use for the b&w conversion?

We were there (Badlands) mid afternoon and it was so hot. I did have a polarizer on though, which helped a lot cutting through the haze.

As for Mt Rushmore, it was in Lightroom in the catalogue, but I don't think I did anything to it other than the crop, then into Perfect B&W, which I hadn't messed with before, then some dodging and burning in PS to get some more detail in the clouds, and bring the shadows up a bit up the presidents' faces.

I live an hour from the badlands and can honestly say I have not been there in about 10 years....perhaps it's time for a late night trip for some milky way shots.

Love the sharpness of your images!