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~Greetings from Earth~


~Greetings from Earth~
Photo Information
Copyright: Michael Weber (mwebr) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 450 W: 141 N: 666] (3402)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-27
Categories: Nature, Decisive Moment, Mood
Camera: Canon 20D, 17-85 mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM, Compact Flash Card
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Art of Freedom Photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-10-26 7:15
Viewed: 1028
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
~Greetings from Earth~

Good day everyone,
On our way up to around 3,000 ft in a hot air balloon the morning sun and a mixture of burning brush(to clear debris that could create more fires)created this wonderful scene for the soul to experience through the eyes of humanity. And a beautiful expereience it was.
Melissa and I, just recently married, were on our honeymoon in Sedona, AZ. We decided to leave our plans open as to expereince this majestic landscape with a peacefullness and not at a rampant pace of got to see everything.
However, this amazing air balloon experience was the only event we scheduled on our trip. Melissa and I could not of been more happy with this fantastic expereince of seeing the Red Rock Canyons from the peacefull flight in the air.
Truly amazing and no words can really describe it unless one experiences this event for themselves.
I could not wait to get up in the balloon and start filling up my Compact Flash Cards. I brought two lenses with me. The mounted lens of the 17-85IS(not my first choice but then there is that money thing with nice lenses) and my second lens was the 24mm prime 2.8f. Worked well being stored in my cargo pants and was able to change lenses while on the ground and in the air, although a bit scary from the air as I was on the outside edge of the balloon basket. This experience was an interesting balance based on framing so much open space and finding those shots that could show up one moment and be gone the next all the while still taking in this breathtaking experience without the DSLR stuck up to my face trying to capture a pristine moment of beauty.
This shot was extremely difficult for the Lens flares that I was getting. Plus I'm not sure if I was quite awake yet as I left this shot on 800iso. No matter now for the shot was captured how and when it was captured.
The title "Greetings from Earth" came about last night as I was contemplating the photo for possible upload to TL. The first expression that came to mind was "Greetings from Earth". The image from my viewpoint just kept being viewed as a postcard from earth by some other intelligence in this vast sea of stars.

pp-cropped around the edges, mostly top and bottom for there was a road in the bottom right corner that was not working with the framing. Plus, wanted to have that more rectangular aspect ratio.
Enhanced the image with curves, levels and high pass filter(for sharpening)along with some highlight and shadow tweaks for the best balance of the light that was captured. Originaly exported from RAW to 16bitt tiff from Digital Photo Professional into Photoshop and then cropped, filtered and resized.

thank you,
~michael~
chrisJ, taba, Beger, DarkoG, wck, DigiSpy, jpdeloof, DAM, puffy, Soundsangels, WALTERito, saeedabbasi, xuaxo has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • chrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4267 W: 414 N: 6826] (42710)
  • [2006-10-26 7:43]

Hi Michael

Fantastic lighting streaming in through the sky from the top right. A superb pov with excellent sharpness.

Mother Earth as she should be. Beautifull Shot. Very Good Notes.
Thank You for Sharing.
MikeD

Always a pleasure to see a picture from you appear on TL, Michael. Very surreal effect you got from the sun rays over the valley with the rock peaks a nice end on the left. Excellent!

Hi Michael
It's a nice shot with a long perfect note . You took it well . But you can increase the sharpness a little .
Have a good time
Saman

  • Great 
  • taba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 425 W: 163 N: 314] (2041)
  • [2006-10-26 9:45]

Hi Michael
Great DOF, POV, "mood" colours and everything else... even the fog that obscure some of the photo :)
well done.
Taba

  • Great 
  • peetol Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 589 W: 66 N: 698] (5743)
  • [2006-10-26 11:12]

Beautiful! It is so surreal. Thanks for sharing!

Pierre

  • Great 
  • Beger Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3322 W: 789 N: 4436] (19970)
  • [2006-10-26 16:21]

Hi Michael,
Wonderful photo. A powerful image where the solar rays are awaking this city wedged in the rocky mountains. Great! Bravo! Annie

Hello Michael
Really stunning photo. My first impression was that this is the way how aliens could see us.
Unusual and beautifull view enhanced by fantastic light.
REgards Darko

  • Great 
  • wck Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 757 W: 37 N: 423] (3843)
  • [2006-10-27 2:30]

My Best Wishes for you Michael & Melissa! "Greetings from Earth" or I should said "Blessing from Heaven". This is absolutely superb image! Majestic view of Grand Canyan aerial!

Greetings!
Wong

You sure like adventure to hover around at 3,000 ft up in the sky. We always say the view maust be magnificent up there, specially when you're in Sedona. Here in Holland it "always" looks like flying above grandma's giant patchwork type of cloth. Patches of green dotted by small villages.

I like the sort of view of grandness, just as the view would have felt. The camera gives a narrow view while the viewer is silenced by it's grandness. It must have been a very nice thing to do. We, on earth, can almost see what you saw...
Great photo, nice note and thanks for sharing.
See you again, Richard

Beautiful view of Sedona. One of my favorite places is here. I love the light filtering through the clouds.

TFS,
David

beautiful composition - you showed the benefits of getting up high - and it showed addtional realism by including the actual buildings below - looked like mars when earthlings inhabited it

thnx for this great feeling to fly
:-)

Hello Michael,
It is a landscape of adventure, one would expect to see the riders leading the gladiateurs to the circus. My imagination still plays me a play but the decoration, the sunbeams, especially they give this impression of old time, I feel this atmosphere and I breathe it to bathe me in this environment. Excel Michael.
Cheer Dear friendly for this moment of dream.
jp

  • Great 
  • DAM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 513 W: 67 N: 268] (1110)
  • [2007-02-04 12:15]

Michael,
It is not very often that one sees a photo here that would take your breath away. I most confess that I found myself staring at this photo for a while.

I then read your note and got transported for a few seconds to the basket.... !!! Nice note by the way. This is a bonus when you find such an elaborate and articulated comment by the photographer. So, after I read your note, I went back and looked at the photograph some more. A quadrant at a time.. really looking at the details. Heww... nice.

It is espectacular what we can experience in this our very beautiful world.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful time with your soulmate, and for this photo.

DAM

Truly magical brother... and is such great news that I must tlel you a big CONGRADULATIONS, on your wedding... I am sure you both will reach to the stars in this wonder that we are given... :)

Just love the feeling here, and the wonder, the connection and the peace, the perspective and the freedom...

I sure must try to get myself up in a ballon sometime...

My best regards to Melissa, and great to see something from your point of view tonight... :)

Peace abounding brother.
Francis

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 128 N: 3006] (16617)
  • [2007-03-02 14:27]

Hi Micheal,

Awesome landscape view you have here, so magical... more like a myth.. superb lighting, rays... and pov, everything seem so peaceful, the different layers colours soils that make up the mountain, awesome... well captured, thanks for sharing

Cheers,
Sweety

:) ltr

The kind of picture who give the impression to the extra- terestrial(E.T) that peace in on this earth....(sorry for them it is not exactly true....)
But what a great picture......what a mood!!!
I prepare a trip in this area....oh !!!!!!
Thanks a lot for this one....
Long and happy life with Melissa...
Claude

Hi dear Michael ,
great shot with wonderful light.
well composed.
very well done
best wishes
Saeed

  •      
  • torr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 406 W: 50 N: 80] (1735)
  • [2007-05-03 15:10]

good vibes to you to.
From belgium.
Plant tl!

kurt

wonderfull taken!
no more.
Ne less.

Beautiful scene! Great sunbeams and the POV is amazing. I'll try a ws to see what I can do with it
well done,
Shelby

What a great POV, Michael! Great timing and location. Shelby's WS improved it. TFS,
Freddie :)

Hi!
Great picture,amazing view!Everything nearly perfect (nobody is it...:-))but one thing:next time i would make a border...
but good composition with great light!tfs
zepter

  • Great 
  • xuaxo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 53 W: 0 N: 16] (101)
  • [2007-12-15 14:44]

Amazing picture and outstanding effect.
I'm going to close my account at TL, because I don't have time for so many sites. You can see my photos at TrekEarth (xuaxo).
Season's greetings, Francisco (xuaxo at TrekEarth).

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