Thanks to a very dry winter last year, Willie and I eagerly awaited the snow so we could get back out with our cameras and head to the Eastern Sierras. Almost 3 months earlier we had saved the first weekend in December for a photo trip. We woke up to a beautiful snowy scene and eventually made our way south to the Alabama Hills
When in Alabama Hills, most people shoot Mobius Arch but we decided we wanted to mix it up and shoot the Eye of Alabama. A small barrel cactus lives at the bottom of the eye and we used that as a foreground element. There were no clouds in sight and it was quickly decided that the beautiful blue hour color in the sky as the sun fades and the stars come out would add the perfect blue color to contrast with the red rock and cactus.
The Moon and Venus rose behind us as soon as the sun set and created enough light for our compositions. Later we played around with shining our flashlights into the air and taking self-portraits. Man is it hard to hold a flashlight in the air, without moving, for 25 seconds
Canon 5D Mark II w/Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM:
24mm, f/11, 5.0 sec, ISO 100
