© 2020 Romi Boon All Rights Reserved
In Scottsdale, Arizona Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the reward can often yield some fantastic memories and photographs. That said, scoping out a location is never a chore, it’s a sincere joy! This photograph was taken on the Granite Mountain Loop Trail (north-east Scottsdale, on the Senoran Preserve). As we approached the park's entry gate we heard a beeping noise and discovered that the gate's automatic opener was malfunctioning. As we waited (along with other guests) for the gait to correct itself my partner graciously volunteered to wait and stay with his vehicle so I could cycle off. I had noticed this hillside scene on a previous ride but now (with the early morning sun and the passing storm clouds), it was even more stunning! The color version of this photograph is also a winner however I love how the de-saturated colors created a more powerful and demanding scene. When I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography), it is truly my “happy place”. That said, what could possibly be more enjoyable then traveling and discovering such spectacular places like this!
Sedona, Arizona receives a lot of sun and an early morning hike will likely net you some vivid photos. Famous for their sunrises and sunsets, Sedona's red rock mountains come alive with color! This photograph was captured on a early morning hike, when the sun had just risen and it's early morning color saturated the mountain slopes. That said however, I chose to convert it to black and white. Why, you might ask? Notice the varying densities (the darks, the shadows and the lights), I felt B/W mad the mountains look more rugged, mysteriousness and demanding and by doing that, I've captured a feeling, which is (in my opinion) is the most important element in a photograph.
This is an example of a good black and white photograph; it includes the darkest darks and the lightest lights and everything in between. The color version of this photograph didn't have a lot of color variance however I noticed though, that there was a lot of contrast, so I converted it to black and white. I love compositions with lines (and there’s a lot of them here). In this shot, your eye is lead to the end of the roadway, where it disappears over the hill. Don’t you wonder where it goes and what’s over the hill?
