Earth ShotsPhoto of the Day Contest

Fireball by Marc Adamus

Fireball by Marc Adamus

Wednesday, 30th December 2009

Fireball
by Marc Adamus
Oregon’s Alvord desert, one of the most remote road-accessible places in the US, has gripped my attention for more than two decades. Steens mountain looms 6000ft. over the dry playa to the west and creates enough of a disturbance in the atmosphere to cause an abundance of lenticular waves (shown here) in winter. The region is also host to a number of other treasures worth exploring.
On the evening of December 31, 2008, myself and a couple members of the high desert preservation group ONDA caught this light show as it spread onto the lenticular formation at least 10 minutes after we thought any chance of a sunset had passed. Red saturation was barely even touched in the RAW file. It was truly incredible. The foreground is comprised of slightly raised cracks and streaks left behind by muddy water and wind.
I hesitate to name or describe this place, as for me, its most enjoyable quality is the solitude here.
Equipment: Canon 1Ds Mark III, 14mm f/2.8
Marc Adamus
I am a professional landscape photographer based in the Northwest US. My love in life is wilderness. I seek to bring my experiences to you through photography.
Share This
On this day in 2008: Darjeeling Tea Garden by Jonathan Munshi »
On this day in 2007: Settlers Wall by Anthony McAvoy »
On this day in 2006: Tiger, Ranthambore by Oscar Lopez Jimenez »
View a Random Photo »
Fireball by Marc Adamus was Photo of the Day on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009. It is tagged Deserts, Weather. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.

30 Comments

  1. Dianne Says:

    Marc, again you capture the immense beauty of this region. As a child, my Dad took me hunting in the Steens mountains and many times we saw incredible sky sites. Lots of snow also!! Truly a place beyond description. Absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you for capturing and sharing such an awesome photo. It is incredibly eerie, and quiet, can just feel the air. I so enjoy your talent.

  2. ali shokri ali shokri Says:

    Wonderful shots,
    texture and sky clouds are amazing ,
    thanks for share

  3. Adam Says:

    I had no idea Oregon has desert. Amazing shot. Thanks.

  4. Anurag Anurag Says:

    This is a most amazing and incredible shot Marc. You are a genius.
    I am truly mesmerised.

    Just my 2 cents – how about opening up the foreground just a little bit?

  5. Waseem Asmar Waseem Asmar Says:

    awesome work dear Marc…as always :-)
    best wishes…

  6. Danette Says:

    Never seen anything like it – spectacular!

  7. John Harrison Says:

    Marc,

    Another stunning beauty! Really love the composition and lighting. Wish I had been there! Keep shooting,
    John

  8. Pauline Jones Pauline Jones Says:

    This picture looks as if it has been super saturated; if it is natural then it must have been a really spectacular sight.

  9. Chris Boynton Chris Boynton Says:

    Great Shot – I’ve seen these colours 15-20 minutes after sunset in the UK.

  10. su su Says:

    What an awesome shot, thanks for sharing, the love you have for the place certainly shines through. Congrats on a well deserved POTD :)

  11. Pedro Afonso Says:

    This one of best images that i ever seen. The colors are so good in this one!

  12. Örvar Atli Þorgeirsson Says:

    Spetacular display of colors and textures Marc. As you show there are still alot of spetacular things and areas to explore which are rarely photographed.

  13. Linda Strawn Says:

    Marc, you are a special gift. I ordered 2 of your Wild Journeys 2010 calendars and the demand exceeded your expectations. Your representative Brian called me personally and searched the distribution outlets for these calendars and then FedExd them!!! Somehow your photos capture the essence of nature’s integrity and prove your own.

  14. Andrew Andrew Says:

    Heavens waffle maker? :)

    Pretty incredible shot even though I see some added pixelation, but its still a great shot.

  15. Andrew Andrew Says:

    Mark, I just ordered your 2010 calendar. Great shots, simply amazing wilderness footage. You definitely have a gift :) .

  16. Renee Renee Says:

    Marc, I am in such awh this shot is incredible, you have captured it wonderfully! Keep up the excellent work! :)

  17. Grete Says:

    Incredible image, is amazing, I can not stop staring it! Mark, really you are a superb photographer! I like very much the saturation touched in the RAW. Congrats ans Regards from Argentine.

  18. pierre Says:

    WOW ….. an amazing photo Marc…. surreal

  19. varanasi Says:

    Amazing color

  20. Matt Matt Says:

    Oh …. my … God ;o)

    Stunning

  21. Evan Spellman Says:

    Marc, You’ve created a magical scene with your camera here. Its like Dante’s inferno–Spectacular Natural Photograph!!

  22. Marie Dunphy Harding Says:

    Commenters before me have said it all & with great respect for you as the photographer, this is spectacular. thank you.

  23. mike mike Says:

    I never seen a sky like that before. Amazing.

  24. João Ganhão João Ganhão Says:

    One of my favorite shots! Nice work! Happy 2010!

  25. Laurie Laurie Says:

    Absolutely amazing! I love sunsets, but this is beyond description!

  26. Katherine Lee Strassburg Says:

    OMG–said aloud when this came up on screen! Spectacular! Thanks for taking me there.

  27. Photos by Nik Says:

    Wow this is an amazing picture

  28. Vlad Says:

    Awesome, it’s stunning.

  29. paul whitton paul whitton Says:

    even as a portrait orientated photo the impact is stunning! I cant imagine what it was like to see this first hand! you have put the time in and have reeped the rewards! congratulation, truly amazing photograph!!!

  30. jack garratt Says:

    Right place, right time, right eye, camera in hand…Caught!

Leave a Comment

New! Click here to upload a comment avatar.

Wednesday
-

December 2009
M T W T F S S
« Nov   Jan »
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Other Photo Contests

Top commenters:

Add our new Gadget to you iGoogle page: Add to Google

Home | Archive | Enter | Subscribe | Webmasters | Contact | Sponsor | Links | Feed
Close
E-mail It