Double Arch - Arches National Park, Utah
Nikon D100, Sigma 15-30mm
It felt like walking in an oven at Arches National Park that day. It was hot! We could see the dramatic Double Arch from far away. When we got to the trailhead, Gail decided that she didn't want to walk all the way to the arch when she could see it fine where she was. So, I left the backpack with her and I walked down the trail by myself.
I had the Tamron 24-135mm mounted on the D100. As I got closer to the arch, I saw a spectacular sight. The shadow under the great arch made the scene appear to me like a gigantic eye. I wanted to capture that moment before the shadow shifted too far, and before too many other tourists walked into the picture. Although I took a few shots, I quickly realized that my current lens was not quite wide enough. I had left the Sigma 15-30mm in the backpack with Gail!!! I was sure that Gail was getting hot and bored standing there waiting for me to come back. So I quickly ran back to grab the Sigma, swap it with the Tamron, and run back to get the picture that I saw in my mind's eye.
This picture is the closest to how I had envisioned the scene. To get an idea of the immense size of the arch, you can spot a person standing in the shadow under the arch if you looked hard enough. I left this image at 900 pixels wide so that you may be able to see it better.
--Warren
posted by Warren T. at 11:26 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Warren -- cool pic :)
I cannot spot the shadowed person... I guess the arches are very huge! That's a great scene to share :)
Lea,
Start at the bottom center of the picture, then slowly move your eye up until you get to the shadow area. The teeny, tiny person is sitting right at the top of the shadow, and his head is sticking up into the sunlit area.
--Warren
Warren,
Nice picture! I was there after a major thunderstorm so it was only 70 degrees. I'll have to look to see if I have a decent photo of double arch.
BTW, how is the sigma 15-30mm performance wise? Are you happy with it? I need a very wide zoom and have been researching what to get. I don't want a DX only lens though.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thanks, I'd like to see some of your shots from Arches NP.
The Sigma 15-30mm performs very well, and to my satisfaction. It is also one of Sigma's EX series meaning it's very well built, unlike Sigma's cheaper series.
I've found images taken with this lens to be sharp, evenly exposed, with good color rendition, and with distortion very well controlled. I've also used it on my film cameras with amazing results.
The negatives are:
- Huge size...it's big and heavy
- Humongous front element. It's a big, honking, curved front element, and you cannot thread a filter in front of it for protection. If you're queezy about using a lens with no protective filter, then this one is not for you. I've used mine for three years this way, and had no problems.
- It's not easy to use filters with this lens. I don't use filters, so I don't mind.
I prefer to use my 17mm Tokina prime lens which is smaller and lighter, but I still take the 15-30mm out occasionally, and usually when I'm traveling, and I don't want to take too much gear.
Cameta Auctions on Ebay is currently selling the Sigma 15-30mm at ridiculously low prices, about half of what I paid originally ($330 vs. $650).
Just wondering, why don't you want to buy a digital only lens? Do you still shoot film?
If you're serious about this lens, you can try mine. We can meet somewhere and I can bring it for you to try while we do a shoot somewhere. Let me know if you want to do this.
--Warren
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