Joshua Tree at Sunset

Nature Conservancy's Best Nature Photo 2007 Finalist

 

While waiting for the sun to set, it ducked beneath the clouds and I got some direct sunlight. Not much to look at for silhouettes or cloud color, but the side lighting was almost magical. I tweaked it a little bit using the tonemapping tool on PhotoMatix and then finished it with the typical PhotoShop levels/curves adjustments.

 

View On Black

 

Another version not so overcooked.

.:

Done