Bands of Color

The colors are spectacular as well as the composition.

I keep coming back to this, The question that comes to mind is, what is the subject? I like all the parts of this, but if the ossified wood is the subject, the background tends to overwhelm it. The light is not particularly a sunset light, except in the URHC, and the boulder field in the foreground. It leads me to believe that you might have been a little late for the good light. The varicolored rocks are fascinating, and could well hold attention all by themselves,

I like the way you have anchored and framed the dead tree. It could be stronger if you crop most of the colored rock out, from the top. This would be a great place to come back to, however, and take shots that would have a strong single subject.

Richard, this just speaks the rugged wild to me. The way you have the 2nd death of the leaning trunk falling off the foreground layer with that gray making it pop just works too well. The color in the background is nice trim too. Good stuff!

SS

It's an interesting comp. But I find the background to be of sooooo much interest, and appeal, that I don't want to have to look past the foreground to get there. If that makes sense? I want to go there because of this shot though, for sure!!!!

Chris

I agree with the other comments about subject, the background is fascinating and that's where my eyes want to go. The foreground is distracting. I think it would be interesting if beyond were distant mountains and color in the sky, but with the amazing detail and color in the background hills I would focus my attention on that. What incredible colors!

Fascinating collection of bizarre elements Richard. The colors in the back are very intriguing, and no doubt would make some great abstracts on their own. But the dead tree adds to the story. An alternate comp that placed the tree entirely in front of the gray hill might have appeared less busy, if possible.

This is a very beautiful place. I think you might narrow the photo down to just a couple of the elements, such as either of the hills and the tree trunk. I think this a place worthy of going back to to reshoot.

that is one hell of a scene! superb.
I believe you could finetune the comp a bit in cropping from the top (so the reds on the ur are gone) and from the left (to just before the first rock)
so much to see and enjoy here! Wow!
Man, this is my kind of place here, could spend hours photographing that one scene... just perfect for LF.
Geez, NEVER take scenes like that without a tripod. not only for sharpness reasons but for finer composing a shot like that.
Still, I truly envy you for knowing this spot...
georg

again, this should get way more comments, imo!
again, where exactly was it taken?
georg