Red Rock Sunrise

Looks like some beautiful scenery, Walt, and a nice comp, but im afraid w/o a tripod you are really making this shot next to impossible to pull off--it forced you to go at a large aperature and as a result the bg rocks (which are the most important subject here) are blurry. You might have been better off writing off the wide angle and focusing more on the reflection or rocks as an abstract or intimate shot.

I like the composition, particularly that dark red reflection looks very interesting. I am a bit torn about the bush in the water. Looks like it is beyond its lifetime which does not make it look too appealing here in my opinion. But the overall balance and the symmetry make the image work for me.

Looks like a great area. I like the overall comp but the bush in the water is past it's prime and is quite distracting.I can't wait to get back to Vegas and check this area out.

Walt,

Looks like a fantastic area to explore no doubt. I think though that this little scene probably has more dynamic range than any we've seen in a while. there is such a wide difference between the black shadow area in the LL and the sky area that no camera, film or sensor can get the proper exposure in one shot. Times like these when the use of multi-exposure blending is really the only choice.

I like the comp and the symmetry captured. Looks to me like the red channel is clipped in the reflection and the reds pretty saturated in general. You've held the sky up top pretty well, but the shadows are lost at the bottom. Almost hate to suggest it, but I think this might work better if you even cropped out the bottom part containing the red reflection. The would take out much of the black too which isn't adding to the scene. Just a thought.

No doubt you had a great time hiking in the area.

Lon

Thanks for all the great responses. Tough to hear on one I like, but it really makes me think hard about what I'm doing. Can't do anything but improve my work to see if I can learn to recognize these things at the scene. I really appreciate it.