Ancient History

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 8, 2011173 views6 comments

On my way home from an ApCad workshop in Zion, I made my way to Valley of Fire and met up with fellow ApCad instructors Ellie Stone and Scott Davis. We had a very nice evening with some fairly nice light and clouds to set it off.

I keep trying to find more excuses to spend time here as I've barely scratched the surface on what this area has to offer. So many little slot canyons, arches, rock forms, and these very cool striations laid down over eons. I love the abstract nature of this place.

Comments and critiques welcome!

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 8, 2011 at 8:41 PM

I have looked at this image for a while now. The colors are very nice and the sky adds to the image. There is something that doesn't grab me. I don't know if my eye doesn't find a specific point that draws my eye or my eye is not lead into the image. May just be me.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 8, 2011 at 10:23 PM

Jean,

I read Richard's comment and had a similar reaction. You've got a fabulous sky and the sandstone is always going to be interesting. But it's almost like the two don't go together? Just thinking and playing with crops... I think something that might work is a square crop, or a crop that uses equal portions of sky and land. I'm always railing on 50/50 comps, balance and such, but I think there would be strong dynamic created between the two elements, the sky and the sandstone. It might just work. Just a thought.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on December 9, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I cropped the shot removing the upper, darker portion of the sky. Again, critiques are welcome.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 9, 2011 at 6:04 PM

The rock formations and the matching colors in the clouds are very nice. I think the repost is a noticeable improvement. It feels like there's a lot more depth and my eyes spend a lot more time roaming the rock formations. Guess the dark clouds at the top were a major distraction.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on December 9, 2011 at 7:23 PM

I certainly find the repost stronger than the original (though I'd up the web sharpening just a bit). It's a nice shot overall though even with the repost I have to agree to some extent with Richard and Lon. For me, I think the issue is that the sandstone features aren't quite prominent enough to really draw me in. Perhaps a lower shooting perspective, close to the surface of the rock, would have solved that problem? Anyway, I always hate leaving comments on issues that can't be corrected but thought I'd put that out there for consideration if you find yourself in a similar situation down the road.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on December 9, 2011 at 8:47 PM

Thanks again for the great feedback and suggestions. An honest and constructive critique is why I like NPN!

Phil...I see what you're saying and I probably could have (should have) tried getting closer on the foreground. Guess I'll have to go back and try again!

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments