Otter Cliffs Sunrise

Welcome to NPN, that's a very good first image! The land looks fine to me, although I see what you mean with opening the darkest parts. That might indeed help. The structure in the clouds is really nice, not the every day type of clouds, and they give a nice blue/orange combi.

Welcome to NPN! Nice first post. Real sweet sky. I would agree about opening up the shadows a bit.  I think that would work nicely. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and getting your input.

Welcome to NPN, Craig, and a nice initial post. Personally I tend to not get hung up about having detail in all areas of an image particularly black seaweed in pre-sunrise light. The sky is fantastic and the forest looks natural and could even take a little bump in saturation in my opinion. I also like the little curl of water that's coming off the rocky point.

Nicely composed.  Nothing wrong with having some true black and dark be dark. Makes the dappled area of lighter rocks more evocative.  Given the nature of the light, would be difficult to open up the darkest areas without an unnatural or HDR look to it.  Well done.

I like the comp and yes the clouds are spendid Craig.  With regards to opening up the shadows, what software are you using?  LR, PS?  I think bringing up the highlights may also make that sky really pop.

Craig, Welcome to NPN! This is a very nice looking scene and a comp that works well. I like the sky in this very much with all the layers and soft colors. I agree about the shadows and opening them up a little if you can. Look forward to more of your work.

Nick Bristol

Lone Rock, WI

Very nice first post, Craig.  Love the sky and if anything, I think you could bring the shadows up a little.  Looking forward to more of your work and don't be bashful about critiquing other images.  Welcome .

Wecome to the board. This is a fine first post. Twilight is a special time of day with it's low light conditions and you have stayed faithful to it and captured it beautifully. The composition feels a bit awkwardd  to me. I think it's the triangular wedge coming in from the right. I would try cropping some from the bottom to just below those 2 rocks out of the water and letting everyone know that this is about the sky.

Craig: Welcome to NPN and thanks for a fine first post. I've never been to Maine and it is definitely on my bucket list. Beautiful soft light. I'm OK with the shadows as they are but lightening them a touch would work too. Great to have you aboard and looking forward to more.>=))>

It's nice to have another CT photographer on NPN.  Welcome!  I think there is enough detail in the rock face.  It is sunrise and more brightness would be unrealistic.   Great image for your first post. 

Thanks all for the comments! I'm excited to be here.

Eva, I'm using PS. I have TK's actions, but I still need to work more with those and get comfortable using them. I'll work on the shadows a little bit when I can.

Igor, thanks for the comment. I tried a crop to where I think you meant (see the repost), but I feel that the image is too bottom-heavy that way. What do you think?

I agree a bit more space under that rock at the bottom would have been desirable.

They're really two very different images and really hard to compare. To me the second is a more dynamic composition. Basically you're trying to make the user look at the highlights on those rocks then at the horizon and then upward to that magnificent sky that now takes up half of the image.

Regarding unbalanced compositions (and I'm talking off the top of my head). If it's unintentional - that's bad. But if you're emphasizing the unbalance - that's good. You're trying to make a point.

Sweet first post Craig,

I really enjoy the light, and how the clouds create a wonderful layering effect. If I were to crop this image,I like it as is, I would make a compromise between the original and the re-post. On the shadows, maybe using the darks luminosity mask action, and seeing what that produces with a curves adjustment could be easily done. I am okay with the shadows as is, but a tab bit of adjusment could be very nice as well.

Beautiful light and presentation Craig!!