The Old West (+BW)

Alternate B/W. 

Scott: I'm an avowed color junkie so I'm biased toward the original but like the B&W too. With the B&W I'm looking for the Lone Ranger or Gene Autrey to pop into the scene. 2 thumbs up.>=))>

Excellence.
Excellence.

Great framing of this, Scott. Every element balances nicely. The B&W could easily be from a John Ford western.

While both versions a real nice, I vote for the color version. Your composition is excellent, and the processing looks great in both versions.
--P

This is real nice, Scott. Beautifully composed and processed. Both renderings work but I prefer the color - the rich earth tones  make a great contrast for the blues in the sky.

I can almost hear the sound track to go with this.   This is a great scene but I do wonder about those trees "blocking" the view into the canyon in the distance.  Perhaps a few paces to one side or the other would open the vista out while still keeping the foreground interest and the left/right balance.

It's really hard to compare between the 2 versions for me. I do agree that the tree acts less as a foreground and more like something blocking the scene. Interestingly enough, the sense of blockage is more in the color version than b&w. So I prefer the b&w. 

Scott,

Of course your title leads down a certain impression of this classic western landscape... and that is the old western movie. And those references to Gene Autrey, John Ford westerns... was just what I was thinking.  John Wayne... "The Searchers," "Tie a Yellow Ribbon..."  all come to mind.  Wait, is that Route 66 meandering thru there in the distance? 

Ok, so without all the movie, old westerns references... this is a a wonderful grand landscape and classic landscape of the American Southwest.  The color version is the clear choice for me. One of the main reasons is that the skeletal branches in the foreground are lost in tonality in the b&w version, but hold their own nicely in the color version.  My only wish would be for a little more inclusion of space at the bottom, but that's minor.

Composition is excellent and you did well with the near/far perspective. No other nits or suggestions.

Lon

Yes, Scott, where's John Ford when you need him.  This is a great, almost "classic" western movie setting.  The colors in the land are great.  The dead trees in the foreground add interests and make it more than a classic setting.  I like what they add to the story as I see both death and renewal, leaving me wondering if this area was burned 10 or 20 years earlier.

Real nice take on this area. I prefer the color here, I think it gives it more tonal separation and a sense of depth. Very enjoyable. 

Scott, I have loved this series since the first one you posted, and this is no exception. Great light, beautiful colors and an interesting, not commonly seen landscape all come together here. I prefer the color version. I think you could burn the darks in the b&w version for more contrast.

Wonderful composition of incredibly beautiful country. Please keep in mind I'm on an uncalibrated work monitor, but it looks pretty flat to me in both the sky and in the shadows.  I think some additional contrast would bring more life into it.  I'll check when I get home tonight to see if it looks flat there as well.  Besides that nit, I think this is a tremendous image and needs to be printed large and hung proudly.

Color for me as well Scott. Lovely scene, it really fits the title well. On my monitor, it looks a little yellow.

Scott, This scene really does make me think of some of the old western movies. It is a wonderful view and this comp works great. I like the color best even though the b&w is well done. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.