Turret Arch and Juniper: Opinions Needed

I'm waffling on whether to keep this image or round file it. I like the concept but something about it doesn't quite work for me. Perhaps it is the lack of interest in the sky? I don't know, but I'm posting it here for ya'll to tear up. I need honest opinions on this one so don't hold back.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

1Ds MKII, 24-105mm lens

Bret
Try converting it to BW and maybe crop off the top to make it more pano. I like the silouette of the tree , but the color of the arch seems too harsh and washed out hence the suggestion for BW

I think something about the light and perhaps the size relation with the tree makes it seems like the arch is a little mud sculpture. Maybe it's that the arch and tree are the same size? It's an interesting shot... but I'm not sure that it's quite on par with the other great work I've seen of yours.

I am with Steve, try b/w conversion before commiting it to the trash can. Its a great composition, maybe a conversion can meld the comp and a moody feeling together. My 2 cents............................J

Bret,

It doesn't quite work for me. It might work with some clouds and better color on the arch.

Hadn't considered a b&w conversion. I'll give it a shot and see if it works. Thanks for the honest thoughts!

I agree with Steve - this should work well in B&W. I suggest adding a lot of saturation to the blues, then using 100% of the red channel in the channel mixer. This will give you a nice dark sky.

Guy

I really like the composition of the silhouette next to the arch. In addition to what has been suggested already, you may try it as a pano (6x12 format), by cropping a bit of the black from the bottom, and then cropping it just above the tip of the highest branch. It think that looks very cool!

I agree with Jack's comments (sizes), and I really think the sky is just too blue and uninteresting. What are you trying to tell us with composition? What is the relationship (something my photo mentor constantly harps on :-), and what Jack is talking about) between the Arch and the Tree?

Nonetheless, it must have been a fun morning or evening to be out seeing it all

Compositionally all the elements are there subject wise, but, I just feel the contrats are too stark and lacking something I cannot quite nail down. I would agree that a Balck and White would be awesome in this case but i don't think it rescues it. Sorry

I agree with the crop suggestions. The subject and compositional elements are nice. The contrast seems to stark. Is there any detail in the tree you can bring out? You might also try to knock the highlights down and enhance the contrast across the rock, particularly across the upper part of the arch.
It might be salvagable.

I'd go with a pano crop to cut out the sky. The composition has lots of potential, but the light just makes this a tough save.

B&W might give this some more drama - hard to say without seeing it. It comes across as a rather static image to me. The amount of clear sky and harsh light on Turret make it difficult for me to get engaged with the scene. Not a bad image, really; but definitely not up to the standard you've established for yourself.

Hey, great minds think alike!

http://www.michaelhardeman.com/viewimage.aspx?id=214

I'm thinking the juniper and the arch compete with one another rather than complement each other. Maybe it's because they are placed too close together and appear to crowd each other. I agree with others that perhaps the arch is a bit too harshly lit.

I don't have a problem with the blue sky because it's what I see as an aspect of your signature work.

I'm not experienced in B&W work so I cannot offer an opinion there about its potential in that area.

I agree with most comments. Although I tend to think b/w wouldn't help this particular shot. The washed out look can be overcome. However, the composition is a bit bothersome to me as well - for the reasons already mentioned. Since you're there, I'll suggest reshooting and playing around with composition - esp. filling more of the frame with the tree, different placements around the arch, etc. This would certainly make any b/w treatment have more impact. This would also be a wonderful night shot, maybe even with some moonlight coming from behind.

OK, let's try that again.....

Hey, great minds think alike!

<a href='http://www.michaelhardeman.com/viewimage.aspx?id=214'>http://www.michaelhardeman.com/viewimage.aspx?id=214</a>

Yours is definitely better, Michael!

I'm not sure why the light appears so harsh, unless it's a processing problem. This was only 15-20 minutes after sunrise. Could be a processing issue.

Thank you to all for the comments and suggestions. I'll try a b&w conversion w/ pano crop to see if it saves the image but I'm not holding out much hope.

Yours is definitely better, Michael!

I'm not sure why the light appears so harsh, unless it's a processing problem. This was only 15-20 minutes after sunrise. Could be a processing issue.

Thank you to all for the comments and suggestions. I'll try a b&w conversion w/ pano crop to see if it saves the image but I'm not holding out much hope.

Thanks, Bret. I got lucky with some clouds, but did that thing I always do, used an unnecessary grad filter with a polarizer. I was down to my last slide after doing the "standard" turret/window shot. A rather large female photographer had set up down there, so I had no choice but to move in that direction and get this shot. I still like it. One thing I DON'T have is the luxury of going there every other Saturday morning to try again! :)

I haven't been to Moab since 1997, so enjoy!!!!