Critique of Cottonwood Pass

I would like some feedback on this shot from Cottonwood Pass. I'm not sure if the foreground is strong enough to hold it all together. I feel that maybe there is to much dead space in the shot and the balance is a little off. So, I post it here to get some more opinions, I appreciate any feedback.

Thanks
Randy

Randy, I find my eye drawn to the foreground and not to the peaks in the background.

Me too. But I think the foreground is very interesting, so its not a bad thing in my book. I like the combination of white blue and orange here.

Part of what may be doing this is the brightness levels. The peaks and sky are both fairly dark while the foreground is white.

Mel-

I find the foreground interesting enough, but kinda wish you were closer to the pond.

I agree with Doug about your tripod position in relation to the pond, but it is a handsome scene and image nonetheless. I like it.

The peaks and clouds in the background are excellent and the foreground, to me, is okay. I'd like to see it witht the snow and pond darkened.

Nice light, especially the tangerine color on the snow.

I think darkening the clouds at top left all the way into the middle would improve the image; and maybe a slight gradient to darken the snow at the left edge of the frame.

The graphic elements and visual lines in this image are a little chaotic, which can be easily made better with some selective burning. Maybe even darken the mountains, and let the snow be the dominant element.

It helps to identify what exactly you are trying to show or express with the image. Something needs to be dominant.

Otherwise a beautiful capture!

Hi Randy,

You have an interesting capture here ...

Like others, my eyes are drawn to the FG.

I would consider cropping the FG dirt, keeping the reflective water, and toning down the snow.

With all of our ideas, I'm sure you'll have fun.

Regards,

Carol

Usually the eye is drawn to the light areas, so it might be best to adjust the light and dark to draw the eye to where you want it to go.

Bill

nice image though.

Hi Randy, I did not know how to communicate what I see as the crop so I played with it as above. I would darken the BG mtns and sky and then darken the pond to match the sky (to keep TC at bay). Then I might aply a subtle, not more than 15%, feathered edge burn about 1" in from the edges to focus the whole image. To my eye,this eleminated the FG confusion. A litte saturation bump might make that beautiful tangerine color really pop. There is beautiful light in this image!
John

Thanks everyone for your time and feedback. It sounds like most everyone has the same feelings involving the foreground. I was wishing on the drive up the pass that I would get a few views of those mountains before reaching the top, but that did not happen. I will try some cropping and some of the other things you guys suggested. Maybe if I get a result that I am pleased with I will post it here.

Randy