Last Rays

Trevor and I debated with one another for a good 10 minutes on where would be the prime spots on this ridge would be and differing opinions led to us shooting some distance apart. I opted for easy access to a westerly view after the alpenglow faded from the facing mountains and was greeted with this very subtle but colorful bursting sort of cloud, which I really felt I had to include at this particular time because the color at its peak. I'm not real sure what I think of this comp though. I doubt I'll junk it but I'm on edge about whether it deserves to go in the portfolio or not. Thoughts?

Imteresting shot and a tough one. UYOur images on ES & S( Baker) is awsome!
JG

Amazing colors. When I first looked at it, I got the sense that the lupine was a little dark...but the more I look at it, the more I feel that it is good the way it is. I think it could go in your portfolio. It's beautiful!

Bryan, I would keep it. The diagonal of flowers is pretty strong in a pano format, and lightening the ridges on the right will help to add more strength to the shot.

John

Stuning colors. I agree with Barbara that it takes a moment to realize that the lupines are not too dark for the shot. I hesitate to suggest dodging them a bit, because this one has such atmosphere.

IMHO I don't find the sky terribly compelling here, and given how dark everything else is.....it's pretty important. There's just not enough going on in the sky to hold my attention unfortunately.
Perhaps cropping some of the sky into more of a pano would work, and a little shadow recovery in the hills. I agree with Ruth about the lupine, but think there should be a bit more detail in the hills.

You've captured some outstanding colors. Like Chris, I think I'd like to see just a bit more detail in the hills. I think this would really pop then.

Crop most of the sky and make this a pano and it will sing... I like it!

Times like this, Bryan, I get right down about as close as I can and fill at least 2/3 of the frame with flowers. That's the focal point here IMO, but the sky is a nice compliment. I don't see it deserving half the frame personally. It would be nice to see a bit more shadow detail here, but I realize the difficulty of this exposure too!

I'm looking at this a second time, now on my home computer which is a much better monitor than I have at work.
I have to say, the exposure looks really good now, including the hills. So I take back my comment about the hills based on what I see, but still suggest a crop of the sky and pano.
It's amazing what a decent monitor can do:)

Yeah, the more I look at this one, the more I'm thinking I'll lop off about half the sky. Maybe I need to recalibrate my monitor (something I'll have to do after I move next week), but my images always show up a bit darker when I upload them to either flickr or smugmug, there is more detail in the shadows in the original. Thanks for the feedback guys.