Emerald Bay (Laguna Beach)

I usually like to think I have a pretty good idea of where the color is going to happen, if and when it does. But on this day, I was shooting into the southern sky only to look over my shoulder to see the western sky beginning to go nuts. So of course I did what any other photographer would do... I ran about like a chicken with my head cut off looking for an adequate fg to take advantage of the situation. I'm unsure about the two rocks on the right and left sides of the horizon. Cropping doesn't seem to work and I'm unsure about cloning them. Any thoughts... do they matter?

~Eric

Howdy Eric, I'm visiting from RMNP and had to look as I know this place well from when I lived in SoCAL. The sky steals the show here so the rocks in the corners don't bother me at all.
John

Hi Eric,
Same her, the rocks don't bother me at all, very nice capture

That's always a good feeling running around with your head cut off. Like John says, the sky seems to steal the show here. I'd much like to see the sky color reflecting in the pools but there probably wasn't much overhead or already gone. It's fleeted me many times. Especially when running around.

Eric,

Gorgeous sky and colors! And although I'd love to see more of it, I think you've balanced the sky very nicely with a great and interesting foreground. I don't mind the rocks on the edge too much, but if it were me, I would crop the right side.

Forgive my SoCal ignorance, but would that be the Catalina Island?

Lon

Another great seascape Eric.

You just made it time for this one. I know the feeling rushing to catch the light before it leaves. I don't think the rocks are a problem at all. It has a nice balanced feel with great color and mood.

Just curious did you use an ND filter or do a blend to bring out the foreground more?

Derek

Thanks guys for the feedback...

To answer a few questions: This was the last fleeting moments of color (4 sec exposure), so unfortunately there was no color high in the sky to capture in the pools as well. There really wasn't a lot to begin with, and even the real fiery sky a few minutes earlier didn't have the nice arc to it (it was more slanted in shape) so I went with this exposure.

Yep, Lon that's Catalina in the distance. It looks a little more prominent at full resolution... which I think gives that sky a little more character as it envelops the island.

Derek, I believe I used a 3-stop hard grad for this image... may have been a 2-stop I'm not sure. I did pull out a little more detail from the raw file for the fg and then blended that into the base image as well. So it's kind of a mix of the two. My current process is to get an exposure as close to possible with grads and then blend additional exposures from that raw file, if needed.

Very clean & nice capture, Eric. I do not find the rocks on the edge of the scene an issue at all.

Eric,

I think it is a winner of a sunset. The rocks on either end really don't bother me.

Great image Eric. The clouds really suck you in! It helps to ahve Catalina out in the horizon too.

The right corner doesn't bother me, I prefer not to crop. I'd rather just learn and not do the same thing next time.

What a nicely textured sunset, with a great mix of warm and cool colors. As for the rock intrusions to the left and right, I'd leave them. They're a little intrusive, but if you were to crop them out you'd lose some of the arc in the sky, which I'd prefer to keep.

Great shot Eric! How epic was that nights sunset? One of the best of the year so far. Thanks for sharing that!