Posted by Jesse Speer on February 11, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Yet another in my "atmostpheric" series. Sorry to bombard the forum with these, but I'm enjoying your feedback on these photos. Very helpful, in fact.
Here's another image I dug out my archives recently. The light/weather make it another potential candidate for the series. Barely visible in web form are two hikers strolling up the ridge. Photographing the two against the dramatic sky was my original intent. They are obviously much more apparent in a larger print. Still, I've toyed with the idea of cloning them out.
Posted by Todd Caudle on February 11, 2009 at 2:07 PM
NO!!! I vote to leave them in, all the way. Really provides context to this awesome shot.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 11, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Definitely leave them in, Jesse.
They definitely add scale to the awesome clouds, although in this JPEG they look like senosr dust.
Posted by Cynthia Spence on February 11, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Leave them in! Makes it more grand looking.
Posted by Jim Caffrey on February 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I'm with everybody else. Leave them in. This is an awesome shot Jesse.
Posted by Jeremy Week on February 11, 2009 at 3:19 PM
I'll 2nd what most have said, "Leave them in!". The scale they provide really adds to the clouds.
Posted by Chris Rice on February 11, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Wow, that's craziness, that big cumulo and those people! If that was a T-storm brewing they were brave to be up there. In my opinion, shots of the Sand Dunes with people on them gives a sense of scale but also highlights man among the bizarre geologic phenomenon. I really like the black and white, but am curious to see it in colour.
I'm with everyone else, I love the figures. It's striking to see that puffy cumulus low on the horizon and then notice the human forms in it. They really make one engage in a different way with the relative abstraction of the rest of the image.
Don't even think about cloning them out - even at this size, they add an important dimension to this excellent image.
Posted by Don Grall on February 11, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Leave them in. Even though they are small they are the focal point, despite the amazing cloudscape.
Posted by Adam Schallau on February 11, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Another vote to leave them in. I think you would loose all sense of scale if you take them out of the shot. Great shot!
Posted by John Mumaw on February 11, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Another "leave 'em in!" vote.
Glad you posted a larger version, as this has to be seen large to truly appreciate.
I'm very impressed with the toning you've been using in these last few images you've posted here. It's never, ever tiresome to view, and always appropriate to the scene at hand.
Posted by Don George on February 11, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Great image! The hikers make it even more awesome!
Posted by Jesse Speer on February 12, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Thanks for the feedback. The hikers are obviously staying.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on February 12, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Powerful image Jesse. Please leave the two bi-peds in. NIce work.
Posted by Stan Rose on February 12, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Take em out, i will go on a hunger strike until you take those aweful eyesores out!!...
ok,, just kidding, id leave em in too.
Posted by Bob Dent on February 12, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Another fantastic image, Jesse. For all the comments about the hikers, (which I agree should stay) I'm more struck by the other elements you have here. You've done an excellent job with bringing out the highlights in that bright cloud formation and I also really like the area of sunlight hitting the lower left dune area. And there's a nice balance overall. Excellent!
Posted by Dan Walters on February 14, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Discussion
17 repliesHere's another image I dug out my archives recently. The light/weather make it another potential candidate for the series. Barely visible in web form are two hikers strolling up the ridge. Photographing the two against the dramatic sky was my original intent. They are obviously much more apparent in a larger print. Still, I've toyed with the idea of cloning them out.
Thoughts, feedback, critique welcome.
Larger version here
They definitely add scale to the awesome clouds, although in this JPEG they look like senosr dust.
Glad you posted a larger version, as this has to be seen large to truly appreciate.
I'm very impressed with the toning you've been using in these last few images you've posted here. It's never, ever tiresome to view, and always appropriate to the scene at hand.
ok,, just kidding, id leave em in too.