Clark Fork Sunset

Hi all, this is my first post here, just looking for some feedback. After looking at some incredible images from this site over the past few months, I saw the offer for a 30day free trial and decided to give it a go.
This image was taken a few weeks ago along the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana, during the most amazing light show I have ever seen. All comments and critiques are much appreciated, I am always trying to learn. Thanks!

A killer image! Run, don't walk to the Missoula Chamber with this picture....

That's a fantastic sky, Greg, and welcome. You did a great job of handling the exposure. It is also a very good comp. It is easier to critique if you post your info on what equipment you used and details on capture. The only way this could have been improved for me, and it's just my preference, is to not have included any sign of man. But I understand you take what you get when you are blessed with a gift of a sunset/sunrise like this one.

Greg-

Killer color and a great comp with the ice and flowing water! i would agree with Morris on getting rid of any signs of man. I like to keep my images stricly to nature only (personal preference).

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sorry I forgot to post my equipment>> Canon 40d, 17-40 @17mm, f/18, 5 seconds.

As far as the hand of man, I agree with you both. I try to stay away from it as much as possible. But as you said Morris, you take what you can get. Unfortunately I am without a car, and in the winter time around here I am pretty much limited to walking distance, so this is about the best I can do. Thanks again for the feedback!

Welcome, Greg.
That is some amazing light! You did a great job catching the reflection off the river.

Wow! Great eye, Greg. As Dave said, take this to your local Chamber.

Welcome to the forum Greg. I don't mind the bridge in this shot. The great color in the sky and interest of the river more than make up for having a 'human element' in the photo. If you look at some of the recent posts here many of us have been putting up photos with much more human influence than this one so 'no worries 'mon.'

That's pretty awesome show Greg!! Welcome to the forum....Great job of capturing it!!! regards, Rajeev.

That's some serious color you found and you handled it well with a good composition. Usually when I see a great sunset there's nothing to put in front of it.

Wow that is intense! Nice shot.

That's a neat shot! I think the bridge is fine, too--but I would take out a few of the more obnoxious power poles!! Sometimes it's the little things...

It would make a nice shot for the "Made in Montana" fair in Helena--didn't remember the date b/c I didn't expect I could go--in March, though, I think.

Great first post

Linnet

Bummer about all those distracting poles etc in the bg. Personally, id crop it all out--the fg is beautiful enough without all those things in back polluting it.

Hmm, that is one crop I have not considered Stan, but I could definitely see it. Where would you suggest making the cut then, would you leave any of the far bank or the river on the other side of the snow??

at first when i saw this shot i was a little confused. i thought that the clark fork ran towards the west when it ran through town. i thought maybe you had flipped the image horizontally. but then i recognized the bridge, it's the madison st bridge, not the higgins. which would mean that's the rattlesnake running into the clark fork. i miss zoo town! and of course the kettlehouse a few blocks from here.

wonderful image. it gave me a little run down memory lane.