RRCNCA - Again - W/Repost Again

I've been having a heck of a time processing this photograph, and I apologize if you saw this posting earlier. Not many people had seen it and it had no comments, so I deleted it. I can tell I'm pretty rusty with PS, but hopefully this works okay. I re-calibrated my monitor and tried it again.

This was taken this on 4/27 at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just west of Las Vegas.

Canon 40D 10-22mm @ 11mm
ISO 100 f/16 @ 4 sec GND

There is some darkness at the top of the mountains from the GND, but I personally don't find that too annoying, but others may disagree. I haven't been out taking any new landscape/nature stuff for months, so it was good to get out and take some pics while I was at a conference in Vegas.

Ryan,
Even though the processing might not be spot on, I can really immerse myself in this. The sky seems a little unnatural and dark to me, especially on the right two thirds.

I saw the first version, and this is worlds better in the processing dept. The composition is very solid. This is the type of photo that really feels like you are standing there in the scene.

I think the sky is still pretty hot. If you have any bracketed frames, this seems like a fairly easy one to do a manual blend on.

Of course, I bracketed a slightly different comp and for whatever reason, this was a single shot with this comp, so I'll have to work with what I've got. I should be able to tame the sky down a bit. Thanks.

Good to see this bigger than on FB...Maybe rework the hot sky, but this would be a great print.

Kevin

Yeah, Ryan, I like this comp a lot, too. Your fg subject is good, and the scene overall appeals. Working more on the sky will really help this– including lightening up the grad filter area; it's pretty obvious...

Nice to see a post from you!

This image looks like a perfect candidate for working in LAB color. I've been reading and re-reading Dan Margulis' book "The Canyon Conundrum" at the advice of many people and this seems to be an image that could greatly benefit from the power of that space. Using curves adjustments in LAB can really work to drive the blue, browns and greens apart and accentuate them. Also, after toning the sky down a bit, it can really highlight that bright area without adding noise. Also, shadow/highlight adjustments can be more powerful and efficient in LAB.
I highly recommend the book if you haven't read it and I'd be happy to E-mail you some of the basic moves presented in the book if you like.

Isn't that a cool book Larry? Easily my favorite PhotoShop book; I really like Dan's works, even if he is a bit controversial.

Ryan, this has a lot going for it, my favorite being those bluffs in the distance. I agree though, the sky needs a bit more work.

I've got that book as well, I just haven't gotten into it. I think I purchased it about the time my daughter was born, which coincided with less time working with photographs. I've got it out now and I think it is going to come in handy. I'm not sure how much of the "hot" area I'll be able to take care of since I didn't bracket this particular shot. I'm going to double process in RAW and do some blending to see how that goes.

I like the idea of it more than I like the photo of it, Ryan, sorry. It's a good comp but it just didn't fall into place for you.

A little more work on it. Some in LAB, some RGB There isn't much I can do with some of the over exposure, but it look good on a matt paper.

I think I'm going to stash this one for awhile and maybe come back to it someday. Who knows.