Sleeping Stones

Something a little different for me... these are my favorite rocks in the alabama hills, resting under some wild lenticular clouds. Let me know what you think (honest opinions!).

Floris, seems a bit dark to me at first look here, but overall it is an excellent scene.

Floris,

This is very ghostly; almost mystical. I really like it! You might try opening up the foreground (or dodge the boulders) just a little to preserve the mystical feel and, at the same time, add more focus to the rocks. Black and White works nicely, here.

-P

Thanks guys, yea it's a bit dark.. had a lot of trouble getting the rocks to jump out and keep the sky back. I pulled some more detail in here, hope it works better. Thanks for the feedback!

What a beautiful black and white. I really like the way the triangle formed by the foreground rocks and the triangle of the cloud formation point off in the same direction. I also like the touch of light on the ridgeline in the right background.

I love the darkness here - though the second shot is more appealing because of the added detail. I like the simplicity. Very nice.

Floris,
I really like the composition here. I think the second image is an improvement, as it has a little more detail in the shadows. Very pleasing B/W image. Best Regards.

I like this, Floris. Nice work.

- Dan.

Good stuff, Floris. I definitely prefer the second one. The rock detail comes out, yet it preserves the simplicity and sense of mystery.

gnarles

Nice work-over on the second, Floris. I think this will make an excellent print.

Great image Floris. Looks like the same cloud from the previous image? only later. The repost works much better for me. What great contrast between the rocks and the cloud - not only in light, but visually. Great combination of elements. I can see why these might be your favorite rocks.

Only nature photogs would have favorite rocks.

Lon

Thanks Lon - yes same cloud, later than the color post, earlier than the B&W repost.. that cloud really started taking some nice forms!

I liked it standing there and like your treatment of it here. I enjoy the simple shapes and strong contrast between the lower and upper elements. No nits here... good stuff!

Now I need to see if anything I came back with was worth editing.

~Eric

I really like the simplicity of the scene which is almost minimalist's work Floris but I'm still find both versions a little too dark. Maybe hilighting the side of the rocks where the light was coming from would work in giving them a little more shape.

Thanks Steve, I'll see what I can do - I do want to keep it a bit on the darker side (it was close to night, and I like the 'sleeping' feel)... but dark images like this are hard to print/display/light properly, so every bit of light I can get in there and not lose the mood is valuable.

Thanks Eric - and thanks for the comments in the field.. you may notice I managed to hide most of the snow on the mountains in the back

I like the 2nd one, Floris, simple and elegant, well done

Hi Floris, Outstanding comp! I like the re-post a lot, but also feel like it could still use some more lightening. I am curious what the color version of this looks like.

Chris Maun

Nice work, Floris! I agree tht the second version is much better...would perhaps go slightly lighter but am viewing this on an uncalibrated monitor.

Best regards -- Bishop

fantastic Floris. the 2nd post is a real winner. I was about to say about the foreground light and details looking at the first post but you made those subtle changes just the way it would have been.