Spider Rock

Canyon De Chelly, Spider Rock, the home of the Spider Woman of Navajo legend. Spider woman collects her victims atop this monolith and they are many. Spider Woman also gave the Navajo people weaving.This image was taken with my new D700 which is a sweetheart of a camera. My second trip to Navajo country and there will be many more. CC always welomne.
Joe Rogers
Vernon, Tx

Hi Joe,

I like the comp, and the lighting is very nice. I'm guessing you shot the image with DOF in mind but corners look a little soft. It appears the corners need a bit of sharpening tp make up for the solid center resolution. Also, which Picture Control setting is your D700 set? This looks like it may be the Landscape or Vivid setting which can oversaturate (my opinion) in this kind of good lighting. I prefer the Standard setting, then shoot Raw and adjust color later.

Kane

Whoa, somebody needs to check the posting guidelines! Nice shot, though.

Perfect light for this comp. You definitely used the shadows to your advantage. Yea, might need a little more web sharpening, but if posted smaller it would probably look sharper too.

Sorry about the oversize image. I made an error in resizing and made the shortest side 700 pix instead on longest side. The moderator can delete it if he wishes and I will repost.
Thanks for the feedback. Kane, I think in kicking up my constrast I forgot to check luminosity and oversaturated the image abit. Also, will do the sharpening suggested.
Keep any suggestions coming.. Joe Rogers

This may be the only Spider Rock image I actually like. The cloud shadow behind the rock really brings out Spider Rock and addresses the biggest failing of most shots of this icon.

By including the foreground rocks and the rest of the canyon behind SR, you've done a really nice job of setting off the subject with the frame-in-a-frame composition. Additionally, by including the mesa top you've presented SR in a way that gives the viewer some perspective on the height and majesty of this formation. Finally, I really like the color contrast between the sandstone and the spring green of the foliage in the canyon and on the mesa.

Computer processing issues aside, I think this is a tremendous shot. It has actually given me an interest in shooting Spider Rock - a subject that held absolutely no interest for me previously.

Beautiful image.

I like how this feels that I am peering over the edge of the cliff while viewing this image.

That would be 700 on the longest side. Spectacular shot indeed.

I like the depth created in the image by the composition, compared to other images I've seen. Shadow detail looks good. A little heavy on the red/orange to me.

I was there a couple of weeks ago, and was not fortunate enough to get the nice clouds you had (and I ended up cropping out most of the sky). I think Spider Rock is a difficult shot, since once you get good light, you also get a canyon full of shadows (but that's just my opinion)
In any case, I like your shot...

Nice comp, and lighting! Any more?

This is wonderful! Your comp and the perspective combined with the lighting really make this sing. I bet even without the clouds (heck you could crop out the sky) this would work. Great one, Joe!

It had been overcast a good portion of the afternoon, but broke late in the day, so I got lucky with the clouds. I shot several vantage points with forground in each and this is the only one I really liked. Foreground shadows were dark so I was sure I got detail in them and brought it back with layer mask...no blending of exposures. Thanks all for the kind words and suggestions as to improving the image. I really listen to all the talent on this forum.
Joe Rogers

I like the way you chose to compose this with the Rock dead center, as everything else in the scene seems to radiate toward and away from the Rock. I agree with CAZ's assessment 100%.
Also agree that it's slightly oversaturated.

You really had a productive trip down here, Joe...looking forward to seeing much more in the future!