One last edit from Colorado National Monument

Here's the last edit from my trip to Colorado National Monument. I like the light much better but it's not my favorite of all the compositions. From those who commented on the last couple from this trip, better... worse...?

Russ
www.AlpineGalleria.com

Personally, I like your first version with the tree cut off. I think that it comes down to deciding what your subject is. Is it the tree or what's in the background? I still like the lighting on the rocks and the sky in the background over the tree. In this version, I think that the shadows have been lightened a little too much, though. It's all probably just personal taste...

I prefer it with 1/3 the sky cropped off to give the rock formations greater emphasis.
The limbs against the sky look too charcoally, like color was removed by a GND or only the tops were burned by a fire. That really caught my eye in the image with the entire tree.

Overall, I think this is a nice photo and I like it. I'm with Doug though on the limbs against the sky looking odd. There also appear to be some blown whites in the clouds. I don 't recall seeing your other post from here, so I can't compare.

I prefered the very first version you posted with the cut off branches. You did an excellent job in coordinating all the elements here in this image.

I actually like this one a little better because of the full tree.