Waking up in The Maze + Repost

First Light: I spent four days in the Land of Standing Rocks just over a week ago, and took this photo on our last morning from near our camp at Standing Rock. I like the light on Ekker Butte and the rims of the canyons below that make up the maze.

First time posting a photo here, so I may need to adjust my settings when I save for here....

Feedback appreciated. Thanks!

Randy, I will give some feedback since you asked. The light looks interesting enough in this scene, but my nit is with the comp. My eye just wonders through the scene a bit too much. Also it could be the web version, but it looks a bit soft.

I love the warm light on the butte and think a couple of adkjustments will make the image pop. There is a lead-in canyon in the shadows that could benefit from lightening so we can see it. Personally, I think the comp is pretty cool - it's the Maze. You may also bring up the blues in the sky a bit for the cool/warm contrast. It's a great 1st post!

Don't see many images from the Maze here. Looks like you found a real beautiful spot!

Dave's right...this is a good image, and a few adjustments can really make it pop.
First, it's slightly underexposed. In the Levels dialog of your image editor, you can see the underexposure in the histogram. Move the white slider left 'til it hits the first significant bits of data (around 210 or so).
Then try this technique that enhances local contrast while removing 'haze'.
Choose your Unsharp Mask filter, and use the following settings:
Amount-20
Radius-50
Threshold-0
Those steps should help improve an image that is already pretty good.

Thank you for the feedback and tips so far....it really helps me. I'll go back and try some of those changes and post up the results.

Take 2...thanks again for the suggestions and feedback and tips.

I think this is better, esp. the skies.
You should edit your title add "+ Repost" or some such onto it so folks will have a return look.

Thanks Lynn!