Meridian butte near Kayenta AZ.

Rnovo · 11-03-2009, 07:26 AM

Good morning all,
Just came back from a tour from Santa Fe NM to Las Vegas ND which offers, as some may know, many outstanding landscapes.
I think I am getting near the point where my K10D is obeying me more peacefully...!
This shot is one of many landscapes I took where I used the "Vibrance" slider in the PSE6 raw converter as well as a bit of Levels. I like the atmosphere that makes me feel of what happened in Arizona's past history of the Navajos.
Thank you for any comments
Richard

**Damn Brit** · 11-03-2009, 12:31 PM

You've got good elements there, a foreground a subject and an interesting background but I feel that by centering the subject, you've lost the background. By having the subject left of centre, the eye would naturally go from the foreground to the subject and then on the background.
It's also looks a little 'flat' and could do with some brightening.

Here's a quick example of what I'm getting at to give you an idea, I kept to the same proportions when I cropped and you could probably do more with it if you wanted to change those, try playing around with it some more.

*wtlwdwgn* · 11-03-2009, 01:14 PM

I agree with Gary. The image didn't have any pop and needed some contrast and saturation. The comp would have been strengthened with the foreground element to the left side. Just keep 'em coming.

*Ash* · 11-03-2009, 01:23 PM

Yep, the original is compositionally OK (I would have had the central rock formation shoved a little more to the left of the image) but the colours and contrast cold certainly improve the image's impact on the viewer.

Keep practicing - PP is a skill in itself.

Rnovo · 11-03-2009, 09:05 PM

Here is the latest version.
I guess I was suffering from tunnel vision. Thanks for the unanimous comments!
I got the DNG file out and I changed the whole thing: A touch of exposure +, a bit of blacks +and my favorites: clarity. vibrance and saturation, finishing with levels and USM (and a bit of burning in the shadows).
What might have happened is that I worked on the image with my mac book on the road and the screen is not the best to carry out this kind of work.
Thanks again.
Richard

*Ash* · 11-03-2009, 09:15 PM

That's brought out the foreground quite nicely.
Now a more dramatic sky would make it stand out all the more.
Only so much you can do with this sky (clouds look too amorphous), but boosting contrast even more (specifically in the sky) may help.

SWEngineer · 11-08-2009, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Rnovo

Good morning all,
... I like the atmosphere that makes me feel of what happened in Arizona's past history of the Navajos.
Thank you for any comments
Richard

Hi Richard. I am going to play devil's advocate here: In my opinion, the calls to brighten or increase contrast run counter to the atmosphere you captured in your original. I especially find the bright, vivid foreground working against you. But I agree the composition works better cropping away some of the L side. Here's a version with much more contrast in the sky (Ash's suggestion - I think it works). It also has a more muted foreground, more in keeping with the atmosphere it sounded like you admired.

*wallyb* · 11-09-2009, 09:06 AM

I like SWEngineer's edit best of all.

Rnovo · 11-09-2009, 03:13 PM

Yes Wallyb, It's interesting how your first thought is usually the right one. I lost the inital atmosphere in the second attempt and I definitely like your sky, SWengineer.
I'll get the RAW file and finish this up once and for all...
Thanks to all

slowpez · 11-21-2009, 11:47 AM

That's what I like about this forum - there is so much help to be had here. I like Mark's version the best also. The shot does have so much potential though. I agree that you should keep them coming.
Susan