Critique this one

[Ben Egbert]

While I was up at Squaw Peak I saw this post sunset light on the adjacent hillside. The light was pretty flat but still the reflected light brought out some warm tones. Of course I got an image or two and processed it.

Although it has a certain charm for me, it probably does not work in a presentation forum so I am posting it here for comment.

What this evokes in me is a sense of early winter when the trees are bare and there is some snow on the ground. I even left the young couple strolling over the meadow.

CC requested.

 

[AlanLichty]

The earthen tones the ground cover takes on between now and when the snow buries it all used to be my favorite time to get out to hike when I lived in Utah. I like the colors the mountain faces have taken on in this light too.

While I see a lot of things I like that catch my attention none of the elements in the scene really grabs me as a focal point for the composition. The cluster of elements near the couple on the trail are potentials for a focal point if you were to selectively add a bit more highlights and saturation to pull your audience into the meadow. Maybe make the tree trunks in the small stand off to the left a bit brighter and bring up the reds/oranges on the little knoll behind the couple as well.

A quick hack on your jpeg:

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks a lot Alan. Your comments in the past about the look of late fall is what prompted me to take this rather than pass it by.

I really appreciate your comments and rework. My version was very lightly processed so there is a lot that can be done here.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I like the softer look of the original, but I can see masking Alan's extra punch into the trees on the left and some of the midground foliage to help create an area of focus. I find myself wanting something with some weight in the lower right to balance out the scene a little.

That said, I'd have stopped for this too. The light is really nice and the touch of snow adds a nice touch. I might "glow up" the mountains and clouds a little more to add to the dreamy atmosphere.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I like the softer look of the original, but I can see masking Alan's extra punch into the trees on the left and some of the midground foliage to help create an area of focus. I find myself wanting something with some weight in the lower right to balance out the scene a little.

That said, I'd have stopped for this too. The light is really nice and the touch of snow adds a nice touch. I might "glow up" the mountains and clouds a little more to add to the dreamy atmosphere.

Thanks Kyle, this gives me some ideas. By the way, I have your glow action and use it frequently.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Here is a rework based on Alan and Kyle's comments.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Ben, I like Alan's edit, though I like your last edit also.

My only thought at this point is I don't like how the darker brown grass is cut off along part of the bottom. I think I would actually crop right above that row of dark grass.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I will try that

 

[Ben Egbert]

Here is a crop per Jim's suggestion. I wanted to keep the 16x9 aspect so I took some off the left as well as the bottom so that I did not cut off the mountain on the right

 

[AlanLichty]

Here is a crop per Jim's suggestion. I wanted to keep the 16x9 aspect so I took some off the left as well as the bottom so that I did not cut off the mountain on the right

The crop works - I was looking at a similar crop when I was playing with the image but like yours better.