Favorite (Best?) From CO Nat'l Monument

[Mike Lewis]

So just got back from a 2 night stay at the Colorado National Monument. I have wanted to get there for a while now and I must say it did not disappoint. I probably got about 5 images that I will add to my website from the trip, but this one is my favorite for a couple reasons.

- I love how it came out

- It represents one of the few times I was able to research an area online, scout a particular location in varying light, plan a shot, and then get up early and go execute it. I even had the time and patience to wait on the light for a while to let the sun finally shine up over the top of the low clouds to the east.

This is about 30 minutes after actual sunrise, at the 2nd of the Ute Canyon access points (Ute Canyon View) that one comes to when driving from the campground. This is a blend of multiple exposures.

Of course, I am still happy to take critique and feedback on this as there are almost always things that could be improved.

ML

 

[Ben Egbert]

Very nice light on those cliff faces. I might crop some off the bottom but don't cut off the road or stream.

 

[JimFox]

Very cool Mike, I sure like the light on this and the way it's hitting the walls of the bluffs.

I would suggest the opposite of Ben, I would crop off half the sky. The focus of this shot is the canyon with the cliffs being lit and the stream bed meandering across the bottom. The amount of sky distracts as there is nothing going on since it's mainly just blue.

I also would suggest eliminating your logo, for most of us the logo really doesn't do anything anymore. If anyone is interested from seeing your work to contact you, you have your signature at the bottom of the thread. If it's to prevent image theft, having the logo in the sky makes for the simplest of removals. But if you do want it, I would suggest to put it down in the ground area so it doesn't stick out so much as I find the logo distracting. But really for most of us it seems logos on images don't really serve any practical purpose anymore.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Ha! Jim, I had the same thought on the top of the image, after looking at it again from a cropping standpoint. See if this is closer to what you are saying:

ML

 

[Ben Egbert]

You guys are right, the top crop is better.

 

[JimFox]

That crop looks a lot better Mike! I am glad to hear we were thinking alike on it.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the new crop. I actually liked the original as well but the crop brings us a little closer to the cliff faces and the nice details you captured.

Nice work with the planning and patience for the shot.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I agree with the second crop, Mike.

 

[MonikaC]

I would still crop the bottom -- make a 16:9 out of it.
Nice planning for the light, Mike.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Love the cropped version. I like Monika’s suggestion as well for a 16x9 aspect ratio.

 

[Luvwine]

I agree with cropping the sky. There are no interesting clouds with light playing off them, so the interest is down below. Lovely image, just one that will work better as almost a pano crop.

 

[Mike Lewis]

16 x 9 crop for comparison

ML

 

[Ben Egbert]

Best crop yet

 

[Jeffrey]

That's s nice crop, and a fine image. The kind everyone here loves!

 

[AlanLichty]

16 x 9 crop for comparison
ML

I like the earlier crop with the extra rocks down in front.

 

[Mike Lewis]

I like the earlier crop with the extra rocks down in front.

Alan,

To be honest, the 2nd crop is my favorite too. But nice to see how things change with what seem like subtle adjustments. And I really do appreciate all the feedback from so many of the super accomplished landscape imagers at FW - that kind of input is invaluable.

ML