Panorama Point

[Ben Egbert]

This is from Panorama Point in Capitol Reef NP. I always go here, seldom get any clouds though. I have found that it's best to wait for the sunlight to get all the way off the cliffs to avoid deep shadows and very bright cliff faces.

CC appreciated. If you think this image ought to be at the critique forum, let me know.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Striking landscape and really lovely light you caught. Good job waiting for it!
I find myself wanting to see more fg, but I don't know what's down there.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Striking landscape and really lovely light you caught. Good job waiting for it!
I find myself wanting to see more fg, but I don't know what's down there.

Yes, after years of shooting this scene, I have not liked any foreground below what's seen here. It slopes away fast and ends up more of that gully seen on the right. This is one reason I asked if it should be in critique, it may just be a pretty place that is not very photogenic. You don't see many from here so it has not gotten icon status, probably for a reason.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the colors with the indirect light.

You need to go there with Jim so you can have some clouds

 

[JimFox]

Hey Ben,

I think this is a scene which will benefit most from just having clouds in it the most.

But I did have a thought as to how to add a bit more difference, and that came from your mentioning that you waited until the background cliffs were not lit up. But what if you did edit it, and add a bit more light to those background cliffs with the idea of adding some interest by adding some depth to the image.

Here is my run at it.

 

[JimFox]

Hmm, now that I posted it, maybe the adjustments I made we too subtle?

 

[Ben Egbert]

Hmm, now that I posted it, maybe the adjustments I made we too subtle?

Well subtle or not, I get the idea and saw it at first until you talked me out of it.

By the way here is one with clouds and more foreground but less panorama sweep.

 

[JimFox]

There is some interesting foreground there. I can see the issue really is that canyon that drops off on the right, and it just seems to unbalance things quite a bit.

 

[JimFox]

Here is one more version of your original with a bit more light and then some clarity added to the foreground.

 

[JimFox]

Oh and in this last version I added some more contras to the background.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks Jim, I see where you are going with this. I have been avoiding some of this in the fear of seeming over processed or HDR looking. It's not hard to do these days even with single images.

Thanks for moving this to critique. Many of those in my archives are not stellar and should be here.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Ben,

I was going to leave this in the Landscape forum as there is nothing wrong with your image, but it did seem like it would be a fun one to play with a little and see what a little creative processing might bring out in it.

And yeah, I understand about not wanting an HDR feel, that's where subtle adjustments come in I think.

Jim

 

[Ben Egbert]

I just processed on of my old images this evening. I previously had to use HDR to get the effect I wanted, but instead I took two different exposures and used your luminosity mask to process it ( I learned something I did not was possible). I think it would be a good example of a critique forum image, where I could put the two exposures in the critique gallery and my newest processing and let people play with it.

I have some more work to do first, just an idea, let me know what you think. The biggest problem with the critique forum is getting people to visit.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Well subtle or not, I get the idea and saw it at first until you talked me out of it.

By the way here is one with clouds and more foreground but less panorama sweep.

View attachment 2331

This is nice, and my preferred of the whole thread. Natural light and color and lots of interest throughout the scene. Not to mention a few clouds.

 

[JimFox]

I just processed on of my old images this evening. I previously had to use HDR to get the effect I wanted, but instead I took two different exposures and used your luminosity mask to process it ( I learned something I did not was possible). I think it would be a good example of a critique forum image, where I could put the two exposures in the critique gallery and my newest processing and let people play with it.

I have some more work to do first, just an idea, let me know what you think. The biggest problem with the critique forum is getting people to visit.

That sounds like a good idea Ben, it would be fun to see.

The one thing in our favor with the amount of traffic we have is that comments on a post in the Critique Forum put it on the New Posts button, so it will show up for people to click on. I think Critique forums can always have less traffic then most other forums, but that New Posts button is very helpful.

 

[lionking]

I like the second more, and i agree regarding more FG in the first,
looks like you need Jim for both the session and the PP

 

[Ryan10]

Ben...In another critique thread, I stated that "many" of your images look muddy near the horizon. This one does not. I think this image is fantastic!

With that said, let's see if I can offer anything I would do different...

On the cloudless one, I'd probably remove some the top pale blue sky and add more foreground. Once again, @JimFox said what i thought about the right side of the image leaning and making me feel unbalanced.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Ben...In another critique thread, I stated that "many" of your images look muddy near the horizon. This one does not. I think this image is fantastic!

With that said, let's see if I can offer anything I would do different...

On the cloudless one, I'd probably remove some the top pale blue sky and add more foreground. Once again, @JimFox said what i thought about the right side of the image leaning and making me feel unbalanced.

Thanks Ryan, this helps a lot. I think it has a lot to do with shooting into the sun versus shooting with the sun at my back as I did here.

As far as the comp goes, its also very good to hear the opinion. I am sort of leaning to the idea that this easy to reach place in a national Park has not become an ICON for good reason. A very pretty place to be at sunset, but hard to compose into a world class image.