neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

FYC

OK, I'm ready. And the defects are...

(Download)

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

Soaring chickens, a "Cowardly Lion" with horns, a run over squirrel, and some kind of in-progress ritual... but then, I'm off my meds.
... when I'm on them, I'd say this is an excellent shot- a few hours ago or several more hours in the future. That's a guess... based on my presumption the intended subject is the rock formation- most of which is in shadow and shadows are generally pretty flat and thus have a hard time competing with direct sunlight- such as the flying chicken cloud is receiving- needs more contrast- the rocks, I mean. My preference is to have the lightest/brightest, most contrast attached to the primary subject. Earlier/later in the day might have better illuminated the rocks and toned down the sky- and warmed up the scene which, on my monitor seems a bit blue- blue highlights in the clouds, too- otherwise, composition is pretty good. OR! a bit of PP to tone down the sky and farm animals and punch up the limn lighting on the rock edges. Now that I've looked at it a bit... and the meds are again wearing off, there's a 3-D quality to the image I like- brought about by the blunt/truncated rock on the left, the ritual rocks (lighter color w/flat horizon base) on the right and the middle foreground is kind cool... though I'd still knock left and right down a few notches... speaking of knocking down and non-sequiturs, these run-on sentences need to stop...
Actually - take out the truncated rock- you've got a stair-step action going up and right, slide left along the rock formation (ouch!), muddle a moment and up the steps again. Broke rock interrupts that flow. I like that- the flow I mean... so, shine some light on the steps, too (OSHA says minimum of 5 lm/ft2 measured at base)!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Whichever way you look at it its a good shot. particularly like the frame within a frame you have achieved here with the natural greenery. That phrase was stolen from conkerwood but very true in this case.
A couple of things bother me with it. The rocks are a little lacking in contrast but a Soft Blend layer at reduced opacity will cure that.
The problem lies in the sky. Its very very flat and to me looks an odd wedgewood blue colour. If this is a true shade of a sky in your neck of the woods just tell me to shut up. The sky is also very noisey when blown up to any reasonable size. The colour and the noise seem to indicate the sky has been worked too hard in PP. Just a guess and I'm prepared to be shot down.
Up the contrast and sort the sky and you will have an excellent piece of work.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Right on! Your meds are working fine. Hard to believe I did up the contrast just before posting. Yup, it could use more. Yup, it would be a whole lot better in early morning, which I'm still trying to connive for my next (hopefully) trip to this area. Traveling with the whole blooming family a vehicle not my own does put a crimp in when and where I get to shoot. One thing I can do, is change the sky to a nice blue (I have those in my collection), which would be a better backdrop.
Thank you sir for your detailed observations.
Cheers,

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

So, I picked the wrong sky. I can see that now, but I'm seeing a lot more now than two years ago when this was taken. Going to have to get over a lazy streak and set things right. And I'm having a heck of a time getting the contrast up in those rocks. When I get a little more it looks so much better I think "there, got it", when actually I'm only half way there. Thanks for the look and comments Billy.
Cheers,

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I would say lift the shadows and adjust contrast accordingly. I think the plane is too small and should be cloned out. The road disappearing into the hillside could be a point of interest and therefore accentuated somehow. And finally, with shots like this I sometimes cheat by giving it a vertical stretch.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Here's your "Eagle Eye" award! I left that in just to see if anyone would catch it.

I'm on my way back to the work station now to try and bring this scene up a few notches. Which brings up a protocol question: If I post a redux of this, do I start a new thread, or stick it in this one?

R.G. Loc: Scotland

In the FYC section it's OK, but in the Critique section it's one image per thread.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

After going back to the OOC RAW several times to start over everything finally came together for me. Getting the old white sky out of the pine needles gave me fits. A change in white balance got things rolling for the contrast. As I looked at this finished product I felt like I was there.

Now it's your turn to show me otherwise.

(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Much better.

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

I hope someday I won't need you and Billy and Dave and others pushing me in order to get things reasonably decent. :)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Aw - pushing people is half of the fun :-) .

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

...limited to a flatness of the "needles"... easily relieved with local application of the Adjustment Brush Tool with a bit of increased mid-tone contrast ("Clarity" ).

Excellent image otherwise!

Love the sky, too!

Edit: shoulda read ahead! Sorry for my redundancy! And I meant to say I liked your touch of internal framing as well!

Dave

neilds37 Loc: Port Angeles, WA

Thank you Dave. Did you get to the re-worked version?

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

When I read foreword I realized my suggestion had already been made and acted upon.
...and it really looks great!

Dave