SafetySam Loc: Colorado

This is my first post to this forum but not my first photograph . . I was a commercial photographer for 14 years in Houston (1970 - 1984), then burned out from looking at the world upside down and backwards through all the 4x5 and Hasselblad equipment . . . put it up in 1984 and haven't seriously taken a "image" since . .

I recently "restarted" my passion with a Nikon D810 system complete with all the "holy trinity of lenses" and have been having a great time learning the "digital age" of cameras . . . If they had digital software back then, I probably would never have stopped, BUT this digital manipulation has me quite "humbled" with using Affinity for the first time and struggling to get all the different adjustments where they should be . .

I was in Colorado Springs on Saturday when the storm front began to move down from the mountains onto the front range, and while there, the sun peaked from behind a cloud to light up the foreground on the red rocks, giving me a pretty good 3D combination . . . got it . .

NOW, let me know what I should be doing to improve this image . . I really don't know how I got here, but I know I didn't do everything that should be done for improvements . . .

I have a pretty tough skin after 74 years, so all comments and suggestions are welcome!

Thanks for looking and commenting.

Safety Sam

(Download)

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful image, love that you caught the weather coming over the mountains. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Your story is much like mine, except for the commercial photographer bit. I shot and developed film early in my "career," and did not understand digital photography at first. Thankfully, and in large part due to UHH, that has changed. Welcome, and nice first submission!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photo.

guardineer

Nice photo and welcome. I would use a clone tool to hide the road if you intend to display the photo.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The colors are awesome! Nice action. Good story.

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

Welcome, SSam. What a wonderful opening image! As was mentioned previously, that sky has some dramatic elements. Right time, right place and you DID NOT miss it. Glad you shared it.

My similar experiences in Yosemite, Denali, Zion, Yellowstone, etc. says you need to make that sky pop a bit more. Don't know it you have messed with Luminar software yet, but they have an enhanced sky filter that would tweak the sky minimally and take this image to what your eye is telling you is there. The good thing is Luminar is relatively new, less expensive, a stand-alone product, and requires a photographer's eye vs. a "rocket scientist's". I have used both Photoshop and Lightroom successfully for years, endured the lengthy learning curves, but now sit back with this new program spending less time and enjoying the results. I am just a retired guy making the most of my photography skills, not a salesman. That sky awaits a tweak... just saying.

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thanks for your comment CannonShot! I agree with the sky needing more . . but couldn't figure out how.

I will explore the Luminar program - I am all about "simplicity" . . started with the Affinity Photo as it was the least expensive route for this "part timer" . . still struggling with the brushes, and detail work, etc. but I can get an image to save . . . !

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thanks joehel2 ! I appreciate your looking! Hopefully this is just the first of many . . but the pp thing . . a real head scratcher . . but I am determined and hard headed.

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thanks Just Fred ! I appreciate your looking! Yep, a real change to enjoy photography without the "demand schedule" . . and the processing time in front of a computer is preferable to the time spent in a dark damp cramped smelly room for hours . . . just sayin'

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thank you jaymatt ! I appreciate your taking the time to look!

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thanks guardineer! I agree with your suggestion . . now if I can only do it . .

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thanks Longshadow! Appreciate your taking the time to look.

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

Thanks dsmeltz! I appreciate your comment! Thanks for taking the time to look!