BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

I'm a newbie at this......I'm trying to enhance the foreground and pop out the Milky Way.
Constructive comments are welcome for improvement.
This will look best in download.
Thanks.

(Download)


(Download)

Marc G Loc: East Grinstead, West Sussex, England

Hi Brent, welcome to astro world.

I like the idea you have in both of your images but find the following a little distracting.

#1 I feel where the milkyway enters the image should be more to right & not hidden by the column & focus looks a little soft in the middle of the image.

#2 I like this image very much apart from the wind turbines are off from vertical, slightly distracting. This you could sort by straightening tool. Also where the sky meets the mountain line looks a little harsh. This could be sorted with some feathering when applying the layer or perhaps a gradient mask.

To create a more popping foreground I would suggest selective lighting of the points of interest.
In your second image I may try shining a torch towards the turbines (light painting) during a long exposure.

Overall very nice

regards

Marc

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Thanks very much Marc. Like a lot of my photography when I get deep into the Post Production I get to caught up in the work and kind of loose it in the forest and trees concept. All your ideas are good ones that I never even thought of. Thanks for examining my photos and your pertinent comments and suggestions.