Your Thoughts?

[Photo-John]

I was lucky enough to be near Zion on Sunday, when there was a huge snow dump. So I spent the day taking pictures in the park on Monday. This is one of the many, many photos I took. I'm not sure about it. It was a very difficult photographic situation and one that's near impossible to capture. But I put an hour or so of Photoshop masked adjustment layers work into it and I think this is about the best I can do. Now I want to know what some other people think. I am too emotionally attached and inside it to see it rationally. So what do you think - does it work? Or should I let it go?

There's a larger version of it here, in the gallery. And I posted a few others, too. Zion National Park is one of my very favorite places and I feel like I got really lucky being there on Monday. It may have been a once in a lifetime chance.

[gahspidy]

Hey John, as busy as I know you are with the PMA trade show, it's great to see you put up something in the critque forum.
I know what you mean when you say "emotionally attached to an image". It is difficult to step out of yourself and see it the way someone else does.

Two things bother me about this image. First, the cloud formation above the mountains look very unatural. . .or rather unusual and compete with the mountains for attention rather than compliment them in the bg as does a typical good landscape scene would. Was this shape and effect part of the Photoshopping?
Second issue is merely the lighting on the mountains. . .there really is none. The mountains are in shade while the sky is lit which further helps the weird cloud/sky win the competition for attention
The overall framing and comp I like, it's just the lighting of the scene at that time and the weird sky and cloud formation just does not look to have been the best moment in time for this shot.
Just my immediate reaction to it.

[Photo-John]

First, the cloud formation above the mountains look very unatural. . .or rather unusual and compete with the mountains for attention rather than compliment them in the bg as does a typical good landscape scene would. Was this shape and effect part of the Photoshopping?.

Thanks, Gary. That cloud formation is completely natural and a critical element of the photo. So it's no surprise that it competes with the foreground. Whether it works is the question. And it sounds like it's not working for you. There's some subtle stuff going on in the dark area that's also important. But no matter how hard I tried, I don't think I'm making it obvious enough

Sometimes that's the way it goes

[MB1]

I think the problem is the crop (or where you pointed the lens). The unusual sky is the crucial element in this image and yet there is about 50% Mountains and 50% sky in the frame.

You may or may not have it but what I would like to see is a crop where the sky on the right almost (but not quite) touches the bottom edge of the frame and there is an equal addition of sky to the top of the frame. Enough mountains to give the thing interest and location but much more of that fantastic sky.

[gahspidy]

I see the ghost like area of mountain I believe you a refering to in the dark area under the cloud formation. MB1's suggestion of approach has possibilities for this, but I am thinking the opposite approach for this might have been more effective.
I think zooming out and showing more of the landscape and sky would have brought this odd and interesting formation into a context that could be immediately appreciated, rather than isolating the event here with this somewhat tight crop.
I like the amount of sky and mountain and overall framing in this as it is but in this case unusual scenario of sky effect above the mountains I think showing more of everything would have put it into a context that could have been more effective.

[Photo-John]

I think the problem is the crop (or where you pointed the lens). The unusual sky is the crucial element in this image and yet there is about 50% Mountains and 50% sky in the frame.

You may or may not have it but what I would like to see is a crop where the sky on the right almost (but not quite) touches the bottom edge of the frame and there is an equal addition of sky to the top of the frame. Enough mountains to give the thing interest and location but much more of that fantastic sky.

Interesting! I have tons. I will take a look. The clouds were changing by the second so they're all different. But I like the way you're thinking. Thanks!

[drg]

John,

You have recieved several good comments and suggestions already regarding this photo. I won't belabor them other than to say it does appear to be almost overly processed.

I really like the clouds exploding behind the peaks, but they need more surrounding sky to enhance the effect. That or a different proportion of sky and peaks. The small amount of addition tree and mountain at the extreme right break the flow of the peaks for me.

Your Goosebery Mesa Panorama in the Gallery is great. I left comments there as well.

[rylan]

beautiful picture, i really love the way the sky looks in the compsition. Nothing better then fresh snow pictures. Good work!

[Overbeyond]

It looks to me as though the clouds have opened up to introduce us to another mysterious set of mountains behind. I like this as it is. It is a good moment.. I think the bigger the better for this one to be appreciated.

[reverberation]

I understand what you are saying about the conditions. I really like this shot as a starting point. My understanding is that you processed it to bring out the peak in the background. Compositionally, the clouds rule, though the background peak adds a depth that enhances the clouds. I would process it to enhance the clouds. Do a lith film(not lith development of paper) treatment to it in photoshop would be my suggestion. I would crop from viewers left to the valley or next peak. The "Face" in the cloud would be the compositional element I would want to spotlight. The following image belongs to the photographer John Shafer and was cropped for composition.

[Photo-John]

I understand what you are saying about the conditions. I really like this shot as a starting point. My understanding is that you processed it to bring out the peak in the background. Compositionally, the clouds rule, though the background peak adds a depth that enhances the clouds. I would process it to enhance the clouds. Do a lith film(not lith development of paper) treatment to it in photoshop would be my suggestion. I would crop from viewers left to the valley or next peak. The "Face" in the cloud would be the compositional element I would want to spotlight. The following image belongs to the photographer John Shafer and was cropped for composition.

Thanks for offering the crop. But we have a rule about not editing and reposting anyone's photos without their permission. Photos are sacred here. I'm not upset. But it's a very important rule and needs to be respected.

Thanks for the comments. I'm reading everyones suggestions and letting it all digest right now :-)

[Loupey]

Cool effect, John. I think the clouds must have been between the foreground peaks and the background peaks? And the taller background peaks are casting that awesome shadow on the clouds?

I think the effect would have been more tangible had the clouds been a little thinner so that the background peaks could have been more visible. I can see why you shot it - so would I - and a lot. But if it were me, I would put it in my "close but not quite" folder.