Does a good sky make up for a so-so everything else?

[MB1]

I swung by the Marine Corps Memorial on my way to work this morning.

I'm not sure what to think about these.

[Greg McCary]

I think the soilders are to dark in the first one,but better in the second one. I like the last one the best. The plane and reflection of the sun works well. I think I would like to see a version cropped without the base and just the soilders in the first three. If you could get higher, level with them? Or get further back and zoom in. You have a lot of distortion in the background I feel doesn't help.

[Don Schaeffer]

I really like these experiments. The movement from those clouds really works, Your color is beautiful. I think the last one with the plane lined up is a hit.

[racedraper]

hey buddy those are not soilders, soilders are army these are Marines and a Navy Corps man. sorry I had to,yes I am a Marine. I like the 2nd

[Greg McCary]

hey buddy those are not soilders, soilders are army these are Marines and a Navy Corps man. sorry I had to,yes I am a Marine. I like the 2nd

Sorry for the mistake.

[Tel]

If it means anything, I like the reflections on the base.

[MB1]

If it means anything, I like the reflections on the base.

..........

[brmill26]

The second and last are my favorites, though very different. The second has more of a moody look; I like that there's no hard light in it, and the soft reflection on the base is great. It looks like a postcard, in a good way. The last is definitely a much more creative image. I love the orange hue on the base, but not so much on the flag. I would like the flag much closer to white on the stripes. Aside from looking proper, it would stand out much more against the sky.

As usual, fantastic images.

[Overbeyond]

A few adjustments to the first one and it would be my favourite because of the way the light caught the flag.
To answer your question; no I don't thing a good sky ever makes up for everything else.

[gahspidy]

No, but a good sky always seems to have me holding on to images like a Pack Rat that can't seem to find the willpower to toss things out. I'm not saying you should toss any of these out, but it is how I sometimes feel about my own works.
I like #1 best but think it is a bit on the dark side. Bring out some light and shadow detail in the lower portion. #2 is good and the best of the bunch I think, I just like the light kissing the flag in #1 as Tom mentioned.
#3 i do not like the way the cloud formations turned vertical behind the flag. #4 just lost all that great sky. the sun reflection off the base is interesting, and yet distracting at the same time. I do not care for the planes position in the sky.
I am also bothered a bit by the wide angle lens distortion in the first two shots. It is extreme because of the low angle in relation to the subject and bg. Getting up higher would solve some of that extreme distortion.

[MB1]

I sometimes think about taking a ladder with me to some of the local sites but it would be pretty hard to shoot from a higher location in front of the Marine Corps Memorial.

The Memorial is of heroic dimensions. Weighing 100 tons, it stands 78 feet tall counting the base. The six figures in battle fatigues and helmets on the statue are 32 feet high; they are erecting a bronze flagpole 60 feet in length. The figures are placed on a rock slope rising approximately 6 feet from a 10 foot base. The flag on the pole is a real one, 10 x19-1/2 feet and it flies twenty-four hours a day by presidential decree.
The M-1 rifle carried by one of the figures is approximately 16 feet long, the carbines are 12 feet long. The canteen, if filled, would hold 32 quarts of water.

[MB1]

I am also bothered a bit by the wide angle lens distortion in the first two shots. It is extreme because of the low angle in relation to the subject and bg. Getting up higher would solve some of that extreme distortion.

Good point.

Yes, I shot these with my 17-40 likely at the 17. I like distortion but I do have the TS-E24mm F3.5L, maybe I'll give it a try.

[GB1]

MB -

I feel like you in that you have a nice sky here. Like you, I see the dilemma where the rest of the shot doesn't measure up to that standard. I think you will have to find a way to illuminate that foreground with supplemental lighting or what not. Problem is, if memory serves me correctly, that's a BIG statue to light up! I'm not even sure you could like it btw - seems like the sun is already striking it, but the statue is so dark it didn't do any good. Like I said, it's a tough problem.

G

[PrevailingConditions]

MB - You did really well with a difficult situation. I had no idea that monument was that big. Pretty impressive. I am also leaning toward the first one, but the base is dark and that building in the background seems to clash with the monument.

It doesn't sound like you need a ladder, more likely you need a crane

PC

[freedom1500]

MB1
In terms of format, I think the vertical shot works best... because it eliminates the distractions in the background.
Everybody's right about lighting up the Marines. Next time, try shooting with the sun beside you instead of behind you. This way, you'd get much better shape definition from the highlight/shadows. Right now, the figures appear quite flat.
Also, you should expose for the Marines, not the background. Use your camera's Manual mode, use a handheld light meter or the Spot metering option in your camera. To get the same blue sky, use a Polarizing filter.

What an awesome sky! Does it make up for the underexposed subject. Unfortunately not. However, seeing as this beautiful monument is on your way to work, wait till the right moment and go back and shoot it. I've done that many times and it really pays off.

Thanks for the inspiring photograph.
Robert