After an exhausting climb of this sacred Aborigine Rock, I stole a piece of the beauty that was offered to us...

Is this alternative better? If so, in what ways? Cheers, Alex

OH YES... I like the alternate photo better. The sky is gorgeous and there is a better balance somehow in it.

 

How high was the climb by the way? It looks like a butte as they call them in the western US.

This seemed a little dull to me, so I downloaded it and looked at it in PS. The colors there just leapt out off the screen. So the dullness is a browser palette problem. I did an auto levels and boosted saturation +20, and here's the result. Somewhat closer to what I saw in Photoshop, but not really there. Oh, well. What can you do?

 

Oh, and before I forget, this is a picture that's worth getting right. Colors and composition really work, especially with the second version.

Excellent pictures -- worth climbing for.

How did you get down? Or did you just stay there?

I vote for the second picture myself, as the composition is nicer. Alos, it shows a lot more texture. The color of the 'blue' sky is unusual looking. I haven't seen color of the sky like this in Canada, may be at your part of world.

I like Stephen's changes faded to about 90%. Lots of down-under color in this one too! Supposedly what makes this rock so unique is that there is nothing else like it for a long, long distance around. Sort of like having a smaller Pikes Peak in the middle of Nebraska.

The composition in the second is better but I miss the interplay of light and shadow in the background. Can you get over to the part of the rock with the striations? I think it would be cool to shoot with a wide angle lens, get low and close to the striated rock, and use the lines as lead-in.

I didn't really know why I preferred the first pic, but now that you pointed it out, Kenneth, it's definitely because of the clouds' shadows on the flat ground. So the 2nd pic with this play on light would be great! And nice idea to try a low wide angle where the striations are (am I not making up a word here?!), next time I'm upthere.

 

I don't quite think this one needs so much saturation, Mike, but some does help...

 

Anyway, the rock is indeed rooted in the middle of nowhere. In order to be able to enjoy the view, bet on a fair hour and a half of steep slope. So needless to say I passed on the tripod!

 

And Pete, I did go down on my feet, after taking a deep long breath upthere! About the unusual looking sky, I guess u can label it the "Aussie Way" yet again!!!

 

Cheers mates for all of your comments!