desert beauty VERMILION CLIFFS 034

All C&C and ratings are welcomed. As a serious hobbist, I really

appreciate ideas that would make this shot better. I will try to return the

favor. Thanks.

Hi Dave,

I have looked through your portfolio a little after I found this photo in the Critique Request. You have a lot of nice photos, thank you for sharing them.

I wonder with this photo at what time it was taken - was the sun very high up? Looking at the shades, probably not. The natural lighting looks very different to what I am used to (but then, I have never been to this place). It looks like a beautiful place to visit.

IMO the composition is not particularly striking. Maybe what you as the photographer see when taking this picture is different, also when you look at it a later time. I know the same is true for some of my own photos of mountains - it is a very hard thing to get right. I can not extend this photo in my mind. I think it would be a more interesting shot if you had tried for a panorama. Everything looks so cut off somehow now. The third's rule can be implied for this picture, but it does not work for me here.

What may be interesting is to zoom in more, and make the structure in the mountains (all those layers!) stand out more - I would have liked to see more detail in the mountains. Or another option that I would try is to lower the camera to the ground a little more, and shoot from that perspective - that may give nice results as the subject looks larger.

Some thoughts from a fellow hobbyist.. Best regards,
Marieke

Marieke, You have some very thought provoking ideas in your comments. I agree the shot evokes more feelings for me that for those not familiar with this area. The shot was taken just after sunrise. I think zooming in on the mountain itself would have been more interesting. Next time I go by there, I will get closer and zoom more. Thanks for teh helpful suggestions. With warm regards Dave.

Dave, I think this is a terrific shot of the Vermillion Cliffs.  You've chosen an appropriately wide span, and the extensive foreground put it in context.  It's a location photograph, something that one might find on a postcard.  Some folks deride that category, but I think it's on a postcard for a reason.  The only thing that I would change would be to step forward several feet and thereby remove what appears to be a road along the lower edge.  At that point you will have to be careful of depth of field issues.  Yes, there are all sorts of variations that you can do and that some people may prefer, but you want to have this one in your portfolio as you continue photographing in this area, at different seasons, under different weather conditions, etc. (even if you are a tourist just visiting for a short time  -- just mentally file those away).

A very pretty shot and one worth keeping. Based on the response so far, it leads me to a discussion point: not everyone will do this but if i am out there early in the morning with this in front of me I know that I would 'work' the scene with several different compositions. I like the various stratae here in your image - very appealing. for my next shots i would have scouted for some 'foreground interest"  and those rocks on the right look like a prime target. In that case I would have got at least 2 feet from those rocks and tried different compositions. I am just planting seeds for your next trip here but I still like this image very much 'as is'.

PS even though it might not be possible check the time for sunrise and get there 30 minutes before. You may even get more interesting images of this scene.  Hope you found this helpful!

Update: I see that you did work the scene.

Stephen and Tony, I really appreciate your helpful comments. They do help me think about the things I need to do to improve. All your suggestions will be taken to heart and used in the future. I greatly value your inputs. Thanks a lot Dave.