"Joyride"

Sorry for flooding the critique forum with this familiar road setting. It is useful for me to get opinions about these similar compositions. I have difficulty narrowing down the "best of" from my outings, so bear with me. If you've chimed in already but like this one better, I would love to hear from you. If you are new to the series and you have the time to peruse the two preceding comps, that would also be greatly appreciated. I normally pick the best myself, but this time I am struggling. I put this one up because the tones are so rich. As well, this comp strays from the convention that the road should travel into the frame. That could be the killer of this comp, but I am not bothered by that possible distraction. As with all the others, please consider the Larger version that I have provided. Thanks for helping me out!!

Thanks for stopping by for a look! Please click the image for the Larger

version!

If forced to rank them, I would have to say I like the first one best and the second one least but it's really splitting hairs.  This one has more sky showing obviously (where the light action is) while the bright road still figures prominently.  The first one just seems better balanced light-wise but isn't really the same image/composition as these last two.

Maybe it's an optical illusion but I'm still detecting a bit of haloing in the dark areas above the ridgeline.  Have you tried a simple magic wand selection @15 or so and then Filter>Noise>Median?  I find that is a low-tech way to mitigate halos in easy skies like this one.

Did you get my e-mail from last night?

Thanks Dave for your feedback! I don't see a halo, unless it has something to do with image compression. yes, I just looked at my other e-mail that PNet is linked to and I appreciate you keeping me informed. Perhaps another trip through may work better. Thanks so much!!

Out of the 3 shots the one I prefer is the one with the panoramic crop: I guess it's because there is a better balance between the ground and the sky; in comparison with the two other shots the ground is brighter thus giving a more positive touch and the panoramic crop imho emphasizes this too. Between the two others as Dave was saying it's hair splitting: maybe I'd pick the one that is zoomed closer in as it's the one that is most different from the panoramic version. Kind regards, Jan

Nice series Mark! I think I prefer this image to the other two. I don't think the road winding up out of the frame is a problem either. Your eye follows the road then moves natureally up to the ridge line, and moves naturally up to that gorgeous sky. Weoll done I'd say!

All the best,
Neil

I prefer "Miles from Nowhere" and "Heading West" because of a better balance among the foreground and the sky (IMO), although the colors of the sky are here most fascinating. OK, the orange hues in "Heading West" are also awesome, striking, unforgettable. Anyway, a very good series, highly creative / innovative (as always), California does not only offer highlights for landscape photographers inside its world famous NPs or so, you constantly look for them and prove it once again I would say.

BR / Volker 

Thank you Jan, Neil and Volker! It is very kind of you to help me rank this series. Volker, it's nice of you to point out that I am finding beauty outside of the National Parks of California. Yes, that is my goal. There is so much beauty in the state and it is often my preference to share the not so well known locations!

Mark - You're not going to like this idea!  I like the tones in the Heading West better than the other 2.  These 2 must have been taken later.  I like the detail in the hills the sky colors better in Heading West.  Maybe a crop off the left of Heading West would be an option- sorry if I am repeating myself here.  Bottom line, they are all worthy images to keep, especially since we can never get into the minds of a client who might want to purchase a print.  To have options for them is always a plus, and they will think you are sooooo accomodating!  Pick your fav. for your own print, but keep them all!

Thanks Harry for the help! I'm going to say "Heading West" is the majority favorite. I'm pleased with that response. After all, it was the first one I processed and it was the one I put the most effort into. Yes, cropping the left side would give more focus to the road. Still, I panned all the way across to that point for a reason. The way the slope sweeps up from R to L is what I wanted, with the road a little more in the distance. Obviously, cropping is a viable possibility because it is a stitched pano, so I wouldn't be giving up much in the way of file size. THX again!

Three beautiful photos of this place. This is my favorite because of the composition that brings better the atmosphere. Amazing!