Upper Antelope Colours

A shot taken in Upper Antelope Canyon. I have been playing in Photoshop

using some actions by Tony Kuyper that I purchased. Let me know what

you think of the processing, and colours. Thanks in advance for your

comments.

I'm struck by the three very different colors as well as the differences in brightness, all over a relatively short distance.  It's the shapes and the colors that have the greatest appeal for me in this photograph.  While the brightness in the gold color does well in pulling me through the frame (despite the shapes that want to hinder my passage!), I find it to be too bright for my eyes.  That brightness has also reduced some of the line details, and it has decreased some of the color saturation.  It has also affected a small portion of the red sandstone.  You might try some alternatives that have reduced brightness in that portion of the frame and then compare them with your original to see what works best for you.

Paul, I agree with Stephen.  The upper part is too bright, and my eyes expect to see details in the bottom, but it's a bit of a purple haze down there.  The range of light in this photo is perhaps too extreme to correct?  But good luck with it.

Thanks Stephen and Jeff for your comments.  Boy do I need a new screen/ monitor!  I am attaching a revised version where the light intensity is toned down.  I agree that the highlight areas (goldish areas) may have been a little too hot, so hopefully this new version will have addressed this.  Let me know what you think of the revised version.

Paul

Nice composition with the beautiful color.  This is the place attracting a lot of people from all over the world.  Now you give us one fo the best.  Best Regards,

You are way too kind, Wanghan.  I like my image a lot, but I do not know if it is one of the best! Thanks anyway.  Take care, and all the best.

Paul

This one I like very much for the same reasons that Stephen and others like it. On the basis that you have not lost any details in the shadows, I would rebalance and even out the tonal range not to the point where it is flat but a little less dark in 2 areas.  

Hi Joscelyn.  With regard to lightening some of the dark areas, I am of two minds.  First, I would have had to braket this scene, which I did not as i like to try to capture things once, and second, I tried to lighten these dark areas, but as you most likely know this resulted in some digital noise.  In the long run I am okay with the wide range of light because that is hat you saw in this canyon in most areas, especially when you shot almost straight up, which is what I did most of the time.  I find the contrast between the shadow areas acts as an organic kind of frame for the lit areas, and i like this aspect.  Each photographer goes into an area with preconceived notions and ideas about what the final result will be, just as I did, and I think that is what people should do.  If we all looked at things the same then we would have a bunch of images that looked the same, and to me that is not what art is about.  I am more about pushing limits when I can, and this canyon  offers anyone entering it that opportunity!  Take care.