Hikers near the Haleakala peak

I liked the fleeting view through the clouds from the top of

Haleakala, Maui. The path in the lower left may be a little

distracting. Any constructive critique appreciated.

The dark ground which the hikers are walking on seems to distract from my feelings of remoteness, an occassion when the rule of thirds does not give the best composition? A 10 second crop is attached, not perfect, but gives a rough idea. However great silhouettes of the hikers.

A thin slice of the ridge is one of the crops I contemplated, but I preferred some solidity under the hikers. Another option was a "portrait" format crop of the two right hikers which conveys a better sense of the "air up there".

I am sitting here with a sprained ankle not doing what these people are doing so I am waxing nolstalgic in my mind :-)

 

 

I have to agree with Steve and I do like the cropping he did. The lower skyline gives the the feeling of expanse much more. I would crop it. The ground line being up so high is stifling. Otherwise, a beautiful picture.

 

The picture is lovely. I like looking at it. I like Steve's crop - it gives an ethereal feel to the picture. I too am reminiscing -- I biked down Haleakala and thought it was weird and beautiful at the top; like the moon, like the desert.

I like your original better than the suggested (although they are nice too). This is a very interesting silhouette photo. Nice work.

Sunset, yes?

I like this crop better because it better reflects the reality of sunset on Redhill. It is utterly dark in the parking lot below this rim and the darkness is an important part of the experience. From this ridge you look straigt down to the sea, more than 10,000 feet below. You can cast your shadow on a hill a half a mile away, but the darkness, its suddeness and clarity are, to me, the most magical part of the experience. The sun has left the sky and the night rules the mountain.

Yes, it was just a little while before sunset which is always a treat on Maui, but especially so above the clouds. We were lucky enough to observe the "spectre of Brocken" by the crater as well, but those moments were so fleeting I was unable to get a shot in. Your observations about this spots are very accurate.

Aesthetically, I much prefer Steve's cropped version. The blackness does nothing for the composition, though it may more accurately record the place.

I think it's perfect as is. Great, once in a lifetime shot

I like the croppped version too, to which I would even crop a little part of the homogeneous sky, creating a panoramic version.
Anyway I think you caught a very emotive moment for us sitting on our armchairs at home. The hikers really seem to walk on the edge of earth and sky, real and outer world. Excellent shot!