Field & Clouds, Hockley Valley

[luxborealis]

Here is another from my Hockley Valley hike last holiday Monday. To others may be found in Landscape & Nature Photography.

While I'm happy with this shot given the nature of the day - an exploratory hike, no tripod, mid-day - I think it's still missing something and wondered if anyone might have some insights as to what could be done to this file to "complete" the photograph.

Given my response to some photos maddog posted, I know I will draw criticism for the focal point being so centrally placed along the horizontal axis, but so be it. I intentionally put it there as that's what worked best given the subject. It occurs rarely, but it does happen!

D800E w/ 18-35mm @ 35mm; ƒ11 @ 1/80; ISO 100; -⅓ EV; POL; LR6

[RSL]

While I'm happy with this shot given the nature of the day - an exploratory hike, no tripod, mid-day - I think it's still missing something and wondered if anyone might have some insights as to what could be done to this file to "complete" the photograph

You might dub in a human, Terry.

(Sorry. . . I tried to resist but couldn't.)

[luxborealis]

You might dub in a human, Terry.

(Sorry. . . I tried to resist but couldn't.)

  Touché - I'm glad you didn't!

[Ed B]

mid-day -

I think that is the problem. I have no issues with your composition.

[Chairman Bill]

You could have arranged the clouds better. Maybe a dance troupe cavorting around the base of the tree in the centre. That sort of thing.

[Jeremy Roussak]

I like it, although I'm not madly keen on the toning. I'd probably have been tempted to over-dramatise the sky, a mistake you have avoided. If I have a suggestion, it's that it might have been better taken from further left, so the subject tree was placed between the two other lightish ones.

Jeremy

[Cartagenaphoto]

Hi.

I think the composition works great.
And if I may say, it´s better than the other two you showed in the Landscape thread ;-)

Thanks for sharing.


David

[BobDavid]

Square format (1:1) landscape photos are interesting, to me. I'm reminded of film days of yore--shooting 6 X6 on 120 roll film. I like the composition and the clouds add a lot. My only possible nit is that it appears there is an inconsistency in luminosity where the horizon meets the sky. It looks like you may have selected the sky, adjusted a curve, and then feathered the mask? Or maybe just used the burn tool?

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... wondered if anyone might have some insights as to what could be done to this file to "complete" the photograph...

Terry,

Central placement within a square composition is not such an anathema as otherwise. It generally denotes a calm, well balanced  composition. It works in general and it works here.

What I find slightly objectionable is the sky that appears overblown. Not in technical sense, but in visual. Too bright for the rest of the image, in other words. I am not advocation making the sky more dramatic, brooding, etc., as it would go against the sense of a gentle and pleasant day. But just a bit darker, enough as not to look washed out.

Hope it helps.

[David Eckels]

I'm with Slobodan: what about a red filter? or and Ansel Adams sky. That would be my only suggestions.
PS No cropping