Death Valley Landscape

[dennisd]

Photo taken last June (2010) while passing thru DV.  
I was fascinated by the texture of "cement like" dry earth and the rough erosion "crack" against the soft and flowing background shapes / gradations.  
The bottom of the photo is about 3' from the lens.  
Any comments or suggestions welcome.

[popnfresh]

The high sun angle really works against this shot. I'm also not crazy about the empty black sky and what looks like some serious dodging around the dark hill in the upper right. I would have shot this in early morning or around dusk and ditched the polarizer. The shot is really about the fissure, but the harsh top down lighting doesn't show it off well.

[Rob C]

Has anyone here seen Jean Loup Sieff's work on Death Valley, both motion and stills?

His printing (printer's) technique was severe in the extreme, but it worked very well in that location. This isn't a hijack: it explains or, rather, answers the OP's question if one is familiar with Sieff.

Rob C

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I like this image a lot, mainly because it is very different from most of the standard Death Valley views. The dark sky doesn't bother me, but I wouldn't mind seeing aversion with a somewhat lighter sky.

The line of the fissure is very dramatic, and the rather harsh lighting suits Death Valley, IMHO.

Eric

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

This is one hell of a fresh take on a familiar subject! Well done.

I have no problem with the dark sky, but I would compliment it and balance it with some serious darkening/vignetting at the bottom as well.

[Rob C]

This is one hell of a fresh take on a familiar subject! Well done.

I have no problem with the dark sky, but I would compliment it and balance it with some serious darkening/vignetting at the bottom as well.

That was my point, Slobodan; it's what Sieff did with most of his published landscape work: dramatic, deeeep blacks. But he didn't stop at the sky.

Rob C

[dennisd]

Many thanks to all for the interesting and thoughtful comments.
Below is the final version.

[jule]

Dennis, I rather think that the darker sky works better for me. The lighter final version seems to just lack a bit of intensity or drama.

Julie

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Dennis, I rather think that the darker sky works better for me. The lighter final version seems to just lack a bit of intensity or drama.

Julie

I agree.
The one advantage of the lighter sky is the absence of a halo just above the horizon. I would be tempted to keep the darker sky and try to eliminate the halo.

Eric

[dennisd]

I agree.
The one advantage of the lighter sky is the absence of a halo just above the horizon. I would be tempted to keep the darker sky and try to eliminate the halo.

Eric

Thanks for your comments Eric and Julie.  I am not really sold on my last version, but wanted to hear reactions before saying that myself.  

I think part of the drama may involve the halo.  

It's easy to print a darker sky and no halo, but then the background will become flat and almost merge with the background mountains. I'll play with some alterations and post something soon.  

[Rob C]

You worry about your gentle halo? You should see Sieff's!

Rob C