Arches National Park, Utah, USA

[utahmike]

Captured this morning at Arches National Park, Utah, USA. I'm looking for general critique. My style tends toward more contrast - I guess the word is constructed. I'm interested in your opinion. I'm also interested in your thoughts on the bush's contribution to the image.

[cjogo]

Nothing beyond superb -- here ....

[Christoph C. Feldhaim]

This is a very fine image.

I had a funny illusion first, thinking the branch pointing up being a tree growing on the ridge behind the bush and I thought:
"Why didn't he step aside to the left a step to isolate that tree nicely standing in the background" - then I realized it was an optical illusion.

Cheers
~Chris

[William Walker]

Nothing beyond superb -- here ....

+1

[muntanela]

Monumental, solemn.

The bush is OK, perhaps it could be put a bit more at right, a little more detached from the rocks of the main subject. I don't like very much the foreground out of focus, but perhaps it was unavoidable.

[RSL]

It's very striking with its heavy treatment, Mike. I'm not too sure about the bush; on balance I don't think it adds to the picture. Is this the only shot you made during that shoot? I'd really like to see the thing from a slightly different viewpoint, excluding the bush.

[David Eckels]

Have to agree about the bush and viewpoint, but otherwise, nicely done. I don't mind the heavy PP.

[francois]

Nothing to add but my congratulations!

[utahmike]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback about the bush. I played around with a crop last night, and this is what I got. I have other images of the monument, but the light was not nearly as dramatic as it is here.

The image was shot at f/16 - I can go down to f/22, so this is a simple screw-up on my part. This is a lesson in shooting in a destracted state of mind. You make simple mistakes like that. If I'd been paying attention, I could have gotten a bit more DOF from this image.

[RSL]

It's interesting stuff, Mike. It's silly for me to say this because for all I know if you stepped to the left you'd fall off a cliff, but I'll say it anyway: If you'd been able to get far enough left to eliminate the bush and use the tree to balance the right side of the picture you'd have a real winner.

[utahmike]

Actually - there is no tree. That tree-like structure sticking up is a crazy little branch on the bush. Thanks for your feedback. I agree with all of what you said.

[Christoph C. Feldhaim]

It's interesting stuff, Mike. It's silly for me to say this because for all I know if you stepped to the left you'd fall off a cliff, but I'll say it anyway: If you'd been able to get far enough left to eliminate the bush and use the tree to balance the right side of the picture you'd have a real winner.

LOL - Russ - same trap I stepped in too - check my post above ...
Welcome to the club!
Cheers
~Chris

[cjogo]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback about the bush. I played around with a crop last night, and this is what I got. I have other images of the monument, but the light was not nearly as dramatic as it is here.

The image was shot at f/16 - I can go down to f/22, so this is a simple screw-up on my part. This is a lesson in shooting in a destracted state of mind. You make simple mistakes like that. If I'd been paying attention, I could have gotten a bit more DOF from this image.

Like this crop ---not always best to stop down to max f/stop -- for best sharpness.. Yes, you need DOF but its a combination of ::   where you focus in the shot and the aperture. Many lenses have artifacts wide open & stopped down ...

[RSL]

LOL - Russ - same trap I stepped in too - check my post above ...
Welcome to the club!
Cheers
~Chris

Yeah. Didn't read carefully enough. Too bad, Chris. A tree over there would round out the picture.

[luxborealis]

Irrespective of the tree issue, I am greatly enjoying the full tones of this B&W. Great mid-tone contrast that brings out details of shape and subtle texture so often lost in many B&Ws posted lately. The rock is tactile, hard and permanent.

[utahmike]

Terry,

Thanks very much for this. I love for my images to have a rich, mid-tone texture - without going overboard - which is easy to do.

-- Mike