Alcove & Pillar With Striae + Rework

[Bob_Faucher]

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.

Questions to guide your feedback

Do the lines look curved? Are they, really?

Other Information

Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.

Image Description

Striae are irregular areas that look like bands, stripes, or lines. The convolutions in the stone create the illusion that the lines are curved, when it is, in fact, the surface which is curved.

Technical Details

Canon EOS 5D II; Canon EF 28-70mm @ 35mm; f/16 @ 0.4 sec, ISO 100; Gitzo tripod, RRS BH 55, Canon RS-80N3 remote switch.

Specific Feedback

Whatever you wish

[Bill_Fach]

Bob: I like the scene and comp but the reds are pretty badly blown and the color just does not look natural. Would like to see this with less red saturation. Just my 2 cents. >=))>

[Bob_Faucher]

Thank you @Bill_Fach for your observations and suggestions. I altered the tonality of the image, not the saturation or vibrance. The rocks in Valley of Fire with low light are, to quote G. Rowell, “Color pornography.” I believe you may find the result more to your liking. I also produced a B&W version. I’ll attempt to add both to the post under the “Rework” heading. I hope that does not violate any NPN protocols.