Civil Twilight

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

By the definition of Civil Twilight, you could not see this much detail when viewing this scene without artificial light. My resort was to make an image of the scene earlier, when the foreground was lit. A second image was made at true Civil Twilight and the foreground masked out so only the sky is visible. When assembled as a single image this is what I perceived and achieved.

Creative direction

I wanted to show what the sky of Civil Twilight looks like but with a representative depiction of the environment in the foreground.

Specific Feedback

Whatever you wish, positive or otherwise.

Technical Details

Canon EOS 5D IV; Canon EF 28-70mm @ 39mm; f/9 @ 1/160 sec, -3 EV, ISO 400; gitzo tripod, RRS BH55; Canon RS-80N3 remote switch

Description

In the remote area of New Mexico known as the Valley of Dreams Badlands, is a geological oddity. The entire area is a maze of toadstools, eroded formations, little windows, petrified wood, and more. The setting sun’s brilliant orange hue along the horizon, especially behind a notch in the rock formations, signals Civil Twilight which approximates the limit at which solar illumination suffices for the human eye to clearly distinguish terrestrial objects.

This is really interesting image! I have never been to New Mexico and have never seen anything like this. I love the colors and the uniqueness of the landscape.

I am trying to learn to take landscape photos myself so I don’t really feel qualified to give you feedback, but I noticed no one had commented so I figured I would give it a try.

What really jumped out at me was the really bright spot in the sky on the right. I also thought there was a lot of blank sky at the top that did not really add much, so I tried cropping in a little from the right to remove that really bright section and cropped down a bit from the top. I tried to put the top line on the rule of thirds on the horizon. I also tried adding a little contrast to the sky and darkening it slightly using a linear gradient. I brightened up the image a tiny bit and put a radial filter on that front rock and brightened it a little trying to make it a bit of a focal point. I added a small vignette.

Just some things I tried, not sure it is an improvement but I figured I’d toss it out …

Beautiful scene.