# Grand Canyon Sunrise **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape\ **Created:** [September 12, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794 "2020-09-12T23:12:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lyle\_Gruby](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@Lyle\_Gruby](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lyle_Gruby)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/1 "2020-09-12T23:12:56Z")
Hi All, Very infrequent landscape poster. But I do enjoy seeing all of your work. Shot this in 2013 during a long road trip out west. Disclaimer: I am a mediocre, at best, post processor when it comes to landscapes. For this one, I blended two images, one for the sky, and one for the canyon. I used some luminosity masks for the blend and then for some levels/curves adjustments. I also burned and dodged a few areas with luminosity masks. I sharpened with the TK algorithm. All C&C welcome. ![LWG_86132(2)](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/1/915f59623c7584d58eab04051093664591f01cd1.jpeg) Techs: D3s 16-35 f/4 @ 16mm ISO 200 1/4 f/14 ###### If you would like your image to be eligible for a feature on the NPN Instagram (@NaturePhotoNet), add the tag ‘ig’ and leave your Instagram username below. @feelingruby ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Kreyger](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Alan\_Kreyger](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Alan_Kreyger)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/2 "2020-09-13T13:11:30Z")
Lyle, It’s nice to see you post a landscape here. I like this composition and the mood you have with this sky. I do think the foreground and rock face to the right are a bit dark. I would try to raise the blacks and shadows to show more detail and it would also help balance the scene a bit more, it feels heavy on the right side to me. I do not do a lot of blending, but to my eye it looks good. I am undecided on the little bend of the river peeking out on the left side of the frame. It does offer some interest, but I also find it grabbing my eye a bit much. I am curious what others have to say about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Siciliano](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tony_siciliano/32/36124_2.png) [@Tony\_Siciliano](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tony_Siciliano)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/3 "2020-09-13T15:56:52Z")
Thanks for posting. This is a great photo. I think the post processing is spot on, except I agree with Alan that the right side should be lightened. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/4 "2020-09-13T17:51:55Z")
You could also crop the sides. Both sides are weaker than the center. Such a crop would place greater emphasis on the river, which is the center of focus. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_McDermott](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/eva_mcdermott/32/240_2.png) [@Eva\_McDermott](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Eva_McDermott)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/5 "2020-09-13T18:54:50Z")
Stunning image Lyle. Wonderful expansive view. I agree with Alan and Tony about lightening the rocks on the right side. ---
**Author:** ![Lyle\_Gruby](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@Lyle\_Gruby](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lyle_Gruby)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/6 "2020-09-14T13:35:19Z")
Thanks all. It’s funny, I darkened the right side of the image to draw the viewer away from there. But I probably should have attempted that by working with the highlights rather than the darks. Making the darks so heavy did precisely the opposite of my plan. Good learning experience! ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_McGuirk](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ed_mcguirk/32/30542_2.png) [@Ed\_McGuirk](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_McGuirk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/7 "2020-09-15T12:52:45Z")
Really nice image Lyle, great conditions and the blend looks very seamless and natural to me. The balance in luminosity between sky and landscape is well handled. I love the X shaped, or radial pattern created by the elements within the scene. I do agree with the others that the right side is too dark in the shadows, this is the rare case where deep shadows near a frame edge are a distraction, usually its highlights near the edge that are the problem. I also think the left side vs. right side landscape tonality could be balanced better by lightening the right, and darkening the left. I also agree with @Igor_Doncov about cropping from the left, I think it would help tighten up the composition. Here is a rework reflecting my comments, I think this draws more attention to the center of the image. ![LWG_86132(2)_copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/3/73ed48d72cdf8b57a8501200896426c3f4a6c985.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Lyle\_Gruby](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@Lyle\_Gruby](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lyle_Gruby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/grand-canyon-sunrise/16794/8 "2020-09-25T21:47:43Z")
Thanks, Ed. I managed to make a reasonable facsimile of yours! Def. improved!