Not So Golden Golden Hour

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

9a_1.jpg
9a_1.jpg2000×1088 1.55 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

The Retreat fire west of Yakima which started July 23 has burned 45,600 acres. It threatened several communities but due to outstanding efforts of fire personnel has now been 70 per cent contained and no longer a threat to structures. It did close Highway 12 (White Pass), and it remains closed with no determined reopening. Now all White Pass traffic is diverted over Chinook Pass to Cayuse Pass and back to White Pass a few miles east of Packwood. This was taken on July 25 from a popular hiking area called the uplands (part of Cowiche Canyon trails) a short distance from our home.

Specific Feedback

All comments welcome, but any about the bright area on right?

Technical Details

7DII; 8.0; 800 ISO; 1/1320th; 100/400 @135; spot; daylight. It was quite dark so I did increase brightness, especially the foreground. Lots of smoke all around. May have used some dehaze.

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2

The rusty metal hour – that looks so familiar!! I have some where you can look straight at the sun in midday. It looks good (and accurate) to me, and the small part not obscured by smoke looks like it would in a clear sky, so I would say it’s a success! You have captured very interesting and realistic light on the land as well as in the sky.

3

Jim, this does a good job of showing off the effects of heavy smoke. The clearer bit on the right helps illustrate the smokiness, with it’s greenish (unnatural) tinge. It that a wind farm in the valley on the right?

4

Diane and Mark, Thank you for the kind remarks. Mark, They are orchard wind machines used to control frost. They use fuel to operate.