# Quabbin Sunrise **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape\ **Created:** [July 25, 2020, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756 "2020-07-25T13:25:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 25, 2020, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/1 "2020-07-25T13:25:08Z")
I normally stick almost exclusively with one aspect ratio 3:2, and very rarely crop for creative effect. It’s just the way my brain is wired, even if limits some creative possibilities. I went to shoot sunrise at an overlook in the Quabbin Reservoir area of Massachusetts. There were no clouds, but some really nice fog in the valley below. I loved the way the fog was threading it’s way through the trees. This image is a crop of one shot, and not a composite pano. The original image had more of the yellow sky, but I knew that I wanted to minimize it, so that the color wouldn’t compete too much with the fog. I actually considered cropping this into 3:2 with just a small amount of yellow sky. But I kept finding myself not wanting to sacrifice that much of the trees and fog, since they were interesting across the entire frame. So I said, why continue to fight it, and just chose to present it as a panoramic aspect ratio. Then I considered another version without the yellow sky. So I am also looking for which version you prefer, the one one with or without the yellow sky? ### What artistic feedback would you like if any? Any critique or comments are welcome ### Pertinent technical details or techniques: This is a crop of a normal image, not a composite pano. With sky ![Quabbin Sunrise](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/6/96c8dedb24fa4dc808121cb3ab557795bb69aaac.jpeg) Without sky ![Quabbin Sunrise 2](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/b/7b7a0cf9545aa327b2dbfa7d639a6c7cc25386fc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael_lowe/32/7118_2.png) [@Michael\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Michael_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/2 "2020-07-25T13:32:36Z")
Really nice, Ed. I’m 100% for the no sky crop. Personally I just don’t feel the yellow complements the photo. ---
**Author:** ![Harley\_Goldman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/harley_goldman/32/213_2.png) [@Harley\_Goldman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Harley_Goldman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/3 "2020-07-25T14:38:44Z")
When I first looked at the small images, I was thinking keep the sky. After looking at the larger ones several times, most definitely I prefer the no sky. It really conveys a great dreamy mood that goes away with the sky and the subtle colors in the clouds really come alive without. If you decide to keep the sky, I would suggest a bit of a CCW rotation. I quite like this one. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/4 "2020-07-25T14:50:10Z")
I prefer the one with the sky, but if you raised the blacks in the lower area to give the trees greater definition I would probably like the skyless one more. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@Ed\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/5 "2020-07-25T15:05:05Z")
Ed, Both versions are lovely and present different moods to me. The one with the yellow sky is more upbeat with the beginning of a new day while the one with no sky is more moody and mysterious with more of an emphasis on the swirling fog. The processing looks great and I like the fact that I can see hints of the trees toward the bottom edge of the frame as it only intensifies the mood. No suggestions from me. ---
**Author:** ![Adam\_Bolyard](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/adam_bolyard/32/10085_2.png) [@Adam\_Bolyard](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Adam_Bolyard)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/6 "2020-07-25T17:58:40Z")
I really enjoy the one without the sky. They’re both very nice captures of the scene, but the simple focus of the second version really catches my eye. Cheers ---
**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:** [July 26, 2020, 12:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/7 "2020-07-26T12:43:46Z")
@Harley_Goldman @Adam_Bolyard @Igor_Doncov @Michael_Lowe @Ed_Lowe thank you for your comments, there is a clear consensus for sky-less, and I agree. This spot is one of my favorite sunrise locations (with a number of other views and background mountains that line up well in other months of the year. So I go there with the preconceived bias of wanting to shoot sunrise. When posted the sky included version, almost as an afterthought I had the idea to seek input on a skyless version too. I’m glad that I did. ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_Klein](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/nathan_klein/32/2063_2.png) [@Nathan\_Klein](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Nathan_Klein)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/8 "2020-07-26T17:44:52Z")
I find both versions equally pleasing. If I was considering a print I’d probably print the no sky version first. I think the pano aspect works well here ---
**Author:** ![Brian\_Schrayer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@Brian\_Schrayer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Brian_Schrayer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/quabbin-sunrise/15756/9 "2020-07-28T23:46:51Z")
These are both beautiful Ed. My preference is to include the sky because I like the added layer with the warmth in the sky. I will be interested to see others’ thoughts.