Twilight, Valley of Dreams + Rework

[Bob_Faucher]

Rework

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

Alien terrain?

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

Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth’s surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this illumination occurs.
Sometimes called the Valley of Dreams, the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area is located a little north of Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico. It is a badland area of rolling water-carved clay hills. The area is rich in fossils and spectacular geological formations making it perfect for hiking and landscape photography!

Technical Details

Canon EOS 5D VI; Canon EF 28-70mm @ 39mm; f/16 @ 1/16 sec, +2.33 EV, ISO 400; Gitzo tripod, RRS BH 55; remote trigger
Without the +2.33 EV compensation you would not see the details in the foreground.

Specific Feedback

Whatever you wish, positive or otherwise.

[Michael_Lowe]

Certainly does look like alien terrain. Nice color palette and clouds. I think I would lose the snow at the bottom. If there were more patches scattered around the frame it would tell a story. As it is, it just an eye catcher. JMHO of course.

[Ed_Lowe]

Bob,
Definitely looks like an alien landscape; very otherworldly. The one cloud toward the middle of the frame is very striking as it reminds me of an atomic explosion. The formation on the left bothers me a little as it’s tones blend in with the BG formations somewhat. The snow there also catches my eye a little. I hope you do not mind, but here is a repost with a crop from the left. Just my opinion of course. Nicely done.

[Bob_Faucher]

Thank you @Ed_Lowe and @Michael_Lowe for your comments and suggestions. I eliminated the snow with some selective cloning and brightened the far right stone pillar so it doesn’t blend in with the background. I chose not to crop as you suggested because it removed too much sky, which is the “subject.” The “atomic cloud” was interesting to me when capturing the image. I have posted a rework.