Critique Style: Standard
The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
I woke up very early yesterday and saw that there were clouds in the sky. It looked like it might be a colorful dawn so I drove about twelve minutes to the mountain preserve. I’d noticed these trees before. Although I didn’t love them, I’d thought that they might provide a decent foreground for a sky shot. The sky never got very colorful but it got dramatic and I took 60 exposures.
Feedback Requested
All comments are welcome. I’m pretty content with this version but I don’t know if I should be. I always have trouble processing skies. I had to re-process this one from scratch to get a version I like.
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS 90D
Lens: EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Focal length: 18mm
Shutter speed: 1/8s
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 100
Don,
Hard to be such glorious clouds and sky. The line of trees definitely ground/anchor the scene.
I didn’t bring this in to PS, but I suspect the highlights are pushing the limits - but then again, that’s right where the sun is, so I think it’s ok.
I’m guessing you’re the same, but it’s amazing how something so simple as a big and glorious sky like this, can bring one happiness.
Thanks for the comment, Lon. The highlights were right up against the edge but they weren’t blown out.
“I’m guessing you’re the same, but it’s amazing how something so simple as a big and glorious sky like this, can bring one happiness.” I understand completely. It’s the best way to start a day that I know of. 
Visual Notes
The sky is amazing. I like how it seems to explode from the lower center. My first reaction was that a bit more of the trees should be included. Now I think the tree with the number 1 could have made a different if its branches were better separated.
Thanks, Igor. That tree on the right has other trees behind it. There’s no way to keep it from being a blob.
I was thinking you could have closer to the trees on the left and had the sky above and between them. This is all Monday night quarterbacking and useless as you’re unlikely to have another sky like that.
