Entrance to Snow Canyon

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Here's one more for today.  This was also an HDR project.  The exposures were: 1/125, 1/60, and 1/30 all at f/16.
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Oh pretty!
I think it's interesting that the center band is dark and the sky and foreground are light.  I don't know if it's good or bad or if it matters but it's interesting.  I am not a landscape photographer, so with portraits the center is usually the lighter area, so, that's why I am thinking about it, maybe.
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Susie, I won't argue that it's right or wrong.  I'll let you guys decide if you like it or not and go from there.  I will tell you that it was intentional to have the light values the way they are, and it was naturally this way (not done in Photoshop).  I waited for the light to filter through the clouds in this particular 'lighting pattern'.  I wanted focus on the entrance of the park between the two formations on the sides, then for some visual interest throughout the landscape.  I was hoping the bright area around the outside, and then the dark, and then the brighter area again were acting somewhat like a compositional 'target'.  This may be far-fetched, so feel free to tell me what you think.  Does your eye go to the entrance first, then naturally move about and take in the rest of the image?  Do you immediately get out of it, or does it hold your interest at all?  And most importantly to me, do you enjoy looking at it?  To me, this is what landscape photography is about.  The entire scene is the subject, but there needs to be a focal point and a reason for the viewer to keep discovering new things within it.

What do you think?  Keep the comments coming.  I'm learning a lot today.

Travis
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Ok, your explanation gave me more to think about.
I want to be honest and say that landscapes very rarely hold my interest.  Especially of Utah, I take it for granted.  I know I do, but can't help it.

I would say the focal point is where the two rock formations part with the one in the center, there is a light area there on the floor of the canyon.  I love the sky, the clouds are really well exposed.  I think perhaps there is a little too  much space given for the foreground.

Please, know I am not a landscape-ist.  It's not my forte so my comments are just that, comments.
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What we need to see is an entrance for the eye and to travel in the image and stay inside the landscape.
Would I say maybe the lighting is flat? Possibly, time of day is a factor to capturing canyons, one would need to spend the day from early morning to evening to see the light play inside the walls and valleys and surrounding areas.
Color also plays a vital role in landscapes or B/W depth.

With Dodge and burn, USING CURVES in layers, you can bring out depth and brightness in the scene. 
There is potential.
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Mike, I think maybe the large amount of areas that are in shade may appear as flat, however if the light were flat there wouldn't be all the texture in the cliffs and clouds, so I disagree with you on that point at least to some extent.

As for the depth and brightness, using curves and dodge and burn... would you be so kind as to perform one of your workshops on this image and show me what you see.  I already did some of these things trying to produce what you are talking about, but apparently have not done enough.  Please show me what you are thinking/seeing if you have the time.

Travis
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My eyes go first to the crumbly ground in the foreground. Like the other one you recently posted, I think you're including too much foreground. If it had really great cracked earth, for instance, that would be great, but the foreground here doesn't add too much to the scene. That said, I think the rest of this photo is great and I like the darkness caused by the clouds.
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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

I like the grass in the foreground, it gives the image depth. I would have placed the canyon more toward the right third which would have put the grass in the corner. I agree its a bit flat in the brighter areas but love the shadows. I think you could bring the bright areas down a bit in curves and it would give it more pop.

It is an amazing image, I'm just thinking of what might make it even better.
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-----------------------------------
"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one heck of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult. "- EB White

Chattanooga Photographer www.BobEdens.com

No arguments, however, your work shop exposed areas that were in question, so, put them side by side, you'll see the first was rather flat in color which I meant.
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Thanks Mike, I think I'm seeing what you're talking about.

Travis
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I'm still working on getting my points across. hehehe
Sorry for the lack of specification, it will come.    Flash
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Oh, about the non destructive method of dodging and burning.
Well, curves is another way to Expose/Dodge or Underexpose/Burn, Do a Dodge/Exposure, then layer mask, then CTRL + I and all you do is paint in the Dodge/Exposure or Burn/Underexposure.
A non destructive way without losing details.     Camera
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Quote
it will come

I'll be waiting.  Thanks for your time.
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For some reason I want to see this in B&W.
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Well, I may have just made a mess of things, but here you go anyway.  A modified version of the original, and a b&w.

Tear it up.
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Travis Minnig Studios

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