Hampi was the capital of the ancient Vijayanagar empire in southern India. It is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an open air museum. The temples and monuments date back to the 8th to 16th centuries. At the end of this period it was invaded and ransacked. The ruins remain as a testament to the greatness of that flourishing period.
This shot was taken at sunset, and processed from bracketed shots exposed for the foreground and sky. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop. January 2019, Nikon D810, Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 at 24 mm.
Thoughts, comments and constructive critique invited. Thank you.
Very moody shot, the sky isn't very interesting though. I'd crop a bit tighter.
Thorsten, I agree about the sky. I would have liked more clouds and drama, But it was what it was. I was traveling there and didn't have the option of going back when the conditions were better. I like what you have done with the crop, but that moves the temple and tree closer to the centre of the frame, which is something I wanted to avoid.
I like the image, the mood and the sky a lot! For me, more "interest" in the sky would distract from the forms of the tree and building. I think the spideriness of the tree is key to the shot's appeal, and brought out nigh on perfectly against that calm yet moody sunset sky.
Two things attract my eye for the "wrong" reasons, one about composition, and one about the processing:
Firstly, the interesting tree obscures the interesting building, robbing both of some of their drama. This looks to me like an odd thing to do, and I don't know if it was quite deliberate. To be honest, I don't know what the solution would be! Maybe I'll like this very fact in time. Interested to hear your words on this. Funnily enough the composition as a whole is pleasing, and agree with your response to Thorsten about the crop. I'm intrigued!
Secondly the are some pale haloes above the horizon, particularly either side of the building, which are "giveaway" processing artifacts.