Another from my recent trip to New Zealand. I had not really noticed this image on my first round of edits, but in going back through I was struck to do something with it. This is a single exposure of Cathedral Cove right before the sun came up and this crazy cloud bank began to fill the sky.
Feedback and critique is much appreciated.
Thanks
This is one of those shots that either needs more or less, in my opinion. I like the idea of framing the rock with the formation, but with it getting cut off you lose that total framing aspect. So, for that pulling back and getting more of the alcove in the shot would've framed it better.
On the other hand, you could also push through the alcove, and just no include it (which I don't think is the better option). But then you'd have this clean shot of the formation, with nice reflections and light. It would be more moody.
As it is right now, it's right in the middle of to close or not close enough. I think its a good shot, and your placement of the rock formation is good composition, as is the lighting and processing. But in my opinion more of the arch in the frame would be better.
A third option, which is what I think I would've done, is push the framing up so you cut out that dry sand which isn't doing much, which would then include more of the arch and drop the rock formation down onto the lower third area.
Hey Jeff, I agree on the one hand it would be nice to see the whole arch.... which is also the shot you see posted everywhere of this location. I did not commit enough to intentionally framing out some of the arch here which is not helping it. Something about the foreground sand here I really liked as a texture, although you are right... it is not doing much. I do have the other image you spoke of which is pushing all the way through the arch.
Very dark for me and loses the reflection somewhat. The amount of dark matter on the right and lower potion add little and could be cropped, or as Jeff suggests, bring the top of the rock above into shot to complete the frame.
I like the photo.
Here is my 0.02c or 10minutes with the JPG in LR so a raw would be a bit better.
Clouds got a gradient, shadows were pulled up, little clarity and a little saturation.