Holding the Gaze

This one probably shows off that powerful warm glow better than a tiny sun and over-balanced foreground exposure. The processing and layered composition work for me completely here.

Glad you gave this one another look. I like all the different layers created by the receding peaks. The glowing orange foliage in the FG is great and balances out the sun. I would have to see the other version to compare, but this is very nice as posted.

This is excellent, and the processing looks very good. The larger version really shines!

Chris

Excellent processing - looks totally natural. The eye has so much to enjoy and explore here, from the brilliant FG, nicely layered midground, to the perfect sun. Well done Joseph!

Fantastic! I love the warmth of the foliage, and the layers add some wonderful depth. The big bright sun is a little eye catching, so I can see why you passed it over at first. One idea would be to try to clone a little color back into the edges of the sun at low opacity to reduce its size and impact. In any case, some fantastic light and composition!

Lovely. Impossible light, but you made it work here.

I like it. But now you've got me curious about the other shots... That there's not a lot of sky works in favor, but I question whether that is a personal preference of mine or a helpful critique. Love the light skimming across the ridges and lighting up the fg. I think that's what prompts my wanting to see what this looks like with the sun a little lower. It's a bit bright. Still think it's a striking photo and would be happy to have it in my files.

I like it. But now you've got me curious about the other shots... That there's not a lot of sky works in favor, but I question whether that is a personal preference of mine or a helpful critique. Love the light skimming across the ridges and lighting up the fg. I think that's what prompts my wanting to see what this looks like with the sun a little lower. It's a bit bright. Still think it's a striking photo and would be happy to have it in my files.

Lovely, Joseph! Wonderful fg and ridges leading to the sun. Wondering how that sunstar looks!

Works for me DR is fantastic as well as the deep colour glow. Sun works for me too.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'll see if I can post the version with the sunstar for comparison...just need to find some more time in front of my home computer

I really like the "seeing forever" feeling to this. Processing looks fine to me.

Joseph,

This is wonderful; excellent in so many ways. Great capture of the setting sun without any flare - I'm wondering if you had to work on that as part of your processing? But no matter, because I think you did a fabulous job with this scene. The layering is excellent and the backlit colors at the bottom just add yet another element to this wonderful image. Congrats!

Lon

Ok. I did a blended version with the sunstar and it doesn't even look good enough to post. Using the fg image with the backlit foliage makes it look unnatural and using a fg image with the sun lower in the sky just doesn't have the same impact. At least now I know I made the right decision

@ Lon. Thanks for the comments. To answer your question, yes, I covered the sun with my thumb for the fg and mg images.

Looks great to me!

Not my current genre, but I love the warmth and depth of this picture Joseph, really beautiful!