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I understand avoiding the morning crowd and winter should lessen that. In this image the lightning seems a little harsh. The comp and all of the other technicalities seem in line, so I'm leaning toward a conversion to B&W. I think it could work.

Thanks Jeff. I appreciate the suggestion. I'll look at converting it in NIK.

pat

I like this, since it's a different take on an oft photographed place. I think if you burned down the foreground rocks a bit and tweaked the mids using TK's Basic Mid Tones mask, you could develop this a bit more. The arch and the distant mountains and sky look fine. B&W could work also.

--P

Thanks Preston. I'll do a black and white version of this.

pat

Really like the color and detail Pat, the only thing that bothers me is the arch, I think if you cropped out the arch and made it a pano it might just do the trick, and a B&W might also work. Pretty scene, definitely worth working on.
John

Thanks John. I appreciate it.

pat

Pat: Different take on the icon and I like it. I can see the suggestions to try B&W but this works for me as is. A place I've not yet visited so I appreciate the virtual visit. >=))>

Nice to see the "background" getting the attention it deserves. Even if one were not familiar with the arch, the rock frame on top would add an interesting element, giving the feeling of peering out of a cave. As others have said, B&W might be a good way to go in this light, making this view even more unique.

P.S. "not familiar with the arch" might seem kind of silly for a place where you have to stand in line to take a picture, but I think zooming in like this does disguise it enough to remove the familiarity.

Thanks for the comments you all. I appreciate them.

It would be ok if you could stand in line Wayne. As it is, it's more of a scrum. Folks moving in and out of your wide angle shots and tour busses showing up where everyone expects to get a selfie sitting in the arch. It is a breath taking scene when you step up and look out the arch but it's mostly a carnival atmosphere. Of course I'm part of that problem too. Don't know how you address it other than a drawing of some sort.

In retirement my plan was to visit many of the iconic sites in the US. Hadn't been to a national park except RMNP until a couple of years ago. I still plan to see them but it will certainly be in the off season. I may start trying to shoot them in the dark. (smile)

pat

For photogs this is one of the most recognizable sites around. I've only shot here once, but it was a morning outing with no one really around back then. At my age it was just after the world cooled as I recall, so, hence not too many people crawling the earth at that time.

A wonderful view even in the afternoon light, Pat. ....

I plan to try it again Paul in the dead of winter possibly during a blizzard. (smile)

pat