Arch Rock

This has a very classy and classic feel, like the work of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and the few others I can't even remember..;-)
Perhaps, in a perfect world, the clouds would not "sit" on that little rock on the right - or would be gone? But that's really just nit picking!

Certainly a very strong piece for the portfolio.

 

Marylynne.
Very nice!. B&W processing looks good. Not sure if my pad is a good judge but I might suggest lightly dodging the prominent rock underneath the arch to gain a bit more seperation from the sky.

I really like the composition. Conversion to B & W is successful. 
As they have already written, maybe with the clouds not so close to the rocks would have been even better, but it's a detail. Beautiful picture!

Marylynne,

I agree with Dietrich; it is so boldly classic like Ansel. I like the clouds and feel they give a soft contrast to the hard rocks. You have captured nature's amazing composition so well.

Sharon

Thanks, everyone.  I would have waited for those clouds to move, but they were going the wrong way, heading for under the arch with a bigger cloud I did hide.  I took the picture on a vacation with a group that was not really into the 1 hour wait for perfect conditions.  In fact, the next shot was our creation of the perfect U2 Joshua Tree album cover, complete with bad-ass stances and rock n' roll scowls.  Quite fun actually, and I came away with a few good shots to boot.

I might be able to clone out the lower cloud, keeping just the one that does not intersect with rock.  If I'm successful with that, I'll share again.

I'll play with that rock.  I think I did a little dodging before, but noise resulted. With the noise brush much improved in LR, I might be able to handle it better now.

I really like the comp here but what I would like to see is a little more tonal separation between the potato like rock under the arch on the right in the upper right gap between the rock and the arch where the sky is really dark.  There is a tonal varietion in the sky diagonally from left to right.  I thing just a hair more brightness in the sky might outline the rock a tiny bit better.  But then again, that might not be your intention.  The image has a really nice feel to it.

Nice image. I really wish I could see it A LOT bigger!  :) 
 

A real nice classic B&W image. Good choice to convert it and emphasize the graphics of the scene. Very nicely done.

Another fine image in your B&W series, Marylynee. I really like the range of tones you captured in the scene along with the textures of the rock. My only suggestion would be a bit more tonal seperation of those two rocks under the arch.

Ed

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.  I played with the clouds and couldn't eliminate or separate them without it looking fake, so they stay, unfortunately.  I did play with the rocks under the arches a tish.  I'm not sure about the diagonal.  I can see it.  I think it might have been a very diffused contrail?  Or maybe we were looking a little NW through the arch in the late morning?

Let me know if this is an improvement.

An interesting collection of rocks, and nicely captured as well! Can't think of a nit.

I think Dietrich's comments are spot on. This is a marvelous image that comes close to the Death Valley dune image. A study of shapes and forms, this is very much like an Edward Weston image. I really like how you processed the sky, giving it a gradient from almost black to neutral gray. It really enhances that nice edge of the lighted rock. Regarding the clouds I think that your eyes are drawn to them but I'm not sure that that's such a bad thing. They do add a bit more interest to the image and are not entirely a distraction. I don't think removing one cloud will solve the problem, although it helps. I initially thought that those light patches would be a problem but in the larger version they add a lot to the image. All except the light wedge between the arch and the round rock touching it in the middle right. I would clone that to make it the same tone as the area below which provides a nice edge to the round rock.

Very nice, and dramatic image, Marylynne. Honestly, the clouds don't bother me because the other elements are so strong. The tonal separation here is excellent. It does remind of more of Brett Weston's work, and some of Saint Ansel's. Nicely done!

--P

Thanks, everyone.  You are too kind!  I can't express enough my gratitude for all of your help.
 

Marylynne, I am glad I read the other comments and saw your re-post before commenting.  I think the first image is wonderful and your re-post is even better.  My eye wanted some of the shadows under the arch to go away.  Now that the arch and rock beneath are more visible, my eyes relaxed.  You have a wonderful body of work with these B/W photos. 

Hi   Marylynne      Excellent    creative capture  of     form and light .

Albert Darmo
Canada

Stark b & w works well in terms of greyscale and lines.  Powerful.