Lone Cloud + 2 reposts

I like the simplicity of this.  Aside from a few dark things floating in the water bottom right, no nits.

A cool minimalist scene and nice even light. I think you need a bit more of a cloud for it to work better...

I really like this - a very beautiful, simple composition. I agree with Doug on cloning out those dark spots floating in the water.

I like this, Igor. Around here they call them spirit clouds.  Your minimalist approach is very appealing to me.  It has that lonely empty country feel that works well.  If it were mine, I would convert it to mono, and really give that cloud a bit more prominence without overpowering the image. I would also clone the back bits.  
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I am very much enjoying the simplicity, which works very well. My first thought was exploring a conversion to B&W and see how that works compared to the color. It may well take the simplicity a step further?

The B&W version suggested. I darkened the sky still further to make the cloud more noticeable.

Since I darkened the sky for the B&W version I thought I would show the same in color. The cloud is more prominent but the sky is starting to look unrealistic, to me.

Count me in for the B&W version. 

Yep count me in on the conversion.  I think there are some tones in the color that could be massaged out in the mono, particularly in  the shoreline and far hills.  I like what your seeing.

My first thought at the thumbnail was b/w conversion, but for me there is something lacking in the b/w.  I think the reflection of the hill needs to be darker or lighter (and the hill itself as well) to get a better separation from the water.  The color contrast of earthtone and blue work in the color, and we lose that contrast when it goes b/w.

Regardless, this is a nice, simple image, and it's well worth tinkering some more.
ML

You're right Marylynne. The image was constructed for color and just converted to B&W. The land was actually brighter but toned down in order not to clash with the cloud. Same with the water. The B&W needs to be reworked but a rework would be dramatic and that's not what I'm after. This is supposed to have a surrealistic sense to it. 

I would stick with the first version ( the b&w does not have the contrast in the fg, which looks a little flat there to me ).  In the colour version the variety of pale tones in the water and ground are delightful and the image as a whole is beautifully simple and yet evocative.

A great minimalist vision. What do you see in the clouds?  Been through that country a number of times. Much like the Arctic Tundra in there is  near and far and not much in between. The horizon feels tilted, but I realize that the shore recedes into the distance. 

Cheers:   Tom

I see the delicate graceful beauty of a bride's wedding veil. And I like it offset by a simple stark landscape. 

Igor, Really nice work on this and I'm enjoying it very much. It does have a wonderfully simple feel that is very effective here, and by simple I mean in looks and calming feel...not that it was easy to do. It took a good eye to see and then a perfect composition to make it work. The original color post is by far the best here for my taste. For me the b&w conversion looses so much of the wonderful tones that help make this quite special. Excellent work! Nick