Zina Mirsky  


Arches Sky by Zina Mirsky

April 2021 - Arches Sky

About the Image(s)

This picture, taken at Arches National Park in Utah, was to show the parts of "Arches" Park that do not have any arches. Much beauty is to be found in the Park, no matter where you look, and I value the monuments as much as the arches.

It was taken in RAW, with a mirrorless Olympus OEM-1 at f7/1, at 1/640, focal length 8mm. In Lightroom, I edited minimally to emphasize the sun rays and light atop the peaks and grasses. I think that there is a sunspot needing burning and am still working on that process. Any other suggestions welcomed.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
12 comments posted




Robert Knight   Robert Knight
(Group 45)
This is a pleasant scene in an area that I have never been to. The gentle range of colours is attractive. You speak about burning the sunspot but I would do some dodging to the mountains to add some more punch to the image and maybe also to the bushes at the foot of the mountains. There is more interest in this image than just the sky which you have used in the title. I would also take out the little dark cloud right in the centre.   Posted: 04/07/2021 17:31:22
Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
(Group 55)
Perhaps this edit will address some of the suggestions. I'm still working at some of these skills!   Posted: 04/07/2021 18:37:30
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Robert Knight   Robert Knight
(Group 45)
Hi Zina, I like this image much better. You have retained the original colours and given more punch to the image. The photo is really much more than the sky and you have improved the whole thing.   Posted: 04/08/2021 14:08:55
Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
(Group 55)
Thank you for the feedback, as always. /z   Posted: 04/08/2021 17:07:22



Bob Wills   Bob Wills
I guess some of just want to look at things differently, and you have chosen a less conventional image for Arches. I think your image, like most of mine, may be too broad in its scope. If the sky is what attracted you, then IMO you should crop the image to that main subject. I think the foreground is a little dark, but I like the selection. The colors are all good from what I remember, but may be more red in early and late light. I wouldn't over worry the sun, as it fits in the image. Good image of a great park.   Posted: 04/08/2021 12:55:01
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Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
(Group 55)
You have captured my mind-set perfectly. I tend to take far more of a scene and then fail to adequately crop and select a salient feature. Mind you, I have perfected that mindset and technique in the Grand Canyon, where I routinely take shots that no one would ever guess are "The Canyon" because it's always too big to capture what I really want. I have to apply that crop and mindset to other places too.   Posted: 04/08/2021 17:28:26
Bob Wills   Bob Wills
I spend an inordinate amount of time going through my images and asking myself what I really saw that captured my attention, making me take the shot. Then I look again, and again, and again until I might get a usable image.

I need a 1000MP camera!   Posted: 04/08/2021 19:55:00
Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
(Group 55)
Your approach is a good one for winnowing down images; it also can help to make 'folders' for specific aspects that drew me to the image in the first place. Was it the sky? The foliage? A special formation or monument that caught my interest? Lots to think about and many ways to use/develop the resulting shots, right? You may need a 1000MP camera, but I need a 1000MP brain!   Posted: 04/08/2021 19:59:14



 
like the picture, the composition, the color, the emotion.

only challenge to me is the stones mountains felt not focused. wonder did in on purpose or not, or you decreased the clarity?

i imagined more focused will make it more thrill.   Posted: 04/15/2021 23:35:48
Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
(Group 55)
Thank you Wendy - I'm not really sure why the mountains are not as crisp as they should be. You are right, that in this case, maximum focus would be the goal. I did not do any editing to soften the outlines and I will review my original to see if different editing would make it more clear.   Posted: 04/15/2021 23:40:55



 
I love the feel of this image. I love deserts and I love rock formations and wish I could travel and be in this image right now instead of cool, early Spring Montreal where it's cool and rainy and brown -- but the leaves on the trees are starting to blossom and the flowers are popping up . I agree that the rocks need more punch and I like your second version better. Like Bob, I would warm things up a little but not as much as he has. I also like his crop of the sky. You are so fortunate to live near these beautiful places and can keep practising and practising on this kind of scenery.   Posted: 04/16/2021 14:45:54
Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
(Group 55)
I love practicing and now will get to see these places again in October while on a raft trip - so I will try to take crisper shots!   Posted: 04/16/2021 15:55:52