Bruce, this image is stops me in my tracks. The golden light is beautiful. The rays from the top, the golden rim light, and subtle background surrounding the Saguaro cactus feel well-balanced & cohesive. To me, you have the right amount of details seen in the Saguaro cactus. I like being able to see a hint of the lines of needles pointing up the sun rays. I might consider a slight crop, I have attached my own version. The plant on the right is a little distracting to me. I feel like it might be because it is more similar to the subject than the rest of the background. Another option would be to consider removing it because you would lose a little bit of the sun rays on top with a crop.   Posted: 11/08/2025 21:53:25

Thanks Jenny - btw, it's Butch, not Bruce   Posted: 11/10/2025 04:04:35

Butch,
One of our challenges as photographers is to look at familiar things in a very different and arresting way. Well you sure did that! We've all seen saguaro cactus images, but not like this! Great shot. My only suggestion for improvement is to clone out the plant on the right that jenny mentioned and consider adding some canvas to the top. the top of the catctus is bumbing into the top edge of the freame.   Posted: 11/11/2025 22:23:28

First Butch, you know I love light and playing with it for dramatic purposes. I think the rim light is great and the accompanying drama makes this a show stopper! Naturally you got this image "wickedly" sharp and those little needles and hairs really add a great deal. I'm going to agree with Jenny, you might consider changing the crop and getting rid of that distracting tree on the right. How you going to out do this for next month?   Posted: 11/11/2025 23:59:35

Butch this is beautiful with the rimlight and the sun rays coming in from the top. I love the overall golden glow. You found a good subject for this, with a bit of a lean and all those arms coming out. And all alone without others in the background. You've given me some inspiration with this.
  Posted: 11/12/2025 23:28:12

Thank you Cindy, that's kind of you to say   Posted: 11/13/2025 18:12:41

Stunning image. Agree with the comments above. Perhaps if you just darkened the lower area to the right of the little cactus, it would be less noticeable.   Posted: 11/20/2025 22:11:04

Butch: A great example of backlighting. I would love to use it in the photography class I teach. It's a good example of perspective as well. Nicely done!   Posted: 11/22/2025 00:10:32

Thanks Bud - I don't do enough of it, but it's fund to try.   Posted: 11/22/2025 03:48:45