Trip out to Salt Air, Utah

[mstrozewski]

The other day my son and I went on an adventure to see some ghost towns...we saw 1, didn't get much out of that and decided to go to Salt Air...which through history used to be a theme park at the Great Salt Lake here in Utah. Now all that remains is the Salt Air Palace(I didn't get a picture of), which it is strictly for concert use. But I did capture some images of Antelope Island from Salt Air. Canon 7D, 10-22mm Lens

The two b/w ones were converted and then dodged/burned in specific areas to bring out the texture. The color version was just color corrected. Let me know what you guys think, thanks!

[GrahamH]

Hi Mavourneen (had to check the spelling a couple of times)
All nice but I really like three. Leading line is stronger. Balance is better with sky/land (thirds). Great sky in all of them I recently got a UWA lens and I love the look, hope to get some as good as these someday. Well done. Looks like a location woth potential.
BTW in the first one there is some shadow or out of focus twig in the sky.
Graham

[jeeperman]

I see it very much the same as Graham. In fact I did not even notice the mountain until I saw #3, very strong leading line there. Well done on all accounts.

[Donald]

I think a comparison between the two B & Ws is a good lesson for us to study in terms of compostion.

I'd suggest that this is an example of where the good old 'rule of thirds' shows it strength and why it does have relevance for the way in which we construct and design our images.

I agree that the thrid one does have superb line taking us into the image. But there's a pretty good line in #1 as well. So, why are we all homing in on #3 as the stronger image? I certainly put #3 right up there, whilst I think #1 is not in the same league.

Both have a good sky. Both have interesting land in them. The difference is where the horizon is placed.

I feel the horizon in #1 almost makes two images. It's not one 'whole'. Instead it's two parts (land and sky). Whereas #3, in my eyes, is absolutely one very powerful image that shows us the relationship between land and sky, both being part of the environment of that place.

[mstrozewski]

Thanks - Graham, Jeeperman and Donald. I all appreciate your thoughts #1 is of course high contrast #3 is pretty flat, with some dodging/burning in certain areas to bring out the lines.And well, #2 didn't look right in b/w; All three of these have different horizons and something that starts low and moves back to the middle directly in the center of the Island in the background. I also prefer #3 as the best one.

Aside from the images, if you ever stop by Utah, you've got to go to Great Salt Lake - Salt Air, Bonneville Salt Flats, Antelope Island and all around the Island...just be sure you rent 4wd It's surreal, and from what you can see and what Donald said "interesting land".

And Graham...the weird darkened thing in the sky in #1, It's definitely not a twig or anything out of focus. I had my camera setup on the tripod and there was nothing in front of it :/ So that's either due to the b/w processing showing it more so than in the color version. It's weird for sure!

[PBelarge]

Mavourneen
I love the b&w images. I like your processing of the first image more than the second image. Donald has a great point of where the horizon is in the two images. The b&w images are more dramatic, your choice for leading lines works so well, I especially like where you have placed them in the bottom right hand corner.