Some Colorado Red Rocks

[MannClann]

These photos were taken in Colorado Springs, Colorado a few miles from my house. Colorado Springs is famous for the Garden of the Gods which has many red rock formations. These photos are from another area close by.

Please feel free to comment on any and all areas of the photo(s). I am open to constructive criticism and of course encouragement.

[Geoff F]

Composition looks good to me. Possibly the first two might benefit from a very slight increase in highlight brightness; like the third scene.

[bnnrcn]

Welcome Rick I like the compositions, I find the green a bit too bluish.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Rick. I like the comps on the first two best. One thing that is interesting is that it looks like you were shooting all of them on a partly cloudy day yet all three seem to have been shot in flat light (i.e. while cloud obscured the sun). Don't know whether that was pure chance or intentional. The texture/shape of the rocks may be a lot more dynamic if shot in direct sunlight, preferably angular.

[Otavio]

Hello, Rick, and welcome to CIC!

Nice first thread. I think number one could look even better with a little more light and contrasts. Also, I would consider Dan's comments, for these type of shots ("The texture/shape of the rocks may be a lot more dynamic if shot in direct sunlight, preferably angular").

Thanks for sharing these beautiful images.

Regards,

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the CiC forums from me, great to have you join us.

These are pleasing compositions, but I agree with Binnur, Dan and Otávio. Dan has covered the reasons why in most detail.

My suggestion would be to post larger images, using the TinyPic method in the "Go Advanced", which will allow up to 1000 px tall and 1600 px wide. Small images for landscape subjects are particularly disappointing.

Can I also ask you give us an idea of:

what software you have for Post Processing (PP) and how skilled you might describe yourself in using it?
whether you shoot RAW or jpg and what camera you use?

I think you might be able to do something with these in PP, but it would require selective white balance adjustments and use of levels or curves and trying some Local Contrast Enhancement (LCE), although the better option, since you are lucky enough to be able to visit it easily, might be to return when the sunlight is more 'co-operative' - coming from a good angle.

Thanks,

[Kaye Leggett]

You've certainly got some good raw photographic material on your doorstep.

I like the first image best, the look is more natural.

[MannClann]

@NorthernFocus - Yes, it was partly cloudy and I did try to shoot with no direct sunlight. I thought there would be enough color to come through. Could have done a bit more in the post processing. Thanks for the comments.

@Binnur, @Dan, @Otávio - Thanks for the comments. I appreciate you all taking the time to review and give me feedback. I will take your advice and when post processing photos of this type from a cloudy day, I will try to work in a little more light and contrast.

These particular shots were done with and old Canon Rebel (1st Gen) that I had in the car. The lens was the kit lens (18-55). Generally I shoot with a Canon 60D and process in Lightroom/Photoshop.

Thanks again to everyone!