Fall Colors in Utah

[RbnDave]

I took these photos last week in Dixie National Forest, Utah. The trees were at their peak colors. I got really lucky. I almost took a shortcut and drove around this mountain range. Instead, I ended up taking picutes of fall colors all afternoon.

What do you think of these two shots? I can't decide which captures the scene better.


http://www.pbase.com/image/21870419/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/21744044/large.jpg


Thanks for any comments.

Dave

[Leighow]

Dave

I find this hard to critique. I hear you and appreciate the fine day you had outdoors. That fallow field seems to dominate the scene-- regardless of the Fall colors.

I am not a farmer, and I am not used to images of farm fields and so that major image space does not trigger my response. Yes, that is why I am having trouble, I see the color, but the field seems to blunt an otherwise lovely scene. I guess that I am habituated to covered bridges in Vermont (or Madison County!).

Keep 'em coming.

HOWIE

[Jaxs]

I prefer the first image. The rocks and water leads up to the tree lined apex of the hill and the rich array of colour. The second image, the rock and water looks still and do not lead any further than the first third. The expanse of grass detracts from and competes with the grass.

[SoCal69]

I have to agree about the field in the middle...it does detract from an otherwise great scene. That point aside, the vertical shot is much more pleasing IMHO. the vertical framing complements the changes as your eyes move up and down the image. Not so with the horizontal shot, which also includes the grass and trees on the left which take the focus away from the key elements.

[RbnDave]

Thanks for the comments.

There wasn't much I could do about the brown field. It is a mountain meadow. During spring and summer it's grass and wildflowers. The altitude where this photo was taken is about 8000 feet and the grass was already dead.

Dave

[stopbath]

I think the best image is the first, but it's got too much rocks in the forground.

I like the depth of the landscape shot, but it looses out on the reflection of the leaves in the water.

Crop some rocks out of the first and I think the shot improves.

I like the field as is. It adds enother element without cluttering up the shot. The clumps of grass bring the shape of the rocks to the shape of the trees.

Very nice altogether. The air looks clean and crisp.
Colours are great!

[RbnDave]

Stopbath,

I'm glad you like the first shot. I was going for a minimalist look with this scene. All I wanted to show were the line of bright colored trees, blue sky, and the creek. That's why I thought the boring brown grass helped the picture rather than hurt it. I'm glad you see it the same way-- I think.

When I get home to my computer, I'll try cropping out some of the rocks. Thank's for the advice.

Dave

[djtowle]

Hi Dave,

Nice Photos. I perfer the vertical shot but thats just me. Were they shot at the same Focal Length? My preference would be to crop them both slightly.

The vertical shot I would cut out about 1/2-2/3 of the blue sky at the top, the little strip of blue at the left (so the orange trees go all the way across the top, the pointy rock at the bottom center, the right side I would fiddle a bit to see whats best.

The horizontal shot I would again remove 1/2-2/3 of the blue sky and Possibly crop it to a 16:9 or so (more panoramic) format, keeping all of the right hand side and maybe removing the trees to the left.

IMHO.

--
Dave

[RbnDave]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I took some suggestions and here are the results.


http://www.pbase.com/image/22055670/large.jpg


The grass might be a bit too yellow now. Otherwise, I think this an improvement.

Dave

[SemieE]

I'll be the odd one out here and say I like the horizontal shot the best, just as it is. I'm not sure why, it's just a sense I get. Maybe it seems more balanced to me.

[runrigger]

Both excellent shots.
I am hoping to make the trip to Utah/Arizona next year and would love to get shots like these. Are they on the normal tourist trail?
What kind of temperatures do you have in Utah in October please?
I prefer the 2nd shot myself, as I am really into 'letterboxing' photos, but I would be very happy to have taken either.

[RbnDave]

Runrigger,

I took these pics the last week of September. They were taken along highway 143 between Cedar Breaks and Panguitch. I didn't have to put too much effort into getting to these shots -- just walk across some meadows from the edge of the highway. Other pictures I got in Utah took considerably more effort. I came home with a huge blister on my left ankle that hasn't healed yet. Check out my entire gallery from the trip at www.pbase.com/rbndave/southwest_trip .

The weather out there was great when I went. It was clear with unlimited visiblity everyday. I wanted a few more clouds for better photos, but I can't complain. The temperature varied depending on elevation. At the floor of Zion Canyon, which is about 3000 feet, the temp got up to 90 degrees F and dropped to about 45 degrees at night. Up higher at Cedar Breaks and Bryce Canyon, the temp in the afternoon climbed into the high 70s in the afternoon and dropped to 30 degrees at night. I almost froze to the floor of my tent a few nights.

When I was in Zion the leaves weren't even beginning to change. Up around 8000 feet though, they were at their peak.

Hope that helps you out

Dave