B&w for critique

Took this last weekend while on the Oregon coast around Tillamook. Opinon and ideas for making it better or future shots better.
Riley

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The composition is good, but could be improved by modifying the balance between foreground and background. Some may prefer more of one and less of the other and vice versa. Personally, I feel that there is no place to crop the background, so I would cut back on the foreground rocks - in other words, about half of the foreground rocks would be sacrificed.

Your range of tonality is very good, but I think it could be just a tad lighter. I don't see any highlights that are in danger of blowing out, but there are rather large masses of shadow with little or no detail.

The sharpening has been overdone, in my opinion. A little bit was probably needed to give it a little zip, but it now looks unnatural.

Very nice choice of scene, and a very pleasing and interesting image.
Thanks,

I also recognize that your image is oversharpened. Sometimes when you have some real small object in your image, you need to lower your radius and increase your amount with USM to avoid oversharpening the small things.

I have made a few adjustments. Better, worse or not going anywhere?
Riley

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Hi Riley,

I also think this is a good shot. If you shot this in colour, you may be able do make more of your conversion by simulating colour filters. That way you can play up or down certain colours and increase the contrast. (maybe post a colour sample?).

The scene is a little 'grey', so it lacks impact. I have fiddled a bit, but ultimately it is too sharp (the highlights take over).

Here's my take anyway.

Graham

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[QUOTE=aussieskier]I have made a few adjustments. Better, worse or not going anywhere?
Riley

Dear Riley,
I think that's a big improvement in regards to composition. It now makes the cliffs much more dramatic.

Meanwhile, in the process of gaining some detail in the trees, above, the foreground has been overly lightened and the shadows there are not as dramatic. So, you will have to apply your lightening a bit more selectively to just the trees, above the cliff and keep the cliff itself and the rocks a bit darker than this.

Then you can try to apply some sharpening again, but in moderation.

I think the composition is now as it should be.