Petroglyphs and Startrails

I took this picture yesterday at the Painted Rock SP in Arizona. I used 240 30sec exposures and stacked them. The last frame was painted with a torch and combined with the Startrails.

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Interesting shot.

Technicaly well done however you have two subject into one. My eye keeps jumping from one to another. Perhaps croping and shaving a bit of the rock ?

Thank you for your feedback. I am struggling with this shot as well. I wanted those ancient petroglyphs surrounded by the stars and while that is the case, something is missing or just not right. Maybe I need to tone down the rocks somewhat. You are right - they are competing with each other for attention.

You needed to paint with a wide light from the side so that you get the texture and shape of the of the rock but with soft shadows. It's probably a bit over exposed and overpowers the startrails.
I've been experimenting with light painting in caves and it sure is harder than it looks.

Steve.

I like it. Star Trails don't tend to be something I examine closely, so in your image I find myself admiring the rock and appreciating the background peripherally. Very nice.

SteveinNZ - very good advice - Thank You! I need to do more night shooting to learn the ropes.

Adrena1in: Thank you for the kind words.

I toned down the rock quite a bit and I think it looks better now - it is a more balanced picture.

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Much better!

I agree - however, I will go back and do a re-shoot. I like your idea of lighting it from the side to get some DOF into the rock.
Again thanks to all who took the time to respond and point me in the right direction.

I assume your are shooting in a desert in Arizona. Interesting location and full of potential and with your drive to do better I can't wait to see your next shots.

is this rock with the birth scene?

like the second one much more, but if you were to light just 1 drawing lightly and combine it with
the star trails, that could be amazing, or not. who knows until it is done.

Hi Viktor, if by "Birthscene" you mean, wether the rock is really there and part of the star trail shoot, then yes, it is part of it. It is the last frame of the 240 or so frames that I shot that night. And you are right - it's kind of hit and miss - we'll never know what can be done until I go back and do some more experimenting. The good news is that I can shoot as many "painted" frames as I need to without screwing with the star trails themselves.

I went back over all the painted frames I took that night and came across one that I had totally discounted in the beginning but it is now really growing on me and really comes closer to what I was trying to achieve in the first place.

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Excellent picture. Much better it was worth the trip back.

when we were out west last time , near Moab, there was a rock with a scene of a woman giving birth, but after looking at my photos of it, it isn't close at all.

teacher may i be excused, my brain is full