Landscape crop: Church spire in a mountain cloud

[msbella]

Landscapes are SO not my strong suit... so I'm challenging myself to take more, and to study more. Feeling brave tonight, I'd like your comments on this picture, which I've made into two images, the first one my preferred crop, the second one the wider original. I know even the crop doesn't come close to following the sacred rule of thirds, but I really wanted to show the mountains... Do the bright red and white of the church compensate for its "off" placement, or should I have included more foreground to position it better. Thanks in advance for your comments!

The cropped, vertical version:

(A storm advancing over the Magdalena Mountains near the old church at Kelly, New Mexico.)

The original (minus a bit off the left edge):
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/...341556001d.jpg

EXIF:
Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3000
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

[zetson]

Terrific aerial perspective! But the position of the church makes me think the composition is a little unbalanced. Somehow I would like it to be placed on the opposite side, making it the starting point of the curve that is moving into the photo. Was it possible to change your view point?

[leviathan]

Wow! Great eye to catch this amazing view! Looks terrific. I think if you could bring down the exposure of the mountains it wouldn't look so blown out and you would really have a stellar photo.

[zetson]

Originally Posted by leviathan

I think if you could bring down the exposure of the mountains it wouldn't look so blown out and you would really have a stellar photo.

On my screen, the exposure looks fine. The mountains don't look blown out at all.

[msbella]

Thanks, everyone! Zetson, this was just about the only view I could get; it's very rocky terrain. But you make a really good point, and I'll keep it in mind for the next situation. Leviathan, the mountains are "blown out" by the weather; when the clouds came over the mountains they whited out just about everything. However, your suggestion is well taken; I might play around in Photoshop to see if I can bring the exposure down a bit and keep the feel of the original scene.

Again, thank you!