The Narrows - image too busy?

[Krusty79]

I tried to capture some of the grandeur of this fantastic slot canyon in Zion National Park. This image had overexposed areas, so I used the RAW file to create several jpgs and used layer masks to even out the exposure. I like this shot, but I'm familiar with the trail. I was wondering if this image is too busy for someone who is not familiar with the trail. My eye is inevitably drawn to the distant (shirtless) hiker, which is where I hoped to lead the viewer's eye.

So, is this image too busy and is your eye drawn down the trail to the distant hiker? Is that large rock in the foreground distracting? Any other comments are welcome.

f/10
ISO 200
1/6 second

[Hill Country Hack]

I like you PP. Very nice and smooth.

I am more drawn to what may be around the corner. I can't really tell what the object is (the mentioned shirtless hiker). I spend time trying to figure out what it is instead of enjoying the otherwise very nice image. It looks like the cayon is naturally tilted from camera left to right. It kinda makes me cock my head to straighten it out.

[Infinite Monkey]

At the size shown here, I doubt I'd ever have noticed or made out the distant hiker. When I look at the image, I like the overall but the only foreground component is the large rock and that's what draws my eye. Unfortunately, that rock isn't particularly interesting, so my eye starts looking for something else to focus on and really doesn't come up with anything. So while I enjoy the overall shot, it lacks sufficient subject for me to see more in it.

[crockny]

Didn't notice the hiker until you mentioned him (I assume it's a he being shirtless) ... he needs to be bigger to have any effect on the picture. The tilt bothers me and the area of interest for me is the left upper 2/3's of the photo with the wonderful pleated rock textures ... the rocky bottom is not interesting to me. Maybe if you got closer to that rock in the lower middle bottom which would get you past the rock wall on the right, untilt the composition and have the hiker closer you would have a great picture! I know, too late ...

[Sweetlifephoto]

Yes, I think the image is too busy but love the canyon elements. I think cropping out the rock and rubble in the foreground would put the focus on the shapes created by the canyon walls and would simplify and help bring focus to the composition.

[Krusty79]

@Hill Country Hack - I was afraid the hiker was too small to be identifiable. That's why I mentioned him in my write-up. I know there is no real horizon line in the scene and I thought that might make the image harder to tell what you're looking at.

@Infinite Monkey - I could not really use that rock the way I would have liked for foreground interest because I couldn't fit my tripod into my dry bag and I was using a large rock to brace myself and the camera. I know the hiker is really too small be the subject.

@crockny - I think this is one of those scenes where the horizon may never look quite level. The canyon floor is uneven, so I can't find a good horizontal horizon line to use as a reference. If I could have fit my tripod into my dry bag, I would have used that rock as foreground interest as you described. I'll have to get a compact tripod when I make it back there.

@Sweetlifephoto - Yes, a simpler composition would be easier for the viewer to take in the scene and not have to take time to figure out what they are looking at. Since I didn't have my tripod, I was limited to spots where I could take a shot. I was using a large rock to brace myself when I took this shot. If I had my tripod, I would have experimented more with different compositions.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I was afraid the image might be difficult to figure out what you are looking at and the hiker was too small to be identifiable. I don't know what if anything I can do to make the horizon look level. I also think this is one of those images that looks better when you can see it full size.

I definitely need to bring some sort of tripod when I go back!

[milosh]

I do find the image too busy, especially in the foreground with the grass, the big rock and the gravel on the left.
Yes, my eye eventually finds the hiker, but I would never guess it's a hiker.
I'm not sure what was your intention with processing, or whether you have really finished processing it, but I did some minor tweaks for illustrative purpose. I can take it down if you like, just tell me. It's basically Levels, Curves, some saturation and vibrance. Again, not sure what's your intention with processing, so I hope you like it.

[shruggy63]

Sorry Milosh, I don't think that improves on the original image. As a critic, I'd have to say that it needs a subtler treatment? The composition's good but I'd like a bit of 'pop' on the rock textures.

[Krusty79]

@milosh - Yes, it is busy. Maybe if the river was more visible, it might tie the elements in the image together better. I do have some simpler compositions, but I didn't think they showed off the rock wall textures and colors as well.

I did a lot of work just to even out the exposure. Most of the scene was in the shade, but there were a few areas that were brightly lit by the sun. The colors are pretty realistic in mine. Your edit does have a lot richer colors. I guess it comes down to whether one prefers the more subtle realistic colors or the richer, more vibrant colors in your edit. Thanks for taking time to edit my shot.

@shruggy - It sounds like you prefer the more subtle colors. I was so concerned with evening out the exposure with the layer masks, I didn't think about trying to get the colors to pop more. Thanks for commenting.

[Krusty79]

FWIW here is the jpg SOOC