storm aproaching

[tvoelcker]

Was out shooting indian paintbrushes awaiting a storm in hopes of capturing some nice cloud formations. I did succeed but there is something about this shot that keeps making me take a second look.
I found the emerging cloud to be unique and I quickly positioned myself so that the trees would frame the cloud. These clouds were moving pretty fast so I didn't have much time to compose.
I think the sun in the bottom right corner adds a little touch of flare to a rather uninteresting area. Anyone agree?
Does the fact that the trees are more of a silouhette do anything for the picture or are they more like boring black blotches?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Lens: Sigma 18-200
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

[BryanC]

Was out shooting indian paintbrushes awaiting a storm in hopes of capturing some nice cloud formations. I did succeed but there is something about this shot that keeps making me take a second look.
I found the emerging cloud to be unique and I quickly positioned myself so that the trees would frame the cloud. These clouds were moving pretty fast so I didn't have much time to compose.
I think the sun in the bottom right corner adds a little touch of flare to a rather uninteresting area. Anyone agree?
Does the fact that the trees are more of a silouhette do anything for the picture or are they more like boring black blotches?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

As always, just my personal opinions:

... I agree with the sun adding a little extra touch. As for the trees, they don't look like boring blotches and I think make a nice 'frame'. After all, the clouds are the main subject. I like the composition, the way that cloud seems to be moving in from the left to take over the sky.
... I have been looking at this image for awhile, kind of feeling how you have been. There's something that has kept me going 'hmm'. I went through everything I did like about the image and was left with color. The sky color and cloud color seem to be close to each other on the color palette. (It took me awhile to come up with words close to what was in my mind, hope it makes some sense...) It's a pretty dramatic cloud, but seems to lose a little with the similar tone in the sky. I don't know if I'm explaining this right, but I think it's what I'm seeing.
... It's still a cool photo for me, you can definitely see what you were seeing as described. I don't know if tweaking the sky color a little in PP would be better or not. It seems like something I would try (but not a PP pro here yet).
... Also, in the image, a little more than halfway up, and about a quarter from the left side, there's a speck (in the cloud). I'm not sure if it's on the lens or sensor, or something that happened to be in the air. I bring that up in case you didn't see it, and in a helpful way, in case it is on the sensor or lens.

[tvoelcker]

Thanks for your time to comment Bryan.
Now that you mention it, the tone of the sky and clouds are too close without enough contrast between the two. I have been trying to figure what it was that was bothering about the picture and I think that is it.
Yes that little spec is dust on my sensor which fortunatley has been removed. There probably wasn't any reason for me to be shooting at f22 and of course that makes the dust even more visible.
Thanks again for your time and opinions.

[ebeard2802]

Tyler,

Beautiful shot! I think compositionally, you did this perfectly, and I love the sun in this. My initial thoughts about the clouds were pretty much what BryanC mentioned, although I think he probably put it into words better than I can. Overall, a beautiful shot! Nice work!

Eric

[tvoelcker]

Appreciate the encouraging words ebeard.

[barabe]

My monitor at work is crap so i cannot decide if colors are ok between the clouds and sky but i do agree that there does not seem to be much contrast.

I love the framing with the threes and the sun does add a nice touch. Great capture.

[BryanC]

Just wanted to make sure of this point as I don't know if it came out in my first post. But, I really do still like the image!

[barabe]

Wow with a good monitor at home, this shot is amazing, i would not touch anything.

[tvoelcker]

BryanC- once again thank you for your time to comment and I'm glad the image is to your liking. However, seldom is there ever a capture that doesn't have any flaws. I can easily see them in others work but have a hard time in critiquing my own images.
Barabe- thanks for the comments. My monitor at work isn't the best either but finding time to get on-line after work is near to immpossible.

[ebeard2802]

Tom,

I'm in the same boat. Once I'm home with the wife and kids, if I even think about jumping on the computer I get hemmed up for ignoring my family. I usually get up extra early while the wife is still asleep to do my photo-editing.

Eric