The Little Painted Desert

[Michael Pancier]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3788779582_949a558e70_o.jpg

Just outside Winslow is this Navajo Park known as the Little Painted Desert Park. The colors in the rock are amazing under the right light. I had cloudy skies due to a Monsoon north of my location. Hence, I opted for HDR and this is the result.

5d Mark II
Canon 24-105L
Aperture: f/16.0
3 - Image HDR: -2, 0, +2
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO 100

[Kobus Tollig]

I would really like you to tone down the part on the left and some clouds. Like this shot and its worth the try.
Hope you dont mind but here is a try from my side. Just toning down a bit

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Michael,
Glad to see you are getting clouds out there now. For me, the HDR is a little too much.....colors look too unreal. Let's see if what others chime in.

[Michael Pancier]

here's a repost with the saturation turned down.

How's this work?

[Kobus Tollig]

The new post looks good but some parts of clouds are now to dark and you desat to much imo

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Michael,
Definitely like the sky better in the first......not sure how much saturation you took away......if not that much......then go with OP......if a lot......then in between.

[Rich Ikerd]

The saturation in your second image seems more realistic (though the desert can get quite colorful under the right conditions). I'm with Roman in that the sky needs to be somewhere between the original image and the repost. Have to say I'm a bit jealous with all of the clouds you've been showing in your photos. Whenever I'm out that way, its all blue skies all the time.