Apocalypse

I must have a dark heart but I've seen all these beautifully coloured and bright images here and now I'm posting this dark and fearsome apocalyptic image … sorry!!
I was looking through my files last night for a landscape and came across this photograph which was the end of a series of a battle between this vulture and an eagle (cropped out of the lower lhs). I hadn't processed it before as it really was a bit dark and scraggly, The semi-dead tree, the dried ground with stones, the spread wings of the vulture all suggested doomsday to me. So I decided to accentuate all these features. Illustrates a bit how I feel about the future of the wildlife of Kenya right now. :(

It's a fairly simply processed shot, I brought in some extra storm clouds and added a textured layer from another image from my files to cover the whole image. I masked back a little of the vulture's head. I cropped it to a square image to purposely place the tree in the centre to increase the dark mood.

Hi Hilary, I really like your treatment and the dark mood it creates. :)
I see your explanation of why the tree is in the center but I think I'd prefer it offset, so cropping some off the left would fit my tastes better. Also, to fit the title better, consider cloning out the animals in the BG. Nice work!

Hilary, one of the things I love about OOTB is the great variety of styles and techniques. This has a fantastic yet disturbingly real look. I would actually like to see more of the stark landscape on the left, but the comp as presented works well for me. I agree with Ken on the animals in the background, I think the scene would be more dramatic without them. Very nicely done!

Hilary, No apology needed. You have developed your own style and it is interesting, moody and unique. I wouldn't change a thing in your PP steps. I like this image and feel that a bit more room on the right might help balance the tree top. Just my opinion. Looking forward to more....

My two cents Hilary, I really like what you've done, the tree, the vulture, the texture and effect...adding in the clouds, who would have known.
First thing that got me was the impala under the tree, that one I'd clone.
The other one I'd leave. At least we (the viewers) have hope to recover from the apocalypse.
A bit of room on the whichever side you want, to move the tree from center...
But as always your image, your vision..Very Well Done

Thank you all, as everyone agrees against the square I'll try a couple of different rectangular crops. Oh, I'll get rid of one impala and see how I feel. I had grown fond of them. :)

I got rid of the impala but put it back … I just became too attached! :D
I've changed the crop and removed one layer of texture.

Very moody image, Hilary. I like the stormy sky combined with the stark landscape and the vulture's pose. Personally I think I would prefer it if the extra room was to the left of the tree not the right, but that's just me. I also prefer the redder look of the original post.