The Stone Ship has Run Aground in the Garden of the Gods

[FrankMi]

I'm not sure if the tree gives a true indication of the size of this balancing rock but there is a two lane road between the left and right pieces.

C & C welcomed!



Taken with a Sony DSC H1, 1/320sec, F4

[Donald]

Wouldn't like to be driving through when it topples over!

I think the tree gets in the way, Frank. Be better image without it, I think. Don't s'pose you've got a chain saw in the camera bag?

[FrankMi]

Wouldn't like to be driving through when it topples over!

I think the tree gets in the way, Frank. Be better image without it, I think. Don't s'pose you've got a chain saw in the camera bag?

LOL, not that day anyway! I do have other shots of this scene but I was concerned that without the tree there would be very little sense of scale. I'll try one of the others. Thanks, Donald.

[FrankMi]

OK. I took the chain saw to the tree, so to speak. Here are three similar photos. Each has some benefits and some drawbacks.

This one was taken from the opposite direction. It looks less like a ship, if that matters. As the base of the balancing rock is less noticable, it has less of a 'risky' look.




This one almost looks like a ship and the road gives a sense of size but the angle is higher so it doesn't look as imposing.




This one looks massive but there is nothing that indicates that a slight breeze might cause it to crush a passing car.



Any thoughts on which one would engage the viewer's attention the best?

[Donald]

Any thoughts on which one would engage the viewer's attention the best?

Immediate answer. No doubt in my mind.

I do think that really works. I think we do get the sense of scale. We also get the context well explained, with the distant mountains clearly showing us that this is place to pass when going to and from somewhere else. I like it.

[henry17106]

I don't know if I am going to be sounding a little strange as you all get to know my posts, but lol, I like the first because it looks like one stone man giving a tree gift to another stone man. It gives me more of a sense of size with the tree inbetween. And as you say, the one photo (2nd in your series) looks like a ship, but also, the other formation across the road looks like a tugboat. I really like the first photo for a lot of reasons - the 3 colors, the sense of size, the vegetable/mineral combo.........even the little section of background trees gives it feeling for me...

[FrankMi]

Hi Henry, that was my first choice as well but my thoughts of what makes a great image is still maturing so I look to others with more experience to help me broaden my vision. Thank you for your comments!

[Insanyshani]

I was AT gog the other night around 12:30 am and I saw a port hole made with lights, almost like in the movie land of the lost. I circled and I circled the ship, and still, I saw the same series of lights in the middle of the 2 camel humps. I need to go back and see what is really going on there, but it seems as if noone really wants to REALLY NO

[Insanyshani]

OR IS SCAred of whaT THEY MIGHT SEE . So I m waiting to hear back from you ASAP. Thanks and Waiting ASAp. Lets go there !!!!