The Mexican Hat + edit

[AlanLichty]

In southern Utah there is an unusual rock formation called the Mexican Hat. This image was taken from along the road leading to the Goosenecks of the San Juan. I have always been fascinated by the mountains behind the Mexican Hat for it's striking colors and shapes. Taken last Friday with clouds and showers fading off to the east.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Mike Mancil]

Very unique. The mountains beyond look like a glacier.

 

[Jim Dockery]

You really got the hills behind nicely. I see a cool composition zoomed way into the hat with the folds behind.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I also recall that hat but had not studied the hills so much glad to have this brought to my attenmtion.

 

[JimFox]

Mexican Hat is a very cool structure and one I have shot many times too. I also am really struck by the detail and curves in the background hill.

I am with the idea of a tighter composition also. The color of the sky feels off a bit. The foreground has some interesting brush but doesn't feel balanced with the Mexican Hat. With those background hills being so strong, I think there is a stronger image to be had. Not for sure, but it's in there.

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks for the comments. I will try some different crops to see what I can come up with. The skies are gray as the storm was starting to move out and no blue was visible behind the hills.

 

[JimFox]

Thanks for the comments. I will try some different crops to see what I can come up with. The skies are gray as the storm was starting to move out and no blue was visible behind the hills.

The patterns in those background hills are so striking, I can't believe I hadn't noticed it in the past. Perhaps it's the bit of side lighting that is bringing those cool striations out so nice?

One more note on the skies, I think what struck me with them is there seems to be just the slightest violet cast to them, so they don't feel truly gray. Perhaps it's just my eyes, and it just might be me that the sky is a bit of an annoyance. Maybe select the sky if it was overcast and just desaturate it to remove all color from it? Again, not positive, but I know there is a real treasure in this image.

 

[AlanLichty]

OK - another version. I did back the saturation off for the skies to insure a better gray feel to them. I decided to crop for a panorama since at least for me the folded geology behind the hat was a primary focus for me when I took the shot.

The Mexican Hat

• AlanLichty
• Apr 24, 2018

The Mexican Hat formation in southern Utah.

 

[JimFox]

Much better!

I like this one very much!

Edit the title to say "+ Edit" to make sure others come back and look again.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

The edit is definitely stronger in the composition. A very interesting landscape.

 

[Bart Carrig]

I really like the idea of showing the hat with the background formation in pano mode. Very nicely done. As many times as I've been by there, I never saw this perspective. Well seen.

Bart