Thanks for the comments. I guess the processing strikes people in different ways. King, I didn't replace the sky - it is funny you thought so, as I started to do so, to put in some dramatic clouds, but decided it was more trouble than it was worth. All I did was saturate the blues, yellows and reds, and then added a sepia filter at about 90% (I was just trying different things and liked that one). I didn't like the straight grey of the ship with a hazy grey sky.

This is the USS New Jersey, by the way, and these 6" guns are the biggest ever built.

@Craig...I don't think you mean '6" guns.'

King - right you are. They are 16" guns (16" diameter)

Excellent Craig. Processing is spot on. I will try this on some of my ship/grey/dull photos. It's big - yes, but what hits me most here is the composition. Love it. Did you crop it at all? If not then you should get bonus points.

My two cents worth: I see nothing wrong with cropping, but I don't see anything wrong with careful composition in the camera, either.

When I can't get to the right place to put the camera, or don't have the right lens, or when we cannot, for some technical or physical reason, put the camera where no cropping would be necessary, then cropping is the best solution.

It is also my experience, especially with subjects that are constantly changing (e.g., sports, dance, portraits) that it is helpful to have a little extra room around the subject so that unexpected movement can be accommodated...one good reason to shoot with the highest resolution tools and supplies available.

I did crop it slightly, taking off a little of the bottom of the turret, mostly to get rid of most of the annoying wooden lattice work you can see in the bottom right corner.

While it is quite unusual for me, I actually had exactly this shot in my mind's eye before I even got to the ship, and went there to pretty much take just this shot. I got one other that i liked, and I'll post a link to it here shortly.

Here is a link to the other shot - I preferred it as it was the forward gun, so got the bridge, but it was against the light.
http://www.craigmartin-gallery.com/ArtsyShots/Guns-of-New-Jersey-2---Mar_.html

Craig,
Careful, dude. Facility at previsualization is the first step on the slippery slope to professional work. I'm so good at it that I'm slow to recognize great photos right in front of me if I don't already have them in my head.

Feels good, though, don't it?

...yes, I know that it should be written "...doesn't it?"

Craig, the other is very well done and look like an advertisement for either the Navy or Viagra. This, in my opinion, says BIG! (or an advertisement for Viagra...depends on your gender and degree of self confidence).

Thanks King...I like it for a Viagra spot, lol.

Craig - I took a look at the other shot. Nice work also and I love the idea of the viagra add. Cropping? I say a prayer every night giving thanks for the cropping tool. Given my skills, I'd be lost without it :)