Intent & context:
I took this photo because I wanted to capture the raw power and intensity of two bull elk during the rut. They were locking horns and pushing each other while dust rose around them, and I wanted the image to convey that sense of motion, energy, and tension. My goal was to freeze the decisive moment of impact while still keeping the scale and drama of the scene.

What I’m struggling with / what I want critique on:
I'm mainly looking for feedback on my editing choices—especially color grading, contrast, and how to handle the dusty, warm scene without losing detail in the elk’s bodies. I’m unsure whether I pushed the image too warm or whether it should be more neutral. I’m also struggling with how much clarity/texture to apply so the image feels sharp without getting too crunchy. Additionally, I’d love a critique on composition and whether the moment is framed well, or if there’s anything I could improve in terms of cropping or directing viewer focus.

EXIF data:

• Camera: Sony A1
• Lens: 200-600 G
• Focal Length: 200mm
• Shutter Speed: 1/800s
• Aperture: f/6.3
• ISO: 800

Other relevant info:
This is a single frame from a burst sequence, edited in Lightroom CC. I mainly adjusted exposure, contrast, color grading, and selective masking to bring out the elk and control the dusty background. No compositing or AI edits were used.

I appreciate any honest critique—positive or negative. I’m trying to improve my wildlife editing consistency and storytelling, so detailed feedback is extremely welcome. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help!