# As the Dawn Breaks (a tighter version) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape, grand\ **Created:** [October 1, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444 "2026-10-01T16:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Nevesely](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tom_nevesely/32/75980_2.png) [@Tom\_Nevesely](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tom_Nevesely)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/1 "2026-10-01T16:24:30Z")
![Original - TN2026-_MG_7834-Edit- NPN copy.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/5/e/5efe74ffa648607210f50ab870dbc70a8956019c.jpeg) **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic / Expressive ### About This Image This image was taken the same morning as the one I posted yesterday, actually about 10 minutes earlier. This was my first intended composition, shot with a “normal” focal length of 45mm. I used to shoot mostly with my 24mm, but over the years I’ve gradually been gravitating more toward this slightly longer type of landscape shot. That said, after taking this one, I felt it might just be a little too tight, so I switched to the 24mm and made the previous image. ### Feedback Requested I know it’s apples and oranges but I’m curious if you prefer this image over the first or not. ### Technical Details Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Lens: TS-E45mm f/2.8 Focal length: 45mm Shutter speed: 1/4s Aperture: f/11 ISO: 100 ---
**Author:** ![Marylynne\_Diggs](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/marylynne_diggs/32/87403_2.png) [@Marylynne\_Diggs](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Marylynne_Diggs)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/2 "2026-10-01T22:00:50Z")
Hi Tom, I had to go to the thumbnails on the main critique page to check my impression. Interestingly, the tighter version feels more complicated. That’s counter-intuitive, but I think results from a couple of factors: the grasses and other elements poking above the water are larger in the frame and the trees on the right have more detail, but also not a ton of interest value compared to the far shore. As a result, what’s more salient is less interesting to me in this image compared to your wider, tilt-shift image. Right now, on my screen, the two images are side by side on the main critique page, so it makes a more general comparison easier as well. The TS at 24mm version has darker, deeper blues in the water and sky, and for me, especially against the black distant trees and the orange rock faces, that blue is more pleasing. It might be worth playing with the blue a bit, making it less aqua, though realistically, the aqua and orange should complement each other nicely. I think I’m just a fool for dark, high altitude blues. I’m curious to see how others compare the two images. I played with some crops (getting rid of the trees on the right and going more square or keeping the original ratio and getting rid of the trees on the right). Both are interesting, and require a tish of ai remove clean up. However, they do emphasize the interesting stuff in the water more and that might make this a contender for significant difference from your original while still interesting in its own right. ![TomNevTN2026-_MG_7834-Edit- NPN copy-MLDCropOffRight](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/0/10bd2787008b3feb48d0e2f94fe94b22d9d6793c.jpeg) ML ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/3 "2026-10-02T00:18:53Z")
My personal preference is for the wider angle of the first post, Tom. The warmer tones on the hills in this one are appealing but it’s lost some of the sense of unlimited distance for me. I like the looks of @Marylynne_Diggs proposed revision which eliminates the foreground trees on the right. they worked very well in the wide angle, but they’re close enough here that they put a stop on my eyes at that side of the frame. I think with a bit of tweaking on this one, you can end up with two very fine images out of your excursion. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 2:18am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/4 "2026-10-02T02:18:01Z")
## Visual Notes I like this image. I don’t know how it compares to your previous one. One thing I noticed is that all the strongest colors were at the left edge. Then I realized that you included so much sky because you wanted to include the top of the tree entirely. I’m not sure you needed to do that. Anyway, here’s a crop that reduces the sky and pulls the mountain from the left edge. I didn’t intend to crop off any of the bottom. There should be more space down there. [Crop] see above ![visual notes](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/a/6/a63cbc8a04ca2bd1329a1cc1e9de186982bcffd0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/5 "2026-10-02T02:50:25Z")
Wow – what a difference the two lenses make! I seem to have telephoto vision and I prefer the 45mm view, as everything feels closer. And I think @Igor_Doncov has a good tweak to bring things even closer. But whatever suits your vision, this is a fantastic subject very well presented!! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 5:08am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/6 "2026-10-02T05:08:50Z")
I personally much prefer the 1st wider image. The reason why is that to me the closer version loses the eye trail and therefore depth. The first trees on the left of the water are a bit of a barrier to an eye trail for me. This version is still a beautiful shot, but I just wanted to give the reason why the wider shot is my preferred. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Williams](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/john_williams/32/28797_2.png) [@John\_Williams](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/John_Williams)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 12:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/7 "2026-10-02T12:49:15Z")
I also prefer the wider version, but then I’m a sucker for those out of vogue grands. Both are lovely shots, though, Tom. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Nevesely](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tom_nevesely/32/75980_2.png) [@Tom\_Nevesely](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tom_Nevesely)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/8 "2026-10-02T15:27:24Z")
Thank you @Marylynne_Diggs , @Dennis_Plank , @Igor_Doncov , @Diane_Miller , @Steve_Buffington , and @John_Williams for taking the time to look and to comment! [Marylynne](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/marylynne_diggs) - I agree that the tighter shot feels, well actually is busier with the more visible detail and as a result isn’t (at least to me) as calming. Thanks also for the cropping suggestion. I took a few frames similar to your crop without the right side trees but I felt that without them the image felt too left heavy. The more I look at it though the less I feel that way so I’ll give it more thought. Dennis - Thanks for your thoughts and input. I think I definitely will go and tweak this version a bit more. Igor - Yes, you’re right about me not wanting to cut off the top of that tree. I have a tendency to not want to cut off trees. I shouldn’t limit myself like that because I actually like the way you cropped this and the tree being cut off actually doesn’t bother me. Thanks for opening my eyes to the possibility and to my self imposed needless limitations. Diane- I also tend to usually favor slightly longer focal lengths but here wasn’t sure. Igor’s tweak excited me though and it makes me like the the tighter image a lot more. Steve - Thanks so much for you input. It’s much appreciated. John - Thank you also for you input. I appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/9 "2026-10-03T16:35:21Z")
Tom, both views are excellent. To me, they tell very different stories, with the wider one showing off “the area” while feeling nicely peaceful, with the tighter view emphasizing the two rock walls and their reflections for more drama. The colors are a bit more saturated in the tighter view, which is probably the light changing. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Nevesely](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tom_nevesely/32/75980_2.png) [@Tom\_Nevesely](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tom_Nevesely)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/as-the-dawn-breaks-a-tighter-version/52444/10 "2026-10-04T16:07:38Z")
Thanks @Mark_Seaver !