The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I have photographed at this lake in the Canadian Rockies several times before but never came away with an image that I really liked. This time I arrived well before sunrise and hiked to this spot on the far side of the lake, unsure whether the low clouds would even allow the sun to break through at all. For a short window after sunrise, the light began to emerge before the weather quickly closed in and a snowstorm moved through the area. Yamnuska, the mountain on the right, is known for its dramatic limestone cliffs and for being one of the first peaks in the Rockies to catch and lose the day’s light due to its position along the eastern edge of the range.
Specific Feedback
The way the rising sun was illuminating the low clouds caused havoc on the white balance. I tried to tame it the best I could so I’m wondering how it looks to you. Other than that, I’m open to any comments or feedback you may have.
Technical Details
Equipment: Canon 5DIV with a 45mm TS-E lens. Tripod. Two stop soft grad ND filter. Polarizer.
Exposure: 1 second at f/11, ISO 100
Technique: I tilted the lens to ensure both the grasses/reeds in the foreground and the mountains were in sharp focus. I also took two frames - one shifted up a bit and the other down and then combined them into what you see here because the 45mm lens was a tad too long for this scene and I wasn’t able to get enough of the grasses into the frame with just the one shot.
Critique Template
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What a great scene. Wish I was there seeing this one in person, Tom. You captured some great light. I also love the soft, almost fog like feeling with the clouds and the the slight magenta colors of them. It’s interesting that the mountain on the right, Yamnuska, has no snow on top of it but it has snow below it. That tells me that the ridgeline is very steep so no snow catches up there. The tree line is wonderful and the still reflection is gorgeous showing every detail. The foreground grasses add both color and texture to the foreground and you positioned them so as not to cross into the reflection and they form an edge that is very similar to the edge of the mountain reflection. The colors work really well together and feel very cohesive and there is so much detail front to rear. As for nits I only have one. There is a very dark horseshoe looking shape on the side of the left mountain that just grabs my eye immediately. It’s well defined in the reflection as well. You might look into dodging that and removing some of the color or even cloning it out if you’re not apposed to doing that.
Sensational grand landscape, Tom.
Spectacular scene and light!! I love the framing with the grasses providing a base! WB can be frustrating with a scene like this. I wonder how it looks if you use the neutral eyedropper on the lower shaded part of the mountain on the left – that looks like it might be close to gray – maybe. Then back off if that kills too much of the gorgeous light.
This a fine grand landscape but what takes it to another level in my opinion is the 45mm TS lens. The image is tack sharp and it really needs to be to give that wow factor. Those trees on the opposite bank need to be tack sharp, and they are. I’m looking forward to seeing more work from this fine lens.
A nice, grand landscape, Tom. I’m glad you included the FG grasses and not just the straight reflection. It gives a sense of depth. My only small nit is that of @David_Haynes. I realize the shadows are natural and just part of nature, but I would still be inclined to get rid of them if you’re not opposed to that kind of alteration. Shadows are transient. It’s not like you’re removing part of the mountain you don’t like. I think with dodging, they’s still be too noticable. Just my 2 cents.
Hi Tom,
The warm lighting in this scene is spectacular as is the landscape! You definitely put yourself in the right spot at the right time to capture this gorgeous image. I love the way you used your layering here starting off with the FG grasses, then that wonderful reflection all topped off with the far shoreline, mountains and those wispy warm clouds in the sky. My only suggestion is the already mentioned removal of the dark horseshoe shape; if you are so inclined. This had to be awesome to witness first hand.Beautifully done IMO.
Like everyone else, I find this image quite riveting. The reflections, colours and composition are all well thought out. I like the foreground details to add a sense of depth to the image. I was in the Rockies in 2023 and scored some pretty sensational sunset scenes. Your capture of this scene was perfect. Ditto re U-shaped shadow cloning.
It seems there is a clear consensus about the shadow “horseshoe,” and I agree that it feels somewhat jarring. I am still not convinced that removing it entirely would be my first choice, but I am willing to experiment and see what can be done. I actually opened the file in Photoshop yesterday, but other priorities came up and I ended up shutting down the computer without making any progress. I had hoped to complete the edit before replying here, but it did not work out. Hopefully, I will have some time to revisit the image this weekend.
Igor, I have been using tilt shift lenses for about 20 years and I would not want to trade them for anything else. There are times when I cannot quite achieve the framing flexibility that a zoom lens offers, but the same could be said for any prime lens. Beyond the ability to achieve deep depth of field without relying on very small apertures or focus stacking, I especially enjoy the slow and methodical process these lenses force upon me. They help me feel more present and make my time behind the camera feel far more intentional.
This is magnificent Tom! What a beautiful combination of color, layering, and clarity.
Color balance is tricky for me too in these situations, and I wasn’t there so any suggestions are guessing. With that said, I like this just slightly less magenta.
I agree about that horseshoe, sometimes nature just doesn’t cooperate. Just for fun, here’s a version trying to knock that back a little (and with the slight color shift).
Tom: As everyone has mentioned this is indeed a marvelous scene and conditions superbly captured. I think the horseshoe is so hard to figure because our first impression that it is a shadow of something instead of dark recesses in the mountainside. I just used the remove tool to make it go away on the mountain and in the reflection. Back to you. >=))>
I had a bit of time to play around with the image a bit more and I cloned out the shadow and it’s reflection. I’ll admit that it took me a little bit of time to get used to it, especially when switching back b=and forth between the two versions, but now I like it.
What an absolute stunner, Tom! From a color balance standpoint, I do prefer John’s version but aside from that tiny little nit, I wouldn’t change a single thing about this one. I bet the experience of watching this light unfold in front of you is burned into your memory. Wow!
