Per Will’s suggestion, I gave this image a 4x5 crop to eliminate the rocks on the left. I’m not sure how I feel about it. It feels a little tight to me. Perhaps eliminating the small rock below the far left-hand side rock that he suggested removing would make the LHS less distracting?
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This image was shot in August of 2022. I like the way the light touched the rocks surrounding the small cascade. The water was low so I used a longer shutter speed to (attempt) to give it the appearance of more bulk.
Specific Feedback
Your feedback will be appreciated! The image looks lighter here than it does in Photoshop or my print. I prefer it darker, but will leave it as is to see what you think!
Technical Details
EOS RP, 70-200mm f/4 lens, ISO 400, f/29, 5 seconds
Susanna, I like this image a lot. I think the control of tones really draws the viewers eye to the water near the center of the image and holds the eye there. And monochrome is obviously the right choice. You mentioned that the print looks darker, and I think that could be interesting .
I do wonder if a bit of the LHS of the image could be cropped from about the last rock on that side. That part of the image has a little less interest than the rest, but I’m not sure if removing it would unbalance things.
The 2nd version is definitely a stronger, more decisive composition. The balance is better and it looks deliberate. The tonalities are quite smooth and shows the contrast in textures well. Normally I like more detail in water shots like this, but for that purpose it serves. Wondering if the blacks could be deepened slightly and whether cloning out the leaf on the far rock in the center would be beneficial. I just love doing moving water work like this. It’s so much fun!
So I like both versions. The crop version is more focused, but also a little more static. The image is good source material. Multiple interpretations are possible.
Thanks, Will. I did yet another version where I cleaned up the area just below the rock (that I removed in the repost) on the LHS (I’m learning the lingo!). It looks better! A compromise. Here it is.
Please let me know so I can take a look at your suggestion. Thanks!