The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was made on the same morning, the third morning of my recent trip to Yosemite, after making In The Silence, just as we were packing up to leave this location for breakfast. The morning light on El Capitan did not pan out the way I had hoped and so I suppose I conceded and was bowing out to the morning when I saw this grass still ladened with morning dew and bowing down. So I paid homage to it and photographed it. The grass was a deep green and the rocks picking up blue light as blue reflecting in the water did not seem to work for me, so I went with a B&W rendition.
Specific Feedback
I guess, besides just sharing it, does the composition work? Does B&W work for this subject?
Technical Details
Nikon D850, Nikon 50mm f/1.8 MF lens, at f22, 0.8 sec exposure at ISO 100 Processed in ACR and PS.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
A fantastic find and composition! B/W absolutely works here with the silvery mid-tones! The ephemeral grasses (bedecked with even more ephemeral dew) arise out of the darker area in the LL corner and bow to the unchanging rocks washed by the even more ephemeral waters. The slow SS was a perfect choice to bring out the mystery in the water. Simply wonderful!
I, too, think this is fantastic. The image works very well well overall, but the mirrored areas in the water and the drops of dew both add a nice finishing touch. I also agree with @Diane_Miller about “silvery.” Your mileage may vary, but I find that if I slightly tone a BW cooler, it can add to that effect. I can also see burning that brightest spot on the left edge; it’s a slight eye catch. Here’s my rough stab at those thoughts:
Dear Youssef Ismail,
Thanks for posting this image of a great subject. I wonder if it would be possible to revise the cohesion of the composition and the tones? You are right that the grass leaves bow towards the water and thus connect the two, but those leaves that do so are in darker grey tones than the ones closer to the camera, meaning, at least to me, that I pay less attention to the bowing leaves than to the leaves in the foreground with highlight and reflections in the droplets. In terms of composition, I tend to perceive the image as consisting of two triangles, one in the lower right corner and one in the upper left corner, which are fairly disconnected. This disconnect I also find in terms of tonalities and textures: There is one level of luminosity and texture on the leaves, another on the stones. Would it be possible to work on the luminosity of the stones, e.g. by deploying a gradient filter? Again, thanks for posting this fine photo.
Would it be possible to deploy a linear gradient filter on the upper left triangle
This image works great on Black and White. I love the lines in the grass and then the round of the rocks. Has a nice balanced look in my opinion. Beautiful tone!!!
This is a gorgeous intimate landscape Youssef! You might not have gotten the image of El Capitan that you wanted, but this is more unique IMO. The B&W treatment looks great and I am enjoying the wide range of tones; especially those of the grasses; in this scene. The dew drops on the grasses are the icing on the cake for me. Beautifully done. I also like @John_Williams version.
Thanks @John_Williams , I do like the cooler tone. Its quite amazing that even in B&W some subtle color tonality really does change the mood. If and when I print this, I will keep the cooler rendition, as it actually does reflect, pun intended, the chill that was in the air that morning.
I like how this image is a tale of two halves. You have the dark round stones on one side and the bright thin lines of the grasses on the other. You composed this really nicely with the diagonal separation between the two going diagonally corner to corner. No nits from me!
