The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is the area above the falls in my Cathedral of Ice image. Shot a few weeks ago on the first nice day of the year after a big snow melt. It’s that time of year where in Northeastern Pa nothing is budding or blooming yet but most of the snow and ice is gone leaving a muddy mess. I wanted to get out and shoot something and decided to look for more intimate compositions. I thought the light was just about perfect here and took a bunch of shots but wasn’t really thrilled with any of them when I started reviewing them. I gave it a few days before coming back to them and started playing around with this one. This is like my 3rd or 4th edit and crop on it and overall I kind of like the way it came out.
Specific Feedback
I feel like this could have been better than it is, maybe I’m overthinking it. Looking for any feedback and advice on ways it could have been shot or edited better.
Technical Details
d750, 50mm, 3 sec, iso 50, f16, cpl. edited in camera raw with basic global adjustments, multiple masks on water and rocks for local adjustments notably texture, clarity and shadows on that main middle rock. radial gradient on that lower left highlight to drop exposure as it was just way too hot and felt like it pulled my eye right out of the frame. slight dodge and burn in ps along with subtle vignette.
Thanks John. I debated on the crop for a while trying multiple different ones and this one wound up feeling the most balanced to me. It is pretty tight at the top, can probably give it some breathing room easily. This is the full image:
Hi Rick,
It is not readily apparent in the smaller version, but when opening the larger one I was greeted with those lovely splashes of highlighted water and those graceful arcing water drops just to the left of the cascade. For my personal tastes I could see a combination of your two posts. I like your second post because it has a little more breathing room along the top and I like the bottom crop on your original. My only real suggestion would be to try and tame those hot areas a little more in the water. If you are so inclined I think you have a twofer here as I think you could crop in a little more and focus on the drops and splashes of water. I here you on wanting to get out for some photography even if it is stick season. I am starting to see some buds emerging here in northeastern MD.
Thanks Ed, those arcs glowing from the light were a pleasant surprise. It never occurred to me to try an even closer composition. I’m going to play around with it a bit and see what I can come up with.
Sorry for my delay in replying Rick, and thanks for posting the original. I like your original crop, but with a bit more added back on top. However, if you knocked back some of the bright eye grabbers on the margins, the original version is a great image also.
