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 is a view across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where I was enjoying the contrast between the whites of the upper parts of the canyon walls and the colorful areas lower down that have been exposed to hot water.
Feedback Requested
I also enjoy the contrast between the flowing sand and gravel and the hoodoos where the rocks are a bit harder.
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Focal length: 43mm
Shutter speed: 1/1600s
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 800
tripod and polarizer
Hi Mark,
These are wonderful colors and textures. I especially like the long focal length effect, getting something almost abstract when looking at the thumbnail. I know it’s hard not to cut off trees at the edge of a frame in an image like this. I don’t know whether it is your signature being there or the location of the cut off trees, but it keeps dragging my attention there. I can image a slight crop off the bottom so the tree with a second tree right next to it (or a brushy tree next to it) is cut off at a better location. I didn’t plan ahead and use the critique workspace, so here is my idea of a crop.
There might be something unappealing about my crop though. I think it does get things too close at the right edge. Maybe there is another way to clean up that bottom edge IF it bothers you. Maybe I’m just picking nits in noticing it? 
ML
Mark,
Great job isolating this more intimate portrait of the canyon. I think you did an excellent job handling the contrast and bright light.
Interesting… what you mentioned ,
is actually where my critique actually focuses on. For me, both the top edge of the white area and the triangle of the white slope LL, in my eye are “tweaners”. What I mean is that either I want to see MORE of both areas, or less (or none at all.) Actually the top, mostly the UL is where I would like to see more, or none at all. And actually I really like the triangle in the LL, of the slope and trees. I can’t see eliminating this, but I would like to see more. I’m guessing in both cases there were constraints/issues outside the frame that I’m unaware of and perhaps nothing much to do and so you captured the best possible image/composition.
The colors and processing are spot on.
