The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was the second time I hiked up here, the first, 20 years earlier with my brother, we spend 2 or 3 hours up here alone. This trip my wife and I passed about 50 people on the way up and then as we rounded the corner seen in the photo, I came face to face with a line of about 25 photographers with tripods, wall to wall in the canyon, waiting for the light to move farther into the Subway. So, with permission, I walked up right in front of them, took two photographs and we left…never to return…
I decided to shoot pretty slow, not only to get the soft water flow, but to also get the motion of the leaves swirling in the pool. I went B&W because the light wasn’t great in color and B&W seemed to help draw out the detail in canyon walls.
Specific Feedback
Any comments welcome but especially composition and exposure. I know parts of the image are a little dark, but I liked that for the mood of the image, but would be happy to hear others’ thoughts.
Scott, the swirl of leaves and the bit of flow add extra interest to this very dramatic look at these water carved rocks. As you suggest, it’s a bit dark for my tastes, but you’re the artist here and clearly this is what you wanted. Subtle dodging of the darker tones would show off more detail , possibly without significantly reducing the drama. Sad about how crowded so many of the parks and other special places have become…
I like your interpretation of this scene, Scott. You’ve given it the look of an abandoned subway tunnel with a kind of post apocalyptic feel. Certainly different from what all those other photographers are going to come out with.
Crazy to think about the crowd behind you as you took this; fortunately you don’t get that from the picture. (Nice that they were kind enough to let you grab a couple quick ones.)
I like both your composition and conversion, they come together for a nice take of this icon. My only suggestion would be to increase the luminosity at the point of the tunnel, and to decrease it in the brighter points everywhere else. As is, those bright points snag my eye a bit from the natural flow of the compostition.
I really like the mood and feel you’ve got here and I think going B&W was the right choice. That’s something I need to do more of especially when, like you say, the light/colour isn’t great.
I also think that it’s sad that so many places are so crowded now a days and I often long for the “good old days”.
Hi Scott,
Looking at your image I never would have guessed how crowded it was with other photographers. I guess that is what happens when a location becomes an icon. It was nice of them to let you come to the head of the line. The B&W conversion looks get and helps set the mood you were going for as does as the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. The swirl with the leaves is another wonderful element in the scene. Very nicely done.
Thanks Scott for going B/W with this iconic location. Terrific tonal range; large print potential. Gives me confidence to try this with some of my own shots of Utah, where color almost always rules the day and the pastel tones often don’t translate well to B/W!
