Departure (+revised)

Image Critiques
1

Revised Version

Revision 1 (latest)

Revision 1 - 56ZE_0920SQv2-npn.jpg
Revision 1 - 56ZE_0920SQv2-npn.jpg2298×2298 432 KB

What changed: Adding the square crop. I’m not sure, but I think I reduced the blues too much?

Added after receiving feedback from the community.

Original Version

Original - 56ZE_0920v2-npn.jpg
Original - 56ZE_0920v2-npn.jpg1835×2298 345 KB

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 + Technical

About This Image

The title is actually more about the moment, than the scene itself. This was literally the last scene I photographed before departing Yosemite after our special gathering back in May. Actually, one could think of the water “departing” the gentle and smooth flow to the more turbulent water after hitting some rocks… I dunno, maybe?

I had stopped at Pahono Bridge before heading down the canyon towards home. Even though this was the last scene/image from the trip, I may just have a few more to share… it was a very productive trip!

Feedback Requested

To be perfectly honest, the color/saturation is a bit more enhanced than what I witnessed and certainly more so than the RAW images captured (which we all know how dull RAWs are…) Of course I welcome your thoughts and critiques on any and all aspects of this image.

Mainly, what do you think about the color and saturation? The sun had finally broken out on our last day and was illuminating the trees and cliffsides above, so the reflections were there, including some blue from the sky above.

How are the blues? I muted the blue quite a bit, but also didn’t want to remove it completely..

How is the water texture up top? (actually this is looking down stream… so the top, is really the bottom? ha ha.

I also have a square crop if anyone thinks a crop could improve this. I may add later.

Thanks in advance for any comments and helpful suggestions!

Technical Details

Camera: NIKON Z 8
Lens: NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Focal length: 150mm
Shutter speed: 1.3s
Aperture: f/18
ISO: 32

2

Lon,

I like the color combination. The blue and golden yellow work well together. Even the subtle red coming through in the LLC, Note 1. The way my eye flows through the scene takes you through a color journey into the white fuzziness in the water that for some reason has a fractal sense to it as it reaches the ULC. You always seem to come up with intriguing work. :+1:

Visual Notes

[1] Reds

[E1] The general way my eye flows.

[2] Fractal tendrals

visual notes
visual notes1278×1600 220 KB

3

Hi Lon,
Lovely abstract. I like the way the cool and warm tones balance the image. I would love to see a square crop. I know not everyone loves those. For me, abstract “almost always” invite a square crop. Even an 8x10 could work. I can’t tell what the aspect ratio is here. For me, the most interesting part of the image is in the top half. I like the two types of blues and that little shelf the water flows into or out of.
ML

Visual Notes

[Crop] Allows the gold hues to take center stage but also gives the blues their due.

visual notes
visual notes1278×1600 237 KB

4

Sheesh – I’ve shot a few pictures from that bridge but never saw this view!! :upside_down_face: Seriously wonderful!! If you hadn’t given it away I don’t think I would have even thought it was a river. Maybe a seashore?? The colors and composition are perfect! No suggestions except to consider submitting it to a modern art show!!

5

This is really good.

I like everything about it and have no complaints.
It would be an obvious choice to print if it were mine.

6

Thank you @Youssef_Ismail , @Marylynne_Diggs , @Diane_Miller and @joaoquintela for taking the time to write a comment.

Youssef, great use of the new visual tools to show the flow you take thru the image.

Thanks Marylynne, I’ll be adding that square crop above. When initially processing, the square crop is something I pursued, but chose to post the original. I mostly struggled with color and saturation.

Thanks again for the comments!

7

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

8

Lon,

The square crop works nicely.