# Devolve (+revised) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape, black-and-white, grand, weekly-challenge\ **Created:** [November 8, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885 "2026-11-08T19:16:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Keith\_Flood](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/keith_flood/32/77197_2.png) [@Keith\_Flood](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Keith_Flood)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/1 "2026-11-08T19:16:09Z")
## Revised Version ### Revision 1 (latest) ![Revision 1 - Devolve-RW.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/5/0/50eef43689941fb66ed31bfe0001e27463fe5336.jpeg) **What changed:** Based on the feedback, I did a slight crop from the top, added light to the foreground and buttes while increasing some contrast. _Added after receiving feedback from the community._ * * * ## Original Version ![Original - devolve.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/b/e/be4c2de66e771675a7a7f8e012b6153955b0bbc7.jpeg) ### Weekly Challenge Weather Written on the Land 11/8/26 - 11/14/26 **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 Remnants of ancient seabed melt away as the years pass by, leaving behind an other worldly landscape caped by the weather resistant caps of these buttes. ### Feedback Requested Any thoughts on composition, black and white processing and overall mood of the image? I wanted to include a decent portion of the foreboding sky to give context to the eroding environment from monsoonal rains that have helped form this amazing landscape over thousands of years. Thank you for your feedback! ### Technical Details Camera: Canon EOS R5 Lens: RF24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Focal length: 36mm Shutter speed: 1/80s Aperture: f/11 ISO: 100 ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/2 "2026-11-08T19:50:33Z")
Hi @Keith_Flood I very much like the mono feel and the image, to me, definitely very moody, emphasises the erosion and magnificence of nature. The sky definitely enhances the mood and it works very well in portrait format. I was wondering if a little selective dodging and burning might increase the contrast of the central "core " of the image, but I think your processing is very good and so am inclined to leave as is. I also wondered about increasing the exposure half a stop or so … but so much is personal taste … Congratulations - this image has definite wow factor Huw ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/3 "2026-11-08T20:05:36Z")
Hi Keith - The composition looks very good to me. I agree with Huw that some dodging/burning of the land would bring out more texture, and hence the idea of weathering. Here’s my idea. Once I brought out more texture in the land, though, it felt like the sky was competing too much. So, I softened the sky by decreasing clarity and dehaze (all adjustments in ACR). ![devolve](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/b/7/b7da3fa9f35a187eb423c0c33556fc1a1e4df9ba.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Craig\_Moreau](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/craig_moreau/32/90932_2.png) [@Craig\_Moreau](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Craig_Moreau)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/4 "2026-11-08T20:49:55Z")
Hi Keith, this is a really nice monochrome landscape, and I too like the portrait orientation. The only thing I might suggest is cropping just a hair off the top to eliminate that darker sky spot in the very upper left corner. That keeps pulling my eye. As for the processing, I think your presentation feels right given the heavy clouds. Maybe a little contrast boost would be nice, somewhere between your presentation and Bonnie’s? I’m not sure if that would help or hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/5 "2026-11-09T13:54:07Z")
Keith, I like the combination of lots of texture both in the land and the sky along with the long distance view. This looks fine to me as presented. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/system/32/86481_2.png) [@system](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/6 "2026-11-09T14:54:06Z")
The original poster added a [revised version](#post_1) of their image. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Flood](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/keith_flood/32/77197_2.png) [@Keith\_Flood](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Keith_Flood)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/devolve-revised/52885/7 "2026-11-09T15:02:54Z")
Thank you @Huw_Thomas , @Bonnie_Lampley , @Craig_Moreau , @Mark_Seaver , I am not a BW specialist and appreciate the journey learning and experimenting in BW and appreciate all your feedback! I posted a revised version based on your feedback, though I am not sure now if I like the darker more ominous feeling or the brighter version? When I went through my images for this Weekly Challenge, I purposely wanted to include the sky to give some context to the erosion of this landscape by rain. I think personally, it is too much and if not for the Weekly Challenge, I would prefer a tight crop to the buttes which would also show more detail in the foreground terrain. But this is always fun to explore all the possibilities!