Help Me Crop! Kicking Horse Cascade with reposts

[Marylynne_Diggs]

2nd Repost 8x10 with no finger of snow and just a hint of water entering from the left:

2nd Repost 4x6 with no finger of snow:

First Repost Option 1: cropped off some of the top, bottom, cloned out a few bits of snow near edges, increased saturation a tish in the water. Went with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Let me know if this is better.

First Repost Option 2: Cropped to an 8x10.

Original:

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

This is another image from the Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park, Canada. This is a bit to the right of my last image there, and I tried to get as much of the water and cascades as possible. It was cold and slippery, so my options (or confidence) were limited.

Specific Feedback

I’m looking for thoughts on where to crop this, especially along the top edge. I straightened it, but it’s otherwise the full frame. Of course, I’m always game for other processing suggestions as well. The water (angle, speed) is less green here than the other shot. I think it’s still interesting enough, but ideas for working the composition in post, if possible, are much appreciated.

Technical Details

Canon 5D3 with 24-10mm at 28mm
ISO 50, f/16, 1/6sec

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Critique Template

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Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
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Processing:
Technical:

[David_Haynes]

I’m not sure why you think the top has issues that would require a crop. I pretty much like this as is but my eye is pulled to the upper left corner and the upper right corner where there are dark areas. However, I don’t think they need to be cropped out. They can be dodged easily so they don’t stick out so much but even then I feel like I’m just grasping at straws. The image is quite busy so I brought the image into LR with the goal of reducing some of that busyness but also to see if a particular crop came to mind. I came up with two but I really don’t think either of these are any better than the original. Maybe if you let us know what it is that gives you the feeling that the top needs a crop we could help but honestly, I’m enjoying this image as is. Here are the two crops:

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Thanks @David_Haynes. I think what bothers me most is the undulating, snow topped bank on the far side and its closeness to the edge of frame. It’s not interesting, but it draws the eye, and there’s no good cut-off option, though I could crop below the snow all across, it,

In the field, I zoomed in knowing that I wanted a) to focus on the water motion and foreground rock and b) that I needed some space top and bottom to crop out distractions later when I wasn’t standing on icy rock in 28 degree temps with the rest of the workshop participants scattered about,

ML

[Cathy_Proenza]

Beautiful shot! I like the shutter speed and the quiet colors of the rocks. I agree with David – it’s a nice image just as you’ve shot it. If you do want to crop, I would only suggest zooming in more on the central water feature, eliminating the top wavy snow-covered rock you mention and just reducing the surrounding rock all around. If you did that, you’d also lose the dark spots in upper left and right that David already mentioned.

As a very minor comment, I wouldn’t mind a wee bit more saturation of the greens in the water, if it is not too much of a lie. But that’s personal taste.

Overall, it’s a compelling shot and I really like it! Good job keeping yourself upright on the icy rocks.

[Igor_Doncov]

I like your composition. All those curves and snow patches combine for a nice overall image. I feel there is unity here without being overly simplified. I thought your original composition was pretty good. The only suggestion I would make is to burn in the snow in the lower right to match more or less the snow on the upper left. Maybe even remove that finger of white rising from the bottom. Maybe it’s just me but that really catches my eye.

[Ed_Lowe]

Hi Marylynne,
For me the star of the show is the pool of water and the cascades streaming in from the top and left sides and I think the snow and the rocks do a nice job of directing the viewer there. For my tastes your Repost Option 2 crop helps focus that attention there with one small caveat; I would not crop quite so much from the left side as the flow there looks a little cut off. Maybe add 1/3-1/2 back. Beautiful scene.

[Michael_Lowe]

I see no need to crop the image, but if you were gonna crop it, I kinda like @David_Haynes square crop. It focuses more attention on the falls.

[bryannelsonca (Bryan Nelson)]

I personally like the balance in the 8x10 crop. Snow in the upper left corner and bottom right corner are a bit more balanced. Nice image with good color and nice shutter speed.

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Hi Folks
Thanks for all of the continued feedback on this one. I took another stab at the 8x10ish crops and tried AI removal on the “finger of snow.” I brought out as much color as the image had for the water. Did another 4x6 as well, but without the finger. Reposts will be above the others at the top.
ML

[Mark_Seaver]

Marylynne, count me as another one who sees no problem with the original view. The water flowing in from the left edge strikes me as the equivalent of the backup singers providing harmony, it adds to the scene without detracting from the “main event”, which I see as the mix of rock fingers pointing in from the lower right and the falling water in the center. There remains a touch of the “turquoise” color that so characteristic of glacial melt runoff. The 8x10 crop does focus on the “main event”. I’m chuckling because I had a hard time finding the “dreaded finger of snow”. I do like the idea of some dodging in the darkest parts in the upper right of the original.

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Thanks @Mark_Seaver. I think the finger of snow was a euphemism based on its shape😇.
ML

[Paul_Holdorf]

Heres my take on it. I like the over image you provided, but I cropped off the line of snow at the top of the cliffs along the top edge. I cropped more off the left than the right to maintain the movement you already had. I saturated the aqua tones a bit to bring out the lovely blue in the water and then reduced highlights globally and then used a brush to further reduce the whites in that top left snow patch. I’ve recently struggled with some images where bright now and darker elements didnt really play well together. I find it a bit distracting and like to see a bit more detail in the snow. It’s a really great capture of an amazing scene!

[John_Williams]

@Marylynne_Diggs

First Repost Option 1

I too thought the original was pretty good, but pretty strongly prefer First Repost Option 1 now hat I can compare them all. Love that water; the saturation bump was a winner.