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I really wanted to camp here but this trip did not allow for it. One of the most beautiful alpine lakes i’ve ever visited. Taken at about 10:30AM f11 35mm multi image panorama. Any suggestions for the b&w, its one of my first forays into the medium. Is the small tree top in the bottom center a deal breaker?
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I know this spot intimately, and agree it’s one the premier alpine lakes in the Sierra.
The pano crop works nicely, and here I prefer the color version. The B&W works, but the color carries the day for me.
You could clone out the little pine that is dead center-bottom, and you might also consider cropping out the dark ridge and the big boulder on the left.
I think you did a nice job considering that the mid-morning light wasn’t optimal.
–P
I actually prefer the B&W version because the light is not optimal. I think the only thing I would do is clone out the top of the tree that’s intruding just right of bottom center.
I’m struggling between the color and the B&W…I really like the more understated luminance values throughout of the B&W, but the eyes then go bopping from bright rock to bright rock to the back, and the foreground leading stream into the lake is thus de-emphasized. So, at the end of the day, without altering the luminance values assigned to green (brightening in order to create contrast with the stream/lake?), one of the primary elements that attracted you to the scene is lost in the shadows. As I write this, I do like the color the best, as I believe it can accomplish your goal of emphasizing the water/mountains better.
Now there seems to be a polarizing gradient across the sky and the water looks heavily polarized as well. I wonder if you would have been able to remove the polarizer and allow the blue sky to reflect on the water and bring about the distinction of the water/grass better?
Beyond that, I agree with @Preston_Birdwell regarding the left side…the ridge and boulder to my eye distract from the intended emphasis you mentioned. Also agree with cloning out the tree top at the lower edge. Let me know your thoughts on the above and if this falls in line with your intended vision. Looking forward to others thoughts as well.
I prefer the B&W to the color, primarily because there is better tonal separation between the grass and the mountain in the B&W. In the color version both are warmish, and the mountain does not stand out as much. I’m okay with the little tree in center bottom, I could go either way on cloning it or leaving it.
I agree with Preston and Jim about their comments on the left side. In addition, for my taste I think the sky is cropped too tight at the top of the image in both versions. I understand that you had bluebird mid-days skies, but to me this just feels too tight. I wish it had slightly more breathing room. Maybe you still have it in your raw files. Especially in a B&W version, you can get away with blue skies like this.
Interesting point about the polarization. Originally I was trying to tame the reflections but I could see how it would actually be beneficial in the black and white version.
First of all, what a beautiful and grand High Sierra landscape - and I think the pano format is perfect for the scene. Next, is the tree top at the bottom a deal breaker? Nope, not for me. If there were no other like trees around then I might say yes, so for me the bit of the top of one tree is really just a repeating element and so not a distraction. On the other hand, if it weren’t there, I wouldn’t miss it.
I agree with others, in both cases I’m wishing for a bit more sky.
My preference is the color version, and here’s my thinking. This is a picturesque, mountain landscape - all about the pristine beauty of the wilderness and for me this just has to be color. Even just the color combo of the greens, granite, snow patches with that pale blue sky… just beautiful. In my view, b&w is better to perhaps emphasize shapes, lines, contrasts even drama like if there were some billowing altocumulus clouds, or a rain squall… etc. Sure, there’s nice contrast here, but the image isn’t about those contrasts, it’s about the beauty of the location - color for me. Another reason - those stunted trees have more life in color. The tonal range just isn’t enough just within the tree or the surrounding landscape to make them more interesting. They look better in color
I also wouldn’t crop this at all. So for that darker ULC, you might simply try dodging or raising the shadows a bit in a masked Levels/Curves layer.
Most certainly a fabulous alpine landscape with just a couple tweaks to elevate another notch.
I also know this spot well (a bear got my food just across the lake - before the days of bear cannisters). Beautiful area. I much prefer the B&W. I think it takes better advantage of the lighting conditions, with more separation and pop to the image. I would not crop off the left. That big rock almost on the left edge nicely anchors the scene. I would consider the clone suggested though. I also think the sky feels a bit cramped. I would like more room, but not an image killer. Nice take from the location.
Hi Herman - I think your B&W conversion works well and it is my preference over the color version. As others have mentioned, I wish there was a little more sky. As for the small tree too, I would clone it out. Overall, I think you captured a wonderful alpine scene,
Thank you @Eva_McDermott@Harley_Goldman@Lon_Overacker@Ed_McGuirk@Michael_Lowe@Preston_Birdwell for you feedback. I went back and cropped the left boulder, but the composition lost its balance, so i cropped from right too and found a more square composition that works. I cloned out the tree in the bottom and raised the luminance of the lake per @Jim_McGovern polarization comment and I like the result.
The repost look great! The tighter composition showing only the Minarets works very well. I do miss Mount Ritter and Banner Peak, though. I like what you did with tonal scale.
–P
