Hole In The Wall is an iconic location on the East Coast of South Africa. I captured this on a windy day in late January, and opted for a BW conversion due to a somewhat lacklustre sky. I’d been hoping for a burst of colour, but was met with overcast conditions.
This is my first image posting on NPN - or any other forum for critique - and I would love any and all feedback.
Pertinent technical details or techniques:
This was shot with a 4 Stop ND filter, on a Sony A7riii, with an 18mm Zeiss Batis Lens. It was shot during late afternoon light. The majority of editing was done in Lightroom, with some final dodging and burning in Photoshop.
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Matt, welcome to NPN! This is my first few weeks here, too, and I have enjoyed the exchange of ideas and conversation I have here.
This is a very nice image to begin. That motion on the water and the subtle S curve on the shore are some great ways to lead the eyes into the image I like seeing that window on the wall and you have done a really great job at the B&W conversion. I do, however, wish the darker stone on the lower left corner is not cut off at the bottom. But it’s more like my OCD than anything else because this is a strong image to begin with.
Welcome to NPN Matt! This is a great first image.
First, I definitely agree with your choice to take it b/w, I don’t know what the colour version looks like but this looks great to me.
The image is well balanced and weighted, tonally and compositionally. However I feel there’s a missed opportunity for a great counterpoint composition, the bright hole in the rock in the upper right contrasts really well with the dark rock in the bottom left but I feel like it just needs a bit more space at the bottom of the frame to really work well.
Great image either way Matt.
Welcome Matt! I really enjoy this image. Along with the @Adhika_Lie, I really enjoy the s curve and movement you captured with the water. I’d like to offer a counter point and add what if you crop in a bit from the left in just until there is no more left rock? I love the background and the contrast of water and rocks in the lower scene and I feel this would make a more to-the-point image? Other than that, I still think the image works out great and was nicely edited! Great job!
Welcome aboard, Matt. I really like this, great sense of motion and a dynamic scene. I might consider a bit of a CCW rotation, as it looks sloped to the right to my eye. Otherwise, it looks really good.
Welcome to NPN Matt! Agree with others, a great first post.
The long exposure has done wonders to the receding water creating flow and movement. The details in the rock are great too. Composition works to with the 2/3-1/3 balance.
Probably a good choice going b&w given your description of the conditions. The only feedback/suggestion I have might be to add some contrast to the upper 1/3, rock and sky. Just a little flat (maybe too strong a word, but lacks contrast, I think.)
Thanks for posting and I hope your first time turns in to more posts and participation!
Nice shot! I love how how the motion of the water leads the eye to the upper left towards the large gap between the rock formations. I really like the look of the foreground rocks with the B&W conversion, especially the darker tones. I might try using a gradient to deepen the blacks in the upper third of the image. It might also be worth experimenting with dehaze and clarity in that section to bring out some of that detail in the clouds. Zoomed in on the image, I’ve also noticed that the sky could use a little spot removal.
Welcome to the site. Hope to see more of your work in the future.
Hi Michael. Love the technical analysis, and you’re spot on. Unfortunately it’s a missed opportunity, because I don’t have any wider shots. But that’s something I’ll keep in mind for the next time I shoot a similar style composition.
Hey Martin. Appreciate that, and I think you may have a good point. What do you think of the attached crop? I’m on the fence, because I feel that the wider shot feels more dynamic, but this new crop is simpler. Tough one.
I’ve also taken your advice on the CCW tilt @Harley_Goldman Good eye!
@Cameron_Miller & @Lon_Overacker Thank you both for the feedback. Going to spend some more time this evening working on your points, both of which I value. Loving the detail of the feedback.
Hey Matt. Cracking first image up here on NPN. I too have just joined, and judging by the amount of feedback on this image, I think NPN is going to be a great place to learn a lot!
I love the B&W conversion. It adds a lot of impact, simplifying the scene and making it all about the shapes. If I were to shoot the scene, I may have tried a lower perspective and try increase the size of the front rocks to juxtapose the hole in the wall a bit more.
Other than that, this is great! The motion in the water moves my eye through the scene well. Nicely processed!
@Andrew_Sentipal Thanks man. I actually also prefer the new cropped version - it’s grown on me.
@mark2 Dude, it’s thank to you I joined. Super stoked to have found a great community, with valuable feedback and critique. Totally, some bigger foreground would add a nice sense of drama. Will definitely keep that in mind on my next trip. Looking forward to seeing your work up here.
