In The Lion's Cave

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
1

_DSC6606-6612_LionsBridge_Redo_4x5CropNPN.jpg
_DSC6606-6612_LionsBridge_Redo_4x5CropNPN.jpg1500×1200 2.68 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Last week a friend who is a volunteer at Castle Rock State Park invited me on an off-trail adventure to an area called the Lion Caves. Its an outcropping of sandstone along a ridge that has several “caves”. One of the outcroppings has the silhouette profile of a mountain lion, which is why I think this area is called as such.

I do not know how to get there again, as I was not allowed to use GPS to mark the location.

We arrived early in the morning while the sun was low and allowed some light to hit the opening of this one cave which was among the largest. Clearly small animals do make this cave their home as evidence of feces and bedding. I don’t know, neither does my friend know, if lions have ever used the caves as shelter.

I made three other photos, which I might post later.

Specific Feedback

First and foremost, does the composition work? I really hope it does, because I don’t think I can try again, unless I ask to go back but I do not want to overextend my welcome to this area as it is not publicly accessible, or knowable for that matter. I have never heard of this outcropping if my friend did not tell me.

The light was bouncing off the varied surfaces and I wanted to highlight the variations on the sandstone, does that work?

Are the colors to vibrant or off the scale?

Technical Details

Nikon D850, Nikon 24mm f/2 MF lens at f11 at 1sec and 4sec, ISO 100

This final rendition is a composite of 5 frames for focus stacking (4sec exposures) and a sixth frame at 1sec for the exposure blending of the background outside the cave. RAW files processed in ACR. The focus stack was done in PS, with marginal results that required that I go in and make manual adjustments. Additional edits with TK Masks and TK Triple plays to bring out all the light variations. It did get quite saturated and I did back off the saturation by 15 points.

Critique Template

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1 Like
2

Youssef, I think the composition is very good. It’s an interesting place. The tones and colors on the inside of the cave work well, although I’d consider curbing the yellows a bit.

The background, particularly at the top, seems oversaturated and somewhat artificial to me. This might be one where the inside and outside need to be separately processed and then blended. I’ve run into a similar issue when taking photos inside cliff dwellings. But that’s just one reaction and I’m often wrong.

3

Nicely composed, Youssef. The cave structure and the light there is very interesting. I agree with Don’s comment about the background.

Perhaps one day you can go back there and explore it more.
-P

4

Youssef, I for one am really enjoying the composition. At first glance the combination of symmetry and the play of light and shadow give the impression that I am looking at a reflection followed by that “aha” moment when I discover what I am really seeing. There is plenty of detail to keep the viewer engaged. As Don pointed out, the background does appear just ever so slightly oversaturated.
I can remember hearing of these caves many years ago, but never had an opportunity to visit them. Thanks for sharing the photo and the story.

5

Very cool and unusual! Definitely works! I think the inside is well processed. There is an off look to the outside, though. It looks like it would be worthwhile to re-process just that part. It feels too bright, saturated and low in contrast, more in the top part than the bottom part. But darker might make it difficult to separate from the cave.

6

What a fantastic subject, well composed. This is a real mind bender Youssef. My mind kept looking for symmetry like a reflection would have. Very cool!

I agree about the background, but totally worth playing with as this is a wonderful image.