The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Another intimate scene of Elakala Falls in Blackwater Falls SP, WV. This was captured the same evening as the two prior posts. For this one I decided to convert to B&W as there was no moss along the back wall in this particular location. It was a very enjoyable evening as we had the pace to ourselves when everyone cleared out around dinnertime. I always find it satisfying when I can come away with some different interpretations of a scene often photographed whether by me or someone else.
Specific Feedback
Does the lack of a heavy waterflow on the lower part of the right side bother anyone? I thought about cropping and making this more of a pano, but decided to see what others thought as I like the stream of water entering the frame in the URC. Anything else you notice please feel free to mention it.
Technical Details
Nikon Z 7, Nikon Z 24-200 @ 200 mm, f 11 @ 1/4 sec, ISO 200, Kase magnetic CPL, cable release & tripod.
Hate to be too hard on you, brother. But this one’s not doing much for me. Your last two Elakala shots were fantastic, well thought out compositions with much visual interest with the rocks and cascades you focused on. I know you put as much effort and thought into this one, too, but there’s not as much visual interest. It’s decent, but not great like those others. JMHO of course.
I would agree with your brother that the other two were more interesting. I have to ask myself how I would respond if I hadn’t seen those first.
On its own, it’s an interesting set of water textures and lines. I think what makes it less compelling is that it’s almost all water, no rock, no other cues. I’m guessing this was a significant zoom, but if you cropped, I would love to see what you cropped out.
I find the top half more compelling, and I think it’s the rock and contrast there,
I wish it didn’t, but I feel like something is off when a corner is more empty like that. I’ve battled this problem before in my own images, because a lot of nice flows are arcs or diagonals, and to include that you end up with a black area. I don’t think it’s a big deal though, and probably doesn’t grab the eye for most.
Many thanks everyone @Michael_Lowe, @Igor_Doncov, @Marylynne_Diggs and @John_Williams for your thoughts on this one. While I too like #'s 1 and 2 more, this one is not to far behind. The first two had a peaceful relaxing vibe and were more about thin veils of water with the rocks and moss acting as a backdrop while this image is more frenetic with the diverging flows of water going here and there taking the viewer around the image. Although I hated to lose that flow of water coming in from the URC I cropped some from the right side; making this more of a pano; to get rid of that area along the bottom right with less water flow. Does that work better?
Mike : Not hard at all. You can’t get a homerun every time; although it would be nice.
Marylynne : The original post is pretty much full frame as I was zoomed out to 200 mm. Here is an image taken a little earlier of the falls just to give you an idea of what they look like.
I think I like the original better than the one just posted, but the lack of water in the lower right never bothered me,
That wider view tells me we can expect more of these water abstracts. What a gorgeous structure with fascinating water flow. I can see why you are numbering these instead of naming them. Keep em coming!
Ed, I like the pano crop. Now I can focus more on that little ledge about 2/3rds up. JMHO of course but I felt the the water entering diagonally from the right added too much tension to the scene.
Thanks for your thoughts @Marylynne_Diggs, @John_Williams and @Michael_Lowe. This is still a work in progress.
Marylynne : I have a couple more, but I do not think they work as well as the first two.
John: My immediate reaction was to say yes, but thought I would check the meta data first. Much to my surprise it was 2023. That means it has been almost three years since I have visited Elakala Falls. I am going to have to remedy that.
Mike: I see what you are saying about that ledge.
Coming back to it, I’m liking the pano crop better too, and that ledge is a big part of it. It becomes the focal point, whereas before there was tension between the two dark areas of rock.
