The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
I’ve been gone for a minute, it’s my first post in about a year or so.
Some shit went down. I did try to photograph, but it was always catch as catch can.
This was sort of my first on-purpose photo outing for a long time. I’m not very good at grand landscapes, so maybe let me have it but also go easy because I’m soft and out of shape.
I don’t really love the way the foreground has the open dark space on the bottom right, but it was a giant crack in the rock, and if I went back far enough then it was too far away/too much foreground. I couldn’t take a step to the left, and to the right the crack was still there just in a different place. But at least I do like how it opens up to the canyon.
Feedback Requested
I’d appreciate feedback on whether the technical choices support what I was trying to express.
I think the thumbnail looks a little darker than what I see in LR.
Welcome back, Julie. I like the darkness of most of the canyon with the gentle light along the top. I think the dark cleft can be relieved a bit with some gentle adjustment and with that absolutely gorgeous leading line to the tree in the upper right, I thought it deserved just a touch more presence. I took the liberty of downloading your image and selecting each of those two areas. I just raised the exposure of the tree the slightest bit to show some of the structure in it-just a hint. In the dark cleft, I used a curves adjustment and just brought the darks end point up a tiny bit to make the near end blend a little more with the foreground. The second half looks like it’s just very dark rock or stains and I didn’t try to bring out any detail in it. I don’t know if this still fits with your vision, so take it for what it’s worth.
Thank you, Dennis, I think that works well and I will take that suggestion! I had already brought up the tree a touch, but totally good to know I can take it a notch further.
Hi Julie! I’ve also not been shooting much recently on popped on to NPN for the first time yesterday in months. I do like this image of your though - especially the curvy snaking line of the rock feature in the center of the image. Of course the soft directional light is very beautiful as well.
Ditto on the Welcome Back! You’re not alone when you find yourself away from NPN… and for those like me who stray once in a while - it’s always for good reason and little to do with NPN! And so you’ll always be welcome here!
This is a grand landscape! There is much to explore and enjoy here. One of the most pleasing elements of this is what I first noticed, and that is the glow on the tops of the formations. You didn’t mention time of day, but I want to say this is immediately after sunset. This isn’t the Sierra Nevada mtns (duh), but this image does remind me of the term and condition of “Alpen Glow”, I think first termed by Galen Rowell? The light is beautiful on those formations.
IThe composition is excellent as well with a good balance between the foreground, the main canyon formations and the lovely pastel sky up top.
I think the edit from Dennis is just what the doctor ordered. He addressed the concerns I was going to address.
Beautifully framed and captured. Hope to see more from you in the coming days, weeks and months!
Thank you for the kind welcome back, Lon!
I did the changes that Denis ordered, I didn’t post it again because it ended up looking so similar, so I guess everyone has the idea!
It is literally a “grand” landscape; the area is called “Little Grand Canyon” and is not too far away. I’ll be making many more getaways there. It was part of a trip planned a couple years ago that I had to cancel because of some family emergencies. So finally a year and a half later, I made it.
And yes, you are correct, the image was taken just after sunset.
Julie: Me too on welcoming you back and thanks for a look at a really special place. For me the FG is generally a bit too dark so I lifted the shadows globally to tease out a little detain in the dark chasm and make the tree a touch more prominent. Again, glad you’re back and also good for you that you got to return to this place. >=))>
Thank you, Bill! Honestly, that’s more what it looks like in my LR, I think the compression really darkened the image quite a bit here, especially the shadows/foreground. So much so that when I uploaded it, I wondered if I had accidentally uploaded an unedited version.
I will print it later to get the full experience of the luminance just to make sure I’m not being tricked by my monitor!
Hey, Julie – I’ll add my welcome back!! I’ve missed your posts! I can’t say I have any complaints about the original, but do like the idea of pulling out a bit more dark detail in the one dark cliffside and the two biggest trees. That’s easier now in the age of better NR.
We’re all used to “grand canyons” but this one does give me a wonderful sense of depth, probably from the complexity of the various elements. Does look like a great place to return to!
