Lon's Wall

Image Critiques
, ,
1

Lon's Wall
Lon's Wall1440×1750 1.25 MB

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive

About This Image

In September of 2014 the Veterinary Dental Forum was held near Palm Springs, California. I’ve been riding my bicycle down the Pacific Coast in stages (Slowly. Washington was in 2014 and Oregon in 2018), and decided to use the excuse to ride the Southern California coast. That meant I’d be driving instead of flying, so I took a look at the NPN Users Map to see if I’d be driving by any members.

I found I’d be driving right by @lon_overacker, and having admired both his photography and his leadership on NPN I thought I’d reach out and see if he was interested in getting coffee or lunch together. Lon was all for it, so we set a plan. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances that didn’t work out. However, in our conversations I mentioned that I’d never been to Yosemite as a photographer. (I spent one day in Yosemite when I was a senior in high school as an add-on to a leadership conference, but at that stage in my life I was far more worried about my hair than photography.) Lon offered that if I ever made it down that way he’d be happy to show me around, and that planted the seed for the trip that several of us have been posting pictures from.

@steve_kennedy and I carpooled down from Washington together, and we met Lon for dinner the evening before heading into the park. Lon offered to caravan to Yosemite the next day, and to show us a favorite spot or two on the way to the park. One of our stops was at the becoming famous “wall” that Steve recently posted a picture from. It’s just a cut along the road for probably a hundred yards, or so, but man is it an intimate/abstract photographer’s delight. I think we literally could have spent four to six hours there if we didn’t have to worry about checking in to our campsites.

I’ll probably posted a few photos from here, and a few more from a second cut a little farther up the road, but here’s a first one. I really like “wall clinger” vegetation, and this little guy was doing his best to find a place in this world.

Feedback Requested

I realize you can’t see what is beyond the edges of the photograph, but how does the balance of the composition look? There was more good stuff on the left, but I didn’t want the plant to be too close to the right edge. (Left of this was not as attractive, because the stepping stone of the basalt stopped.) The colors are really rich when you are there, as you can see in Steve’s photo. Does the saturation look okay?

As always, all thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Technical Details

Camera: NIKON Z 7_2
Lens: NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Focal length: 200mm
Shutter speed: 1/100s
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 1600

1 Like
2

John, I’m a sucker for subject matter of this sort. It’s well composed. The saturation looks fine to me. No nits to share. If I’d taken this I’d be very pleased.

One of my daughters lives in the same city as Lon and I’ve been toying with the notion of making a trip to Yosemite while visiting her. The photos you guys have been posting make the idea very appealing.

3

I have a series of abstracts which Anil Rao made that I’m pretty sure came from this very wall. I think it’s the best work he ever did. Much of my inspiration came from images when I photographed the rocks in Alaska. If you shoot that wall at a very close range it takes on a new and different meaning.

I used to drive by that wall many times on the way to the park and always wonder how it could be photographed. That was before my introduction to NPN.

1 Like
4

John,

First of all, thank you so much for the kudos and shout out. Of course none of this would have happened if you hadn’t reached out to me nearly 2 years ago! I’m so glad you did and will be forever grateful!

Now, as to “Lon’s Wall,” … I give you,

And Igor, I’m glad you brought this up because I’m quite certain it was Anil’s work that drew me to this location as well. It’s one thing to be pointed to a location, but it’s another thing to be inspired to create from that location. Anil did that for me as well. For John, I appreciate the reference to “Lon’s Wall.” Only fair for me to give credit and call it “Anil’s Wall.”

Sorry, I digress… John, this is a fantastic image from this wall. First, the colors, saturatin and processing in my mind are spot on perfect. I look at your image and I think that is exactly how it looks when standing there.

The added bonus is the inclusion of the small, tenacious plant sprout out from just a crack in the wall. Yeah, of course there is more to the left… and to the right… and above… and below… you’ve composed this beautifully!

I have no nits, suggestions and wouldn’t change a thing. So glad you found, crafted and posted this!

Thank you for everything!

ps. @Don_Peters - We’re going back in November! I’ll send you a DM!

1 Like
5

When we got out of the cars and initially surveyed the wall, @Lon_Overacker said “Whose the one NPN photographer that comes to mind when you look at this?” I thought a second, and answered “@Igor_Doncov?” Lon said, “Yep!”

6

Truth. And you have an upcoming image post (I hope) that will speak to this.

1 Like
7

Hi John,
I find this intimate scene to be quite fascinating. You have filled the frame beautifully with a myriad of shapes, textures and colors and I love the plant clinging tenaciously to it’s foothold on the rock wall. This wall looks to be full of varying possibilities for compositions so I am looking forward to seeing what else you captured. I do remember some wonderful scenes from @Lon_Overacker from this area. Beautifully done.

1 Like
8

Not sure how I missed this one John. The saturation is exactly as the wall appears in real lie. The textures are just incredible too. The small plant gives it a little bit of scale and shows the tenacity needed to survive with little soil. The composition works well for my tastes. I also like that you facing the wall head on but at a slight angle providing some shadows and highlights and I like the angle. This wall is an area near the park that just keeps giving. I’d love to see what @Igor_Doncov could come away with.

9

John, this is excellent. The wall without the tree would make a fine abstract with it’s mix of nearly horizontal cracks and vertical color streaks. That little tree adds special interest. Looks like a wall hanger to me.

10

This is beautiful.
Beautiful composition. I really like the plant’s position in the frame.

11

John: I think if I was at this wall I might never leave. What an incredibly target rich environment. All the previous kudos are well deserved. For me the little shrub(?) is the icing on the cake. Such a hard place to set down roots and yet it found a tiny foothold. Just a marvelous subject rendered superbly. >=))>

12

Thank you @Don_Peters , @Igor_Doncov , @Lon_Overacker , @Ed_Lowe , @David_Haynes , @Mark_Seaver , @joaoquintela , and @Bill_Fach !

I highly recommend it! I’ve been reading with sadness how snarled Yosemite has been recently since they abandoned the reservation system. We were fortunate to not fight many huge crowds. That may have been another blessing of the moody weather we encountered. The good news is you won’t fight any crowds if you stop at The Wall!

I sure hope you wander back by some day. I’d love to see images from here with your take on them.

No, no, thank you sir!!