The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was photographing a series of cascades near Sonora Pass one August day and decided to zoom in to this nice little detail. The cascade curtain is a little more than a foot tall, hence the post title.
-P
Specific Feedback
I wanted to retain the cool color scheme. Is it too cool, i.e. blue?
Any other thoughts you may have will be appreciated.
Technical Details
Nikon D7100
Nikkor 70-200mm @200mm
F22 @ 1/15s. ISO 100
Minimal processing in PSCC 2024: A TK Darks mask and TK Make it Glow action, plus some burn and dodge.
Neat Image NR
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Love this intimate view of these cascades; great job seeing and framing this. The cool tone? Works for me! I’ve long since realized when direct sun isn’t present, there tends to be a bluer color balance.
The shutter speed on the main cascade makes for a very nice, natural flow; yet it’s also fast enough to get wonderful texture and details in the water - or “fireworks” as Michael called it (great description!)
What I find most unique and engaging, is the taller splash? or concentration of water flow on the left. Not sure how to describe that or what to call it, but the end result is rather cool, and unique. To me, it’s almost like, “what the heck?” Is that splashing over a piece of wood caught in the rocks, or hitting a rock directly?
No nits or suggestions really. Well, my cynical eye has spotted a few dust bunnies - visibile in the tall cascade on the left. But no one else will likely notice and certainly hardly worth mentioning. Other than that, I suppose you could selectively dodge either the tall cascade on the left, or the main horizontal cascade central to the image.
Preston, an excellent closeup of this small cascade. The large fan in the center is obviously the main focus here IMO. Only thought for change is lifting the middle of the curve a bit on exposure and possible warming. But as always, once the composition and focus are correct all other aspects are personal tastes…
Hi Preston,
First off I love the title! This is certainly an intimate look of a beautiful small cascade. Your chosen SS works perfectly and has created some wonderful details and textures in the water. The blue tones look fine to me; just as I would expect them to look in the shade. All that water turbulence on the left side has me wondering what exactly is the cause for that. My only suggestion I have would be to lighten the image just a little as it looks to be just a tad underexposed. Great eye to spot the potential and isolate this scene.
@Paul_Breitkreuz and @Ed_Lowe : I thought about raising the exposure but when I did, the lovely textures in the water below the cascade started to blow out. I appreciate your idea, so perhaps I’ll try a different tac.
@Lon_Overacker, Michael and Ed: That splash to left is caused by a little lip of rock that catches the flow and directs it upward. I had to look at another image of these cascades taken when they were much drier to figure out why this was happening. That little splash does add a nice touch.
-P
This is a really greatphoto as is. The composition is amazing…your eye capturing this, or perhaps cropping it out of a larger photo, is fabulous. I think the most amazing thing about the photo is that your shutter speed of 1/15 second is perfect. Just the right amount of detail that avoids that soft fuzzy blur that seems to be required now in moving water photos. Well done!
@Tony_Siciliano: Thanks, Tony. This is an independent exposure, not a crop. I chose that SS for precisely the reason you mentioned. I wanted texture in the splash on the left and in the water in the FG.
