The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
The actual scene is worthy, I think. The clouds were nice. The midday sun wasn’t the best for drama. Composition is decent. The texture of the fresh snow on the peaks was a bonus.
Creative direction
I guess the idea was to depict something in the “end of the road” sense. I walked out here to get away from the hundreds of tourists clogging the parking lot and visitor center. No one else was around us. This is not a common shot as most are not aware they can walk out here.
Specific Feedback
Aesthetic, Emotional feedback would be lovely. Anything is welcome.
Technical Details
Canon R6 Mk II, Canon RF 10-20 @ 20mm, ISO 100, f/8, EC -3.33, handheld. Processed in PL 9 and Photoshop CC. I shot it as an HDR but this is from the darkest frame only to maintain sharpness.
Description
This is the last segment and exit from the “Old Fall River Road” which is the original road opened in 1920. It’s still maintained as a one-way road to the Rocky Mountain National Park /Trail Ridge Road Visitor Center just below the highest point of the Trail Ridge Road. I should perhaps have had my Fujifilm GF100s along but didn’t. I also probably should have used the higher resolution R5 Mk II as it was in the car. The R6 Mk II does have nice tonal qualities though.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
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Hi Fred,
You already mentioned the midday light wasn’t the best, but I think you handled it very nicely. You have a nice range of tones in this B&W scene and the clouds were certainly a bonus as they add a little drama. For my tastes I could see dodging the darker shadows just a little in the LRC. If you ever go back to this location you might want to stand more to the left and make the road more of a diagonal to take the viewer into the scene rather than just the left half of the frame. This is quite the view; I can see why you were attracted to it.
Fred: One of my favorite places on the planet and I’ve stood where you were many times. I pretty much ditto @Ed_Lowe regarding the deeper shadows but B&W makes this a more intriguing image than the postcard version a color shot would be. >=))>
Thank you to all who replied. I appreciate your viewpoints and suggestions very much.
I see what you mean about moving left. I may have been intimidated by the occasional vehicle coming up the road. There were also people on the hill to the left.
I’ve made some changes including lessening contrast and dodging a bit in the LRC.
It is a very worthy scene, and well-captured for midday light. There is good structure (“bones”) in the image which makes B/W a nice treatment. But I think it would be good to back off whatever step gave the dark halos around the clouds. That is better in the second version but still an issue. It isn’t just contrast but looks like some sort of local contrast processing. The image is strong enough that it could be reduced considerably, for my taste.
Having driven that road several times, you’ve nicely captured the atmosphere. I suggest both somewhat reduced contrast and reducing the vignette across the top and left. The bits of snow on the mountain tops are a nice touch that is hard to get, since they close the road once it gets snowy. I also like the bit of road and car there a bit left and blow the center. That helps tell the story.
The composition is nice indeed, in spite of the harsh mid-day light. But something is going on with the sky and clouds as both @Diane_Miller and @Mark_Seaver pointed out. Whatever processing you used on the sky needs work to bring it back to a more realistic rendition.
I really like the pano format and the contrast in the landscape, but agree with the others that the clouds need to be dialed back. I see a lot of dark halos around the clouds. Ai first I was gonna agree with @Ed_Lowe about moving left. Then I saw the road sloping off to the right with the car and wouldn’t want to lose that, so I changed my mind. I like the composition as is.
I’ve been dealing with some things so it took me a bit to get back to this project. Thank you all for your assistance and suggestions. I went back a bit and redid the sky and fiddled with the masking here and there. Attached is the latest version. There is more snow up there now but we may not get back before the road closes due to weather and the federal shutdown. It’s been crowded up there as they’re not collecting gate fees and the roads are open to everyone.
