# Rocks, Light, Water **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** abstract\ **Created:** [May 10, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233 "2024-05-10T17:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/1 "2024-05-10T17:34:32Z")
![Yosemite_112422_0047-Enhanced-NR copy.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/b/cbaf0733c42ce989570d1889c2434a911c74aa83.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Initial Reaction_ > > Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression. ### Questions to guide your feedback Does this invoke an emotional response or is it mainly an aesthetic reaction to the strong graphical shapes? ### Other Information _Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is._ ### Image Description Wandering along the Merced River in Yosemite in mid-day, the light is harsh on the water and rocks, even in late fall. The strong contrasts created by the bright light can be eye catching, though. I spent some time with the little graphic scene. ### Technical Details ![Screen Shot 2024-05-10 at 9.37.25 AM](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/3/3/336f73b42f7d62263dbc2026a2ad13bf2083e380.png) Cropped to a square, run through ACR denoise, targeted exposure adjustments through dodging/burning. ### Specific Feedback Do the proportions of the various shapes look ok? Is there too much of the reddish boulder? * * * ### Critique Template Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas. - Vision and Purpose: - Conceptual: - Emotional Impact and Mood: - Composition: - Balance and Visual Weight: - Depth and Dimension: - Color: - Lighting: - Processing: - Technical: ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/2 "2024-05-10T21:06:26Z")
“An aesthetic reaction to the strong graphical shapes.” This. It’s very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![linda\_mellor](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/linda_mellor/32/15806_2.png) [@linda\_mellor](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/linda_mellor)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/3 "2024-05-11T13:46:14Z")
My first thought was curious and then appreciation for the graphic nature, Bonnie. The angle of the light and the formation of the rocks create a pleasing composition. Nicely seen for sure. Ok, Bonnie, just read your description. Looks like you have perfectly captured what you were after. Great shot! ---
**Author:** ![Alfredo\_Mora](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/alfredo_mora/32/42826_2.png) [@Alfredo\_Mora](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Alfredo_Mora)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/4 "2024-05-11T14:29:41Z")
Bonnie, for some reason my mind saw a pair of planets. The bright specks in the dark water appeared like stars. Quite an engaging image! Then I noticed the geometric shapes and lines. ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/5 "2024-05-11T23:45:39Z")
Thanks, @Don_Peters, @linda_mellor, and @Alfredo_Mora. Planets are an interesting take, Alfredo - that never occurred to me! ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Muller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_muller/32/78096_2.png) [@Mark\_Muller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Muller)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/6 "2024-05-12T01:18:57Z")
I love the mystery of this image, Bonnie. I looked and looked and have a hard time understanding what I’m looking at I. The dark lower part of the frame. All I can see is a field of pinpoint stars in the black of outer space! I love the abstractness of this. ---
**Author:** ![WillR](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/willr/32/58261_2.png) [@WillR](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/WillR)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/7 "2024-05-12T12:17:48Z")
At first I tried to understand what I was seeing, and then I stopped and just viewed it as an abstract. I agree with @Alfredo_Mora , the two rocks on the left and right look like the surfaces of planets (maybe Earth on the left and Mars on the right). Nice work. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Williams](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ed_williams/32/65698_2.png) [@Ed\_Williams](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_Williams)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/8 "2024-05-18T16:09:59Z")
I agree with the others on this image Bonnie. It looks like a space shot with planets and stars and light coming through. Very interesting piece. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/9 "2024-05-21T19:42:29Z")
I have looked at this several times. I like it very much but I’m not sure why. I guess I like the combination of shapes and colors, and textures. I’m glad you decided to not remove the bubbles on the surface. Well, maybe it’s best to take it apart. I like that black edge near the bottom as it comes to the green water. That’s my favorite part. I also like the large boulder on the left for it’s color but mostly for the texture. I guess that’s the ‘moon’ part of the image. I like the brown rock for it’s color. Overall, I like the image for its liquid mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/10 "2024-05-22T17:44:23Z")
Thanks, @Mark_Muller, @WillR, @Ed_Williams, and @Igor_Doncov. > [@Mark\_Muller](#): > > All I can see is a field of pinpoint stars in the black of outer space! Cool - I always like getting something spacey in a photo. 😉 > [@Igor\_Doncov](#): > > I like that black edge near the bottom as it comes to the green water. Yes, that is certainly the most striking line in the frame. I also like the subtle light reflections where the gray and brown boulders touch the water. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/11 "2024-05-22T18:00:23Z")
I have read somewhere that when we look we are attracted to hard edges in paintings most of all. They discovered this by recording the location and eye movement of viewers of a painting in a museum. The eye goes from hard edge to another. ---
**Author:** ![beth\_young](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/beth_young/32/10817_2.png) [@beth\_young](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/beth_young)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/12 "2024-06-01T21:43:32Z")
Hi Bonnie! I’m compelled to keep coming back to this image, I love it so much. This is so nicely seen. I wanted to share that this image reminds me very much of the work of an accomplished fabric artist in my community, Merle Axelrad, who creates giant canvases of rocks and water out of fabric collage. The detail and textures of the rock, the quality of the light and the reflections in the water are just lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/rocks-light-water/41233/13 "2024-06-02T20:23:17Z")
Hi Beth - Thanks! And thanks for pointing me to Merle Axelrad’s art. Holy Cow! It is amazing. Looking through her website, I checked out the Rocks and Water collection. She has one that looks a lot like mine here (or more properly, mine looks like hers!). BTW, I enjoyed your recent show at Viewpoint, with Chuck K & Michael G, and heard your talk at the reception. Your work is certainly inspirational. 🙂