The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Technical Help
About This Image
Does this image look too blue, too bright, and over sharpened? It’s somewhat a tongue in cheek question, because I had cataract surgery on my left eye a couple days ago and I’m stunned by the difference.
Cataracts apparently sneak up on you. I knew I was having issues, especially the past few months, but comparing the before and after is pretty amazing. I apologize if I have made misguided critiques.
I had been told to expect changes, but I suspect that we photographers are hyper aware of these things and I’m amazed at the magnitude of the change; it’s wonderful. My right eye is scheduled for surgery week after next, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the world looks like with both eyes corrected. Until things settle down, I’m going to bow out of commenting until I can fully trust what I’m seeing.
This is another photograph from our Yosemite trip, taken from the edge of the road along the Merced River leading into the Park.
Feedback Requested
I realize personal preference varies, but I’m curious how the water texture looks to you at this shutter speed?
Technical Details
Camera: NIKON Z 7_2
Lens: NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Focal length: 105mm
Shutter speed: 1/6s
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 31
(I’ve removed a sliver of rock from the right edge.)
First, glad to hear the cataract surgery went well! And the good news? The colors in this image look perfect to my eyes! Blue? not hardly. Colors/processing look excellent!
Love this image! I have the wider view as you know and I love this more intimate portrait. The shutter speed is perfect, the light is perfect… I can’t think of any nit or suggestion for improvement.
As so often happens, the frothy white-water areas typically get blown out. Well, not here! This is just fantastic!
I’m so glad to hear about the positive change from your surgery! After the other eye is fixed, I suspect it will tough to put your camera down.
I agree with Lon - everything about this photo (exposure, colors, shutter speed, sharpening, composition, processing, etc.) is excellent. I especially like how your rendered the rocks. Well done!
I find a lot of these slow shutter speed river shots get to be a bit predictable. Not so with this one. First, is the colour palette: the greens and golden browns compliment each other beautifully (I’m really not seeing much blue on my monitor). And then there is the composition where the water circles around the boulders which step down so elegantly from upper right to lower left. I have found that something around 1/4- 1/8 sec offers a nice balance between a giving a sense of motion without turning everything into marshmallow, so your choice of 1/6 sec only confirms my preferences. Beautifully seen and executed.
Really outstanding Whitewater image. The diagonal set up really creates a wonderful composition. Excellent movement of the water.
I also had cataract surgery recently and the difference is so dramatic. I’ve been pretty myopic most of my life and this is the first time in probably 65 to 70 years that I haven’t had to wear glasses. The only hassle now are the readers. I still need them for the up, close work and the computer work.
Hi John,
First and foremost; that is great news and I am glad your surgery went so well on your left eye. I am sure your can expect the same results on your right one. The image itself looks to be about as good as it gets. Your SS choice is perfect and has created some amazing details and textures in the water along with that wonderful color. I also quite like those swirls of water cradling the rocks as well as the diagonal placement of those rocks. I could see just a touch more breathing room on the right edge, but that is more of a personal preference rather than a nit. This is beautifully done!
Really wonderful composition John. The flow of the rocks and water around them is great, I think you nailed the exposure perfectly (especially like the water flow over the big rock near the bottom. I also love the tone of the whole image, the color of the water and the rocks are very complimentary. Nothing I would change on this one.
The colors look natural, I do not see any blues that you speak of. The composition is engaging and you chose the shutter speed well. It gives the water the right amount of blur to show its movement while still retaining detail and texture in the water. Nicely done.
I think this looks spot on and I really like how you composed this with the three perfectly placed rocks. I mean placed in the composition not in the literal stream.
Also, I’m really glad your eye surgery went well and I’m sure your other eye will be just as good.
