What changed: I have noted the critiques and used the new clone tool in PS and it did an amazing job of removing the stray branches on the left edge without introducing any strange artifacts. I also removed one stray branch from the right side that seemed to stick out to much. I burned in the trees on the opposite side of the lake slightly and dodged the dark shadows in the tree on the right edge.
Added after receiving feedback from the community.
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
From my Yosemite trip last month. The day after photographing the Milky Way over Half Dome from Sentinel Dome I spent most of the day driving along Tioga Road looking for High Sierra spring scenes. At the higher elevations spring wild flowers bloom later and for a shorter time. It was mid-morning by the time I arrived at Siesta Lake. I normally do not like photographing in bright sunlight as it is hard to manage the dynamic range needed - this was the way I had to work when using transparency film with only 5 stops of dynamic range. Enter the Digital Camera and things are different now.
What drove me to make this photo was how vivid the green grasses were and how they contrasted with the white clouds and blue sky and then the stillness in the water and the sheer silence as I stood there. A great way to start the day.
Feedback Requested
This scene was made with 6 vertical frames and stitched together in PS. I wanted the tree on the right to act as a visual stopper and then tried for the same with the taller trees on the left. I did not notice the other tree branch creeping on the left edge. Is it too much of a distraction?
I think that it works well Youssef, the vivid green grasses almost serve to compliment the trees as a reflection. The sky is great adding a wonderful contrast colour.
Maybe the frame could be moved in very slightly on the right, and the branch on the left, well now you mention it I cant stop seeing it. I might try to take it out.
Youssef, the greens do have a fine, spring glow. The tree on the left is well disguised in the small version, but quite intrusive in the larger view. It also looks like there are three bits from that same tree intruding into the sky. There’s a forked branch from the tree on the right that also “feels” intrusive. I’m wondering about cropping from both sides. While it cuts off the lake edge on the left, it keeps the bright green grasses and the great blue and white sky, so it feels like it’s still telling the story that you want to tell. Here’s a look where that forked branch on the right does’t feel so intrusive.
Ahhh, Siesta Lake! I haven’t stopped there my last few trips by… I’m gonna have to make a point of it. Lots of photo opps at this location and you’ve created a beauty. And image that really captures the “nature” of the place. Well done Youssef!
As far as the framing elements go, I think the bows on the right edge work well to frame the scene - as was your intention. I think they also help provide depth to the scene with the near/far perspective. I’m on the fence about the unforeseen intruder on the left side. I think an AI removal might be problematic and I’m not sure the crop option is right either. The only think I might try is to simply mitigate/reduce the effect. I cloned out a few pieces sticking in to the sky, but for the rest of the branches/bows I simply dodged and lightened just a little to blend more with the bg trees. Not perfect, but perhaps reduces the presence.
My main feedback is the center area, specifically the forest. A matter of personal choice of course, but I’m think the center is a little bright. I’ve burned them down in the example edit.
Love the scene - brings back some quiet and peaceful memories of this “disappearing pong” - that’s been disappearing as long as I can remember! ha ha.
Very nice panorama. Colors are very clean. Her are also very accurate. It’s been a long time since I was up in that area, but fortunately we have some nice places to go to in Washington state that are similar.
I see you removed some distractions and that really helps the image quite a bit. It’s amazing sometimes that something so small could be so distracting and you might not even notice it except for the revision. It makes for a much cleaner image.
