The Cathedral Mist (+revised)

Image Critiques
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Revised Version

Revision 1 (latest)

Revised version
Revised version2048×1381 1.34 MB

What changed: Detailed response in my follow-up comment in reply below. I did go ahead and use Content-Aware fill in Photoshop to remove the gray branches and some errant sticks. Additionally, and subtly, I also selectively opened the blacks in the dark, Black Oak trunks on either side. To me they seemed a bit “heavy”. But I understand what Kris observed in that the contrast and perhaps clarity of the trees/trunks on either side actually provides some depth and differentiates the background.

Added after receiving feedback from the community.

Original Version

56ZE_0884V2-sharpened.jpg
56ZE_0884V2-sharpened.jpg2048×1381 1.35 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Well, the parade of images from Yosemite continues… there were 7 of us and we’ve yet to see anything from 5… so hold on, I suspect more coming! It was a grand gathering.

This is the very same morning and likely nearly the same timeframe as Steve’s recent - and gorgeous images from the Swinging Bridge Area. I was “stuck” in the El Capitan meadow area at the same time… Yeah, poor Lon…Stuck, meaning, there was no way I was going to leave the area with the misty fog this morning. It ran the length of the valley! @James Lorentson was part of our group and nearby.

Anyway, I got to experience something I had not experienced in all my years visiting the park. I was quite literally at the base of El Capitan on the north side of Northside drive. As the sun began rising over the valley walls striking the tips of El Capitan and Cathedral rock, there was a moment in time where the sunlight was striking somehow, the bottom of El Cap - or at least near the base. Add the morning fog and the area because mesmerizing.

I was in heaven - and no less so than what I expect Steve and John were experiencing.

Specific Feedback

As always, your impressions, comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Here is an example, and I just spoke about this in a comment in another post, that started feeling like I was spending too much time on this one. First, the original color balance was more blue, so really couldn’t settle on what I wanted, ultimately I went a little warmer to match the arriving sun above and around. And I always struggle with greens and yellows.

So specifically, I’m looking for feedback on the processing; colors, saturation and even luminosity. I wanted to emphasize the mist, so some negative dehaze, among other tweeks of whites and hightlights and vignetting. As with many images now and especially from this trip, I had a small opacity Orton level; if anything this really helps boost contrast.

Very curious to learn your general reaction and/or specific suggestions.

Thank you!

Technical Details

Nikon Z8, Z24-120mm @90mm, f/14 .4s iso125, single frame on tripod, probably a CPL
Pretty much full frame with a smidge crop up from the bottom.

2 Likes
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Lon, I really like this scene. The cottonwoods framing the ponderosa pines, the misty fog and beautiful light all came together beautifully. To me the processing looks great, though I also often struggle with greens and yellows.

This was definitely a morning that keeps on giving!

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This is a jaw-dropping scene. Frame it immediately. I think the processing highlights the serenity and the almost tangible mist. To me it looks natural and not blue or having some other cast. The framing is great and reminds me of what I try to do in some backwaters on my favorite river. Without the fog though so there’s that. The contrast level works for me as it’s mostly concentrated where it should be - the closest trees to the camera, the opaque fall off is enchanting. Bravo.

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Holy Carp, Lon! This is likely one the best of your many years of Yosemite images! I’d like to offer one minor fix: Clone out those two light grey branches in the LRC. No other adjustments are necessary, sir. This is simply fabulous!
-P

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Beautiful and. Sublime

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I was waiting for you to post this one. What perfectly natural framing. The moody fog and the orange tee trunks just glow in the background. I agree with @Preston_Birdwell about cloning out the two branches. Sublime.

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Hi Lon,

Not much to add to what others have said. You achieved a dreamy, magical feeling here, and I think that’s what you were aiming for: something akin to what you felt. The processing works wonderfully in my opinion. I don’t use PS, so my skills are limited in terms of layers and opacities, but the Orton effect is “just enough” in my opinion, and the overall impact of the image is fantastic.

ML

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Hi Lon,
Even if this was the only image you came away with from your trip; and I know it is not; I would rate your outing a complete success. The fog /mist has created this beautiful mystical vibe to this scene and I love the framing with the trees as it does give the impression of a cathedral. Your processing with the colors, saturation and luminosity all look perfect for my tastes. My only suggestion would be the already mentioned removal of the two fallen limbs by @Preston_Birdwell and @David_Haynes . This is sublime! Can’t wait to see what else you guys came away with.

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Good God! Lon!

From your previous posts you and the others on the trip made it sound like you had the worse weather anyone could ask for in the Valley. Are you guys kidding around? You had probably the best light and atmospheric conditions of all time in the Valley.

I agree with Preston on this one. Holy Moley, this is just incredible, and I know just where you are standing. The Cathedral Oaks never looked better, ever in all the decades that I have been there, or ever seen from any photograph ever made there. Congratulations on a exquisite photograph.

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Thank you so much for the overwhelming and kind response, @Steve_Kennedy , @Kris_Smith , @Preston_Birdwell , @David_Schoen , @David_Haynes , @Marylynne_Diggs , @Ed_Lowe and @Youssef_Ismail

Yeah, this might be my favorite as well and also might be the shining moment for me of the trip, this glorious morning.

Ok, Ok, Ok. I’ve removed those dead branches. Of course now I see the white-ish one in the same area… This reminds me of one of my sayings I used in corporate world, which is relevent anywhere really: “Just because you CAN do something… doesn’t mean you SHOULD.” I hesitated and ititally decided to leave them. This really is approaching the extent to which I’ll modify a photograph. Don’t get me wrong, I clone something on almost every image… fill in a bright gap in a tree canopy, etc.. Most of the time I say to myself, if I could have moved/removed that twig, weed or little pepple at the time, then it’s ok to remove in post. However, I think those branches are a little bigger and more entrenched inthe scene. But what the heck, it does look cleaner without them! :upside_down_face: :roll_eyes:

Well, Youssef, it might appear that way - and don’t get me wrong, I’ll take a few hours of epic conditions all the time, anytime. But on the flip side what we’ve been saying is also true: Arrived Sunday midday to overcast and didn’t see the sun or even it’s effect until Wednesday morning; clinging fog, drizzle, rain, flat light for nearly 4 days. Oh, a brief 5 min splash of color over Half Dome at sunset one night. Anyway, it is safe to say that we all took great advantage of every moment we had there!

Here’s a funny, if not sad, anecdote to this glorious morning. The light and fog was just starting to dissipate and I was standing near my vehicle getting ready to pack it in. I had moved away from this scene and had photographed another I will post in the near future. A young “touron” wandered by and asked me, “Excuse me, may I ask what you were taking a picture of?” I don’t remember my exact words, but basically said I had not seen light like this in the valley and I was just photographing the light and the trees… His response was: “Why?”

No words for that.

Thanks again everyone! I know you all understand.

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The original poster added a revised version of their image.

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Why was he even there in the first place?

“For indeed, it is not the eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.” Quran, Chapter 22 (The Pilgrimage) Verse 46.

2 Likes
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As George Leigh Mallory said when someone asked him why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, he said, “Because it is there.”

The revised version looks great, Lon!
-P

1 Like
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Such a superb composition using those black oaks to frame the pines. The tunnel effect of the light and the magical fog add oh so much to the beauty here. Outstanding.

1 Like
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HOW did I EVER miss this one until now??? So first, congratulations on the EP! – otherwise I might have missed it completely. I would add a couple of expletives – meant in the very best way – but they would just get deleted! All said above so that would about cover it! Except for one tiny nit – AI didn’t do a great job (as is often the case) and a tiny bit of cloning would fix its fumbles. I always so it on a new layer so I can toggle back and forth and see the inevitable issues. I even hate to mention it but this deserves to be a BIG print and should be 101%!

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Congratulations on the EP. Truly deserved. I didn’t want to comment until I saw it a bit larger. What is interesting to me at least. is that the ‘frame’ seems to have a different color balance than the ‘interior’. And yet that’s what makes this stand out and be different. I guess there was more sunshine back there. Those trees are sunlit where the ones on the side are in shadow. It’s a very unusual light effect. Not much to suggest. I might make the clump of leaves in the upper left corner less cyanish? The leaves on the right are warmer than the left. I suppose that’s because the light was coming from the right.

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Thank you for the EP! Wow, very much appreciated!

Thank you @Diane_Miller and @Igor_Doncov for your additional thoughts and suggestions.

Diane, yeah I honestly was pretty hasty and lazy with the quick clone of the branches and left some noticeable evidence. Should I print this, I’ll be sure and clean it up. I may even decide to leave the scene original as it was (at least as those fallen branches are concerned.

Great points and observations

  • The 255,255,255 frame. I"m a creature of habit and do the same for each image, but you are observant and I might agree that the frame color surrounding the white balance of an image, may or may not mix well, or in some cases emphasize and make an image stand out more. Considerable point to ponder
  • cyan tint of that grouping of leaves. I was aware of this and for some reason I don’t know didn’t address. Perhaps wanting various shades and tones of green, I just left it. But excellent and accurate observation
  • Also, correct the light was coming mostly from the right. I hope to post a couple more from this morning and short span of time that really shows what was happening. And you will see the same light on the image I just now posted.
    Thank you again!