The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I found this group of stones in Deadman’s Creek near Sonora Pass one August morning. There was a bit of golden light reflected from the granite peaks that I think complimented the rocks.
Specific Feedback
I thought about using Content Aware Fill in PS to remove the chunk of basalt in LLC, but I wasn’t sure it would work, so I left in. Is that rock too distracting?
Any thoughts regarding color and tonality are always appreciated.
-P
Technical Details
Nikon D 7100
Nikkor 70-200 @ 122mm
F22 @ 1/3s. ISO 100
ACR
PSCC 2024
Neat Image NR
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Preston, I like tight images of natural objects like this one. The main grouping of rocks is balanced in composition and tonality. The flowing water shows your slow shutter speed - I tend to favor 1/4 sec, but that’s purely up to the photographer’s creative intent. The golden hues complement the lighter rocks. To your question about the dark rock in the LLC, have you tried dodging it up somewhat to more closely match the main grouping? I think if you cloned it out the whole image might be thrown off balance, unless perhaps you tightened the crop from all four corners. This is a very nice image.
Preston, a neat scene here. Kind of gave me the feeling of seeing a pod of Pilot Whales bobbing in the water a bit. I might be tempted to CA or clone the dark rock out for another look. May not work but just a thought there. A nice find overall.
The warm light wonderfully softens the hard nature of the granite, and it works so well. Shutter speed is perfect giving just the right amount of dynamic movement to otherwise real stationary subjects. I think you should leave the black basalt in the frame. It balances everything out. From LRC to ULC you have rusty colored corners and then from LLC to URC you go from black to bright, to the heaviness of the black LLC pulling the eye in the same way that the water is moving. It all works perfectly. Very well seen and captured Preston!
I like the image, but I did find the dark rock in the corner distracting. But when I tried to cover it with my hand, I felt that somehow the composition didn’t work anymore. Raising the luminosity of the rock might help, but it could also end up looking a bit unnatural. Its worth a try though
I did dodge the basalt chunk quite a bit before posting the image you see here. After reading the suggestion to raise the luminosity of the dark rock I tried doing so in PS and it simply did not look right to me.
The Sonora Pass area is a mix of volcanic and granitic rock, which is why you see basalt and other volcanic rocks and minerals along with granite crags. The area really is a hidden gem among the greater Sierra.
Great eye to recognize this little cluster of granite; the arrangement among the golden, shimmering creek is very pleasing. Also, terrific job on processing this one (actually, you’re processing in general is always excellent!)
Regarding the darker stone in the corner… Yeah, agree with you and others it’s a bit much to remove. For me it falls in to my frequently used axiom… “If you’re going to include something, include it on purpose.” In other words, it’s a conscious decision to include, either in the field during capture, or afterwards and deciding on cropping. Speaking of which, I think this feels a little tight, but then I don’t know what’s outside the frame and I suspect your crop is due to that.
Hi Preston,
This is not a wow image, but it does have a quiet beauty to it that I find very appealing. I quite like the subtle soft light along with the grouping of those four granite boulders. Your chosen SS also works very nicely here. Like everyone else, I am not sure what to suggest regarding that black basalt rock. I think you need it in the LLC so the space would not be empty. Maybe raise the luminosity as some have suggested.
There are so many great aspects about this picture. Sierra granite is so beautiful but it seems to be particularly beautiful submerged, where it forms colored shapes. The gold/copper color splashes near the bottom are wonderful as well. I guess an image either clicks with you or it doesn’t. This definitely does it for me because I’ve spent many wonderful weekends in my youth wading such places in search of trout. Even though the ss is 1/3 second there isn’t that wispy look to the water. Personally I like that.
