The Merced, at Happy Isles +Repost!

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
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Repost:

52D0566HC2-npn
52D0566HC2-npn2298×1617 1.25 MB

Original:

The Merced, at Happy Isles
The Merced, at Happy Isles2298×1617 1.25 MB

Update: Wow, thank you so much for the comments about the water. Ya know, it’s not really about what shutter speed one prefers, if the water’s silky or has more texture… I think it’s relative to each situation and personal preference for a particular time and situation. But there’s at least 2 lessons here for me out of this. The first 1. The great VALUE of critiquing and offering suggestions on our work. I may not have ever gone back to improve, or even try to improve, but thanks to valuable feedback and opinions we have a chance to make our images better. And 2. the value of the creative process.

I’ve come to really enjoy working on my images, trying to make them “the best they can be.” Of course, being out in nature, the great outdoors and experiencing the moment is the big reward and what I enjoy the most. But after the fact, there is great satisfaction in creating a final work.

So back to the image. I went back to the Raw images. I had just 3 exposures of this exact scene (without moving or zooming…) 2 of them at 1.3/1.5 seconds, and 1 other at 1/4 of a second. Not sure why I never opened the faster shutter speed version in ACR… but am I glad I did. I was amazed how the shorter ss actually revealed more area for the golden light of the out-of-sight-granite-wall-of-Glacier Point… to reflect in the river. How did I miss this? In fact, it is this reflected light that draws me to this part of the Merced in the early morning - year after year.

So… since I was generally pretty happy with my original processing, I didn’t feel much like redoing the entire image again… so I blended the water of the 2nd image with my original image stack. Fewer adjustments and of course the alignment was no problem. And here is where the creative license comes in… I didn’t just blindly replace one river for another. I blended, by painting on a mask. Upstream ahead and left of the oak, as well as around its base, I blended the longer, original water a little bit with the 2nd exposure. And because it’s farther away, I’m hard pressed to notice any difference in the water… the lower 2/3 to the right of the tree is almost all the 2nd exposure, although I played around with the painting to maximize the reflection areas. I also CA-cloned that little spit of water in front of the rock in the LRC.

So the jury is still out, but I know for me, I’m happier now with the rework. thank you again!

A scenic captured at Happy Isles on my recent trip to Yosemite. Pretty conventional, might even say this is “pedestrian” as we sometimes label things. Sharing mostly for the beauty and peace I find in Yosemite - despite the reality how overrun the park seems to be (and is) these days… This is one place however that for a couple hours in the early morning, you can have the place completely to yourself.

Been watching this black oak succumb to time over the years as it’s lost some limbs; but still I’ve always liked how it leans over the river and anchors the scene.

Thanks for looking and any comments.

Specific Feedback Requested

As always, any/all feedback and suggestions welcome; subject, comp and of course processing.

There are numerous layers on this one addressing, color, sat, luminosity, masked for targeted things, etc. etc. I enjoy processing images and making these “the best they can be,” but some times it’s easy to over-do things. I just want this to look good… Let me know how this comes across.

Technical Details

Nikon D800E, 28-300mm @44mm, iso 100 f/22 @1.3s. Single image, full frame. Some CA-cloning of some errant branches at the bottom.

2 Likes
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Pedestrian it may be, but it is still lovely. Typically I prefer a slightly faster shutter speed with images like this but given all the detail and movement in the background this works very well. The Black Oak’s diagonal thrust gives the image a nice touch of dynamism. The lighting is perfect. Overall, with the way the boulders layout, the image has the feel of a Zen garden. Very nice.

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A lovely scene - it has an interesting contrast between the rushing water and the flat light on the soft green trees. Your processing is invisible, not overdone at all.

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Excellent, Lon. This is masterfully done. This has an Ansel Adams look to it in subject and in presentation, except that it’s in color. I, too, would have chosen a faster shutter speed but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and this water looks really well done. There is enough tonal and color variability in it that it holds its own in terms of interest. The rock and the moss in the lower left appear to have a splash of sunlight and that’s a source of interest. It’s testament to AA how he repeatedly showed the awe and beauty of the natural world. I think you’ve done the same here.

PS. I don’t find this mundane at all.

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Thank you @Kerry_Gordon , @Bonnie_Lampley and @Igor_Doncov for your comments! I’m glad this comes across a little better than just an ordinary landscape - well, I guess I shouldn’t knock myself, but let’s just say this isn’t unique or extraordinary; and of course it doesn’t have to be.

Appreciate the comments on the water. In fact it’s caused me to go back to my originals to see what I had and what I could do to improve this. I’ll be putting up a repost here shortly with some further explanations of what I came up with. So thanks for the motivation to improve this!

Thank you Igor. Kind words and I appreciate the reference.

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May I make a suggestion. Give this more time before deciding whether the rework is an improvement. I find that I keep changing my mind for weeks. Right now you have added information to the water and that seems like a good idea. Usually when I make such changes I become focused specifically on my changes rather than the changed whole new picture. This focus I think often blocks the broader vision. Personally I see two different images, each having it’s strong points but very difficult to compare and say one is better than the other. One thing I quickly noticed is that one image is bluer than the other. It’s as though the white balance was changed for the entire image even though only the water became more blue. It’s subjective whether you like it cooler or warmer.

One of the positives in the original is that the silky water being brighter produced greater overall contrast in the image and the rocks had a greater presence. Actually, I’m not sure about this statement entirely. The rocks don’t have a greater presence but I do enjoy some of that pure white.

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I’m late here, but have to chime in with a WOW! Nothing mundane at all here! If it has been done a thousand times, the water was unique each time and for me this is SO about the water, with the trees getting best supporting actor. I’m delighted at the sophistication of the blending, which certainly makes it a unique piece of art – and one subject to almost infinite malleability. I think the repost is beautifully balanced and reflects so much thought and feeling.

I love the idea that the paint never dries!

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I really kike the first version because there’s more texture and colors in some areas of the river. The second version is pretty good, but I do prefer the increased texture of the water in the first version. Comp is perfect and hopefully you will get this one on the wall…Jim

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Thanks again for the comments. Much appreciated!

Love this! What a great quote - I will add this my photo quote lexicon! Thanks Diane for your comments!

@Jim_Zablotny , thanks for your vote of confidence on the original! A good reminder that just because “improvements” is a subjective term and just because the OP makes improvements, or some are suggested, doesn’t necessarily mean the original wasn’t any good to start with… :slight_smile:

Thanks Igor, sage advice. Keen observations on the blue. I posted knowing the water - and most especially the rocks, were much bluer than original. I think I may target the rocks to reduce the blues there.

As I mentioned, IMHO, “improvement” is a relative and subjective term. My edits may or may not have been an improvement, but all I’m claiming is that I like the rework… :smile:

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Lon,

At first I did not notice any real difference between the the original and the repost until I read your description of what you did. The golden light in the water is so subtle, and barely noticeable in the small versions. You really need to see this full size to appreciate the subtleties. And all this because you went back to look at a slightly longer exposure. It reminds me of when we used to look at all of our transparencies on a light table. You might have taken several exposures of the same scene with slightly different settings. You carefully examined each one with excruciating detail because the resulting scan, sometimes very costly, was crucial to the final print, and you wanted the best of all exposures. I find that I still do that with the digital files now, I look at each and everyone before choosing. And like what you did with this photograph, we can now easily combine the best features of each exposure into a final signature piece.

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I prefer the repost. It has a softer, more painterly feel to it and the yellows that were brought out in the river are exceptional. I find the water in the original nice and had it not been for the repost would likely have never given the water a second thought, although I do typically prefer more detail in moving water shots, but when compared side by side the repost just shines. It’s not a subtle difference either. There is much less contrast in the repost which makes it easier for the viewer to navigate the scene without getting blocked up in those water highlights and there is so much more interesting light in the repost. I love that old oak hanging on for dear life while the Merced tried to take it down. By the way, there is nothing mundane about this scene at all. I find it really inviting and it makes me want to be there so bad. I have not been to Yosemite for 2 years now and boy, do I miss it. Thanks for posting this Lon. Oh, and @Diane_Miller, I just love your comment about paint never drying! Love it and so true.

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Thank you @Youssef_Ismail and @David_Haynes for your comments. Much appreciated.

So true Youssef about review ALL the images… I know I find myself often discounting a whole series because the thumbs didn’t grab me. But reviewing later it’s often a treat to go back and find images that are worth the effort. Was a little different with the large format as often there was only ONE slide to choose from… :slight_smile:

David H, thank you so much. I’m glad you notice and appreciated the lighting and color in the river. It’s been attraction for me at this location ever since I’ve been visiting this area.

BTW, you’re probably lucky you haven’t been to the Valley in the last couple years - at least in terms of the visitor experience. It’s been pretty ugly and crowded with construction, burn piles, dead/down trees… but of course there is always peace and beauty there regardless…