# The Rock

**URL:** <https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-rock/50147>\
**Category:** Image Critiques\
**Tags:** landscape, black-and-white, intimate\
**Created:** [March 17, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-rock/50147 "2026-03-17T12:59:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Todd\_Higgins](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/todd_higgins/32/34926_2.png) [@Todd\_Higgins](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Todd_Higgins)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-rock/50147/1 "2026-03-17T12:59:27Z")

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![The Rock.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/d/b/db0a887ba4803ee11d40d452c8f63210189e14ac.jpeg)

> **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_
> 
> The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

### Description

This large rock in the middle of Sweetwater Creek caught my attention. There it was, just watching the creek pass by. Unlike me, it was in no hurry. I had been rushing around looking for images, and what I needed to do was to stop and just watch. Just like that rock. I needed to be the rock.

### Specific Feedback

Overall composition/Framing. Is this image balanced?

### Technical Details

Canon EOS R5  
1/5 Sec @ f 11  
ISO 100 200mm

Edited in Lightroom  
Sharpening in Photoshop.

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**Author:** ![Susanna\_Euston](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/susanna_euston/32/59261_2.png) [@Susanna\_Euston](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Susanna_Euston)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-rock/50147/2 "2026-03-17T15:59:51Z")

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Hello Todd,

Good job on the shutter speed to capture the water flow. As far as composition, the (beautiful) rock, right smack in the center, doesn’t work well. Instead of watching the water flow by it seems stuck. Placing it off center might have better expressed your goal. It sounds as if you were limited on time. I hope you can visit that location again to “stop and just watch,” and experiment with different points of view, compositions. I look forward to seeing what you create!

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**Author:** ![Dick\_Knudson](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dick_knudson/32/60742_2.png) [@Dick\_Knudson](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dick_Knudson)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-rock/50147/4 "2026-03-17T18:27:03Z")

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My first reaction was similar to Susanna’s; normally I would want to see some water flowing downhill. But after reading your story, maybe plunking it in the center is a perfect representation of your feelings. It is a bit humbling to see a compositional oddity in a photo and realize I did not ask “Why did the photographer give us that oddity/flaw?”

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**Author:** ![Fred\_Lord](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/fred_lord/32/62692_2.png) [@Fred\_Lord](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Fred_Lord)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-rock/50147/5 "2026-03-17T19:20:36Z")

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@Todd_Higgins The composition is excellent in my opinion. The tones are also really good. I can see many different shutter speed and compositional variations possible with this subject and I think you’ve chosen a good one.