# The Shape of Basalt - Rework **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, landscape\ **Created:** [June 12, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752 "2020-06-12T20:11:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/1 "2020-06-12T20:11:56Z")
REWORK #1: ![Lassen_McCloud_060720_0169_v2](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/f/5/f510762043044ca9270dd41cd1f33ea5b185bac2.jpeg) ORIGINAL: ![Lassen_McCloud_060720_0169](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/0/c06782d2f7aa760109d6b546a7265e82337569f9.jpeg) The main things that caught my eye were the shapes and cold colors of the eroded rock, broken by the warm tones of the shrub and moss. ### What technical feedback would you like if any? What artistic feedback would you like if any? Any critique welcome. The right side focus isn’t so great - is that too annoying? Overall too busy? EDIT: The rework is closer to the raw file as far as the amount of shadows. I lightened it for the first post, but per Stephen’s comment, I do think going back to the darker look helps the shapes pop out more (which was what I saw in the first place). ### Pertinent technical details or techniques: (If this is a composite, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn) Single frame, a73r, 100-400@202mm, f/8, 1/100s, ISO 500, hand held. ---
**Author:** ![Stephen\_Stanton](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/stephen_stanton/32/575_2.png) [@Stephen\_Stanton](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Stephen_Stanton)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/2 "2020-06-12T20:30:28Z")
Yes, Bonnie, some great muscular shapes here. A very nice composition; I think the image would “pop” more with the blacks and shadows a tad deeper and if the greens were little more saturated. ---
**Author:** ![Brian\_Schrayer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@Brian\_Schrayer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Brian_Schrayer)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/3 "2020-06-12T22:37:27Z")
This is nice Bonnie. The shape and texture of the basalt give the image a nice flow and keep my eye engaged throughout the frame. While I don’t know what is out of the frame on the top I do find myself wishing for a bit more room on the top so that the vegetation is not cut off on the top of the frame. ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/4 "2020-06-13T04:44:50Z")
Thanks, @Stephen_Stanton and @Brian_Schrayer for your comments. Stephen, the original did have deeper shadows, which I lightened for fear of it getting too dark. I went back and turned off the layers where I brought up the shadows/exposure, and I do think that makes the shapes pop out more. Will post that rework. Brian, there isn’t anything more at the top. I deliberately cut it off there. My feeling was to have the shrubs flowing down into the frame. ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/5 "2020-06-13T16:06:46Z")
Bonnie, What a wonderful nature abstract! Quite a bit of a mind-bender actually. At first glance I had a momentary thought that the bottom third was a reflection! Clearly it’s not, but to me I see an implied line about 1/3 the way up from the bottom. Love the shapes of the rocks and the shadows and light play a big role - and for that I prefer your slightly darker rework. This would really go full mind-bender without the vegetation, but I like color to break up the monochromatic look. Just a wonderful little scene. Great eye to frame and capture this. Lon ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_McDermott](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/eva_mcdermott/32/240_2.png) [@Eva\_McDermott](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Eva_McDermott)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/6 "2020-06-14T17:50:25Z")
Bonnie - I don’t find this busy at all and I like what you did with the rework. It gives the scene a richer ambiance. As Lon said, this is a wonderful nature abstract. ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/7 "2020-06-15T17:49:51Z")
Thank you, @Lon_Overacker and @Eva_McDermott. And thanks to the editor(s) for the editor’s pick. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/8 "2020-06-15T19:42:49Z")
Very nice image. It’s interesting how much livelier the plants are in the rework than the original, even though they are exactly the same. I don’t think I would have gone as dark as you did in the rework. The rocks remind me of bones for some reason. Hip bone. Eye sockets (with a bit of hair up top). ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_McGuirk](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ed_mcguirk/32/30542_2.png) [@Ed\_McGuirk](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_McGuirk)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/9 "2020-06-15T19:55:07Z")
Really nice abstract Bonnie. The rework elevates this several notches, nicely done. I agree with @Igor_Doncov, the rocks do look like hip bones and eye sockets. Very cool… Where these rocks sculpted by water, or is this some kind of volcanic rock ? ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/10 "2020-06-15T23:53:07Z")
> [@Ed\_McGuirk](#): > > I agree with @Igor_Doncov, the rocks do look like hip bones and eye sockets. Very cool… > > Where these rocks sculpted by water, or is this some kind of volcanic rock ? Thanks, @Ed_McGuirk & @Igor_Doncov! I, too, thought the main rocks looked like hip bones or eye sockets. This is basalt (a volcanic rock), sculpted by the McCloud River. ---
**Author:** ![Stephen\_Stanton](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/stephen_stanton/32/575_2.png) [@Stephen\_Stanton](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Stephen_Stanton)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/11 "2020-06-17T04:29:13Z")
Just saw the rework, Bonnie…magic! ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/the-shape-of-basalt-rework/14752/12 "2020-06-17T14:16:17Z")
Hmmm. Honestly, my reaction to this image is just the opposite of my reaction to your McCloud image posted a week or so ago. In that image, my comment was something to the effect of it had lots of info but retained a simple, uncrowded look. This image just kind of scrambles my mind and the split in the middle just scrambles it even more. I love certain elements of it, certain shapes or textures, but overall, it’s not one of favorites of yours.