30 minutes later - the original photo I posted titled Golden View
Critique Style Requested:Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
So here is a series of B&W photos from Tunnel View in Yosemite. Many of you suggested that my post of Golden View should be in B&W. For about an hour before I was taking many exposures as the clouds, fog in the valley, and color in the sky changed. The first three photos lacked any color so I naturally thought convert to B&W. But the fourth one had some good color coming through so I kept it in color. Here is what I had from that morning that I kept and now all in B&W.
Specific Feedback
Which of the 4 photos has the best overall composition, (well they are all basically from the same spot and only the vertical is a different composition, but the sky and fog did change over time).
Technical Details
Nikon D850, Nikon 50mm f/1.8 MF
Photo 1: f8 at 1/60 sec ISO 100
Photo 2: f8 at 1/60 sec ISO 100
Photo 3: f8 at 1/60 sec ISO 100
Photo 4: f8 at 1/125 sec ISO 100
Critique Template
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Hi Youssef, All four of these are lovely, but I prefer the first. With the fog as an accent, the really nice mid tone detail you have brought out really gets a chance to shine through. Marvelous stuff!
Hi Youssef,
Hard to pick a favorite as all four are amazing scenes, but after going back and forth several times I am going with # 4. I like the sky better as I feel the clouds add a bit more drama and I like the placement of the sections of fog as they seem to be spread out across the image better. Bottom line is that you can’t go wrong with any one of them. It had to be wonderful to see this unfold first hand.
I like the first one best because I prefer the B&W treatment and because the clouds on the Valley floor are more continuous, making a line into the heart of the scene.
The conversions work very well Youssef; I believe I prefer these to the color versions, although I would have to say slightly. I really like that vertical; I think that is a very strong composition and the closer view of the trees in the valley floor is a treat. Of the horizontals, that last one is my favorite because I like the sky more in that one. Lovely takes on this icon; those clouds really cooperated.
Hi Youssef, I really like all four images and the B&W conversions. I think number 4 is my favorite. These images have an Ansel Adams vibe to me. Well done.
Youssef, all four look very good and going to b&w has let you bring out the contrast better. I too like #4 the best, largely because it shows much more detail in the valley and in the sidewall in the middle right. #1 is my second choice, but wish that the details in the valley trees and ridge behind Halfdome showed more detail. The vertical is a good look at El Capitan as opposed to seeing the whole valley.
This is a beautiful composition and the black and white conversion is very nicely done and wonderfully appropriate to the image and locale. If I had my druthers, I would choose a combination of number one, which I feel is the most realized version overall but blended with the sky from version four. But if I’m picking just one, I’d go with the first version.
My one nit is the haloing along the ridge line, which is likely due to added contrast. It detracts from the image because it makes it look almost pasted on. That being said, it is a problem easily fixed. In Ps use the clone tool and shift it from “normal” to “darken”. Then just set the clone tool slightly above the ridge line edge and with your brush set to about 80%, just paint along the edge and it will fill in the halo without effecting the darker rock.
