The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Upon arriving in Yosemite proper at the beginning of this month, our first stop was at Bridal Veil Falls. It was a somewhat magical first taste, because the sunlight was playing in the top of the falls and the wind was sweeping the water into these amazing curtains of mist. (I can see where the falls gets its name.) The wind was chaotic, so one moment a veil would form to the right, and then next to the left. It was beautiful.
Specific Feedback
This is just the top of the falls, does it feel cut off? (We were shooting from the road, and so any lower and trees started to encroach.) Shadow detail is really challenging for me on these high-contrast images. I know many like lots of blacks, but I tend to prefer slight shadow detail. I’ve kicked the shadows up a lot here, because the frame tends to change how those shadows are appreciated. Does this look okay to your eye?
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 44.0 mm
1/. sec. at f/16.0 and ISO 64
I love the way you handled the blacks in this image. And the shutter speed is about right (everyone comments on the SS). Nice image. I think you were right to go with the dark sky. The wind must’ve been blowing right to left.
Dear John Williams,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful image. To me it does not matter that the waterfall is cut off. What catches my eye, however, is the odd contrast between the hard transition between black and white on the right side, top of the waterfall, versus the soft transition between black and white on the left side of the waterfall: It is as if the top right side is graphical and two-dimensional, the left side three-dimensional. I reckon that it is a result of the wind coming from the right, but to me the visual expression itself is odd. What I really like about the image is the spray in the lower half of the image and the shadows in the rugged wall to the left of the waterfall. Suggestion: How would it work if you cropped out the upper half, just below the hard transition between the black and white on the right side of the waterfall?
Wonderful John! I think the shadow detail, contrast and b&w processing in general is spot on! Although a subjective matter you could go more Adams dark in the blue sky. I think your processing especially helps emphasize the falls and spray AND how it relates to the rock wall. Going darker like my rendition I think is simply a choice to emphasize the water and not the rock, if that makes sense.
Leo has touched on and aptly described what I also see on the upper right side; the transition between rock and water. It’s a stark line and the perspective is almost an optical illusion. I get the sense that rock wall is in front of the water, rather than behind it. Ok, from this distance, they are essentially in the same plane, but literally the water flows away from, and in front of the rock wall. The contrast and set up of this image gives a different illusion. Leo said it better. ha ha.
Now that’s not a bad thing at all. In fact it’s a big element that makes this image so fascinating!
Again, your processing is excellent. May I ask your method for the b&w conversion?
I love that you included the top of the falls. And that tree up top on the right for perspective. The side light from the right hitting the falls is magical. The swirls on the left side are dreamy and also intense. I love the water hitting the left rock face and wrapping around it showing how hard the wind was blowing. I also like that little bit of light hitting the top of the right rock wall. I see what the others have mentioned about the right rock wall. I think perhaps it needs more contrast to make it more 3 dimensional because, as @Leo_Catana put it, it looks very flat and almost 2 dimensional and it also looks like the upper part of that wall is in front of the water if that makes sense. Really, just adding some blacks and some whites would make it look more like the left rock wall even no light was actually hitting the right wall. An easy fix. Either way, this is a gorgeous image of Bridal Veil Falls.
Excellent question. You are correct on the wind, although it kept shifting direction frequently; it was fascinating to watch it blow back and forth.
Thank you Leo! I think it was more due to the sun was to the right, and so that side of the falls was in deep shadow. I had to open them a lot to get anything over there, but your comment is well taken. I’ll add a version that tries to open it a bit more.
I originally had it darker, but wimped out and backed off. I’ll darken it back in the repost.
This gets back to that Channels palette… (Notice how I carefully used the correct name ) I use those to convert to black and white before making adjustments. I usually use the green channel, but it’s not uncommon that I use a blend of two. (Often the red channel has better sky contrast). There was little color here to start, so I just used the green channel.
It’s really easy to load them. If you select the background layer, you can then click on each of the red/green/blue channels in the Channels Palette to see what you like. If you want to use one, select that channel, then Select All (I use Ctrl-A), copy it (Ctrl-C), then select the RGB channel and paste it (Ctrl-V). This loads it as a new layer above the Background. (Don’t forget to select the RGB channel prior to pasting, or it doesn’t work.)
Hi John,
I absolutely love those veils of mist from the falls as they are being blown across the rock face.The falls do not feel cut off to me and I think your small tweaks in the rework have made an already wonderful image even better. The shadows also look just fine for my tastes. I also like the placement of the tree in the URC as it provides a nice sense of scale for the scene. You guys are on a roll and I hope to see more from your trip. Beautifully done.
) I use those to convert to black and white before making adjustments. I usually use the green channel, but it’s not uncommon that I use a blend of two. (Often the red channel has better sky contrast). There was little color here to start, so I just used the green channel.