The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I hope you guys aren’t getting tired of all of the Yosemite images from our NPN trip recently. This image exemplifies the conditions we had for the entire trip with the exception of the morning of departure. In fact, this is much clearer than most of the trip. What the conditions provided was very soft and diffused light for the whole trip when it wasn’t raining and a tremendously moody atmosphere.
Specific Feedback
El Capitan on the left was completely obscured and not included in this scene. Does it matter that it’s not in the frame?
Is Bridal Veil Falls too centered?
Could this be more of a pano with a crop from the top?
Technical Details
Z8, 24-120mm lens @ 62mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/8th of a second, tripod
Looking at the pile of images I have, I share that sentiment. I haven’t even started on the ones I took on the drives to and from Yosemite.
This is a wonderful take of the iconic view, and I think it’s just fine that El Cap isn’t included; that allows Bridal Veil .to fully be the star of the show.
My favorite part of this is the way the clouds are like drapery over the scene, and I think the 1/3 clouds and 2/3 land is a perfect ratio. The cloud texture in the upper left is essential, and because it is there I definitely wouldn’t pano crop; the clouds are a big part of the story. (I downloaded this and played with crop options, and none were as good as your original.)
A tiny thing you might fiddle around with is dropping the luminosity of the llc cloud even a little more, to help the eye flow past it to the main drama.
David, this is a fine “almost” iconic view. I say almost because it’s missing El Capitan. It looks great. I like how the mountains slope down from the right and disappear into the clouds. The clean look at Bridalveil (I think???) adds a lot. You’ve got good texture in the clouds, which helps complete the view.
Hi David,
I always wonder too about a landscape that excludes part of a mountain range or a secondary sea stack, etc. I’ve come to the conclusion that choices like this, especially when the clouds encourage the decision. are part of the artistic process. I’m always more concerned when I am unfamiliar with a place…like, did I leave out the most important feature? In this case, and in Yosemite in general, I think all the features compete so much for attention that it’s fortunate when weather helps level the playing field.
I don’t think a pano crop would improve upon this. I wonder a little about the more dense cloud on the middle of the left edge, which has some clearing holes in it. That darkness along the edge pulls me a bit, and moreso than the llc clouds with their brightness. That said, I’m not sure you need to do anything about them. It’s wonderfully composed as it is.
ML
Awesome view and capture from Tunnel View and NO, you know I’m not tired of these images! ha ha! I wonder why not?
No worries on the exclusion of El Cap - not much choice in the matter anyway. I think the low hanging cloud in the LLC is what allows the wider composition without El Cap; works well.
Bridal Veil is the center of attention as it should be. But what strikes me is that this has that definitive “clearing storm” look the Valley is so famous for. You’ve captured and processed this beautifully.
The only crop I can see really would be coming in from the left for a 4x5 horizontal. But then, that would create more of a “been there, done that” composition like mine…
A little side note… it’s moments like this, images like these we get to experience and capture are exactly why I will return to this spot. I’d be willing to bet money that indeed this location is perhaps the most photographed spot in the natural world…
I like this and no, I’m not tired of the Yosemite pics! I don’t mind that El Cap is not visible, in fact it not being there makes this image stand out a be different than if it were the classic view.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and critique this @Tom_Nevesely, @Lon_Overacker, @Marylynne_Diggs, @Mark_Seaver, @John_Williams.
John, I’ll drop the luminosity of that little cloud even more. You’re right. I’ve already burned it down quite a bit but it still draws the eye. Thanks for that.
Mark, yep, this is Bridal Veil Falls even though most people think it’s Yosemite Falls when they first enter the park. Yosemite Falls is almost 4 times taller than this one.
Marylynne, that’s a good catch seeing those holes along the left edge of the frame. That actually El Cap try to show itself but it was shrouded with clouds. I will tidy that area up. Thanks for pointing that out.
Lon, I certainly wouldn’t take that bet because I think you are probably right. Thanks for your thoughts. By the way, I loved your image of this same scene and wanted to try something a little bit different.
Hi David,
A classic view for sure, but your version is a little different with El Cap being obscured in the BG clouds. I love the atmospherics with the clouds swirling about the mountains and the location of Bridal Veil Falls is just fine for my tastes. I for one am not tired of seeing these amazing images from Yosemite. I hope you guys have plenty more to share with us. My only suggestion would be to crop or remove that clearing on the valley floor in the middle bottom of the frame. You folks certainly had some epic conditions and you definitely made the most of them.
Thanks for your thoughts on this image @Scott_Fricke, and @Ed_Lowe. I might post a revision with the slight pano crop, Scott. Thanks for that.
Ed, we really did have some epic conditions. Thanks
I know we have each processed dozens if not hundreds of images from this trip. Way to many to post. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on for photography and just plain fun. Too bad that only the valley was open while we were there. Snow removal was still going on on the road to Glacier Point and also to Tioga Pass. I would have loved to get out of the valley and explored the other 96% of the park.
Honestly, David, I didn’t look at this image and go, “Oh, it’s Yosemite, where’s El Capitan?” What I’m seeing is the drama of the image, which I think is quite so. I’ve seen plenty of images of Yosemite but I haven’t seen this one. It works beautifully in B&W and it is a perfect example of Sam Abell’s dictum - “Bad weather makes good pictures”. In a way, it’s an iconic shot, sure, but at the same time, it’s this particular moment that you experienced that drew you to make this image. And in that way it is unique. Technically, I might consider cropping a bit from the top to add to the drama, bringing me in a bit tighter and further accentuating the horizontal sweep of the image. As already mentioned, I might also bring down the brightness in the central cloud cover just a tad, especially if you can find any detail in there just so it isn’t quite so intense and more in tune with the subtlety of the rest of the picture. But really, a fine Yosemite pic.
I’m behind again, so just adding by applause – all said above. You guys had an amazing trip!! Or more precisely, you amazing guys made the absolute best of the trip!
I like the composition sans El Cap. You’ve got a wonderful diagonal line created where the fog meets the mountains. I dont think The Falls are centered enough to be an issue. It looks great to me. I played around with some clarity and highlight reduction in the sky, but in the end liked how you did it. I tend to make my B&W’s darker than most folks like but fog is usually pretty bright. Really nice image!
Who needs El Capitan with all this grandeur smacking you in the face. We only know cap is missing because it’s such an iconic oft photographed scene. If I had never seen this location I would still feels as I do about this shot. Amazing. I don’t feel a pano would work. The placement of the falls works for me.
