Yosemite Moments#12+rp

A beautiful quaint scene. I love the reflection, the mutes colors and the sense of tranquility. I find it feels a touch cut off at the top. I think it comes from the yellow and light green trees in the back being topped.

I shot this too! Different day I think, and very low light for my 15 second exposure. I also approached it with a horizontal pano framing. I was thinking along the lines of an island of color in a sea of green kind of thing.

Either way, it's a delicate, and beautiful scene. I think you got more leaves floating by than I did, that I like. I would agree with Harley, that the top needs enough room to include the closer tree tops.

Chris

A Monet moment Lon
Beautiful

There's just enough motion in the water to keep the fg interesting. I like the subtle color in the bg as well.

I really like the 50/50 here Lon...with the beautiful muted colors highlighted by a perfect exposure..I could see this on my wall!! Love it!

You really captured a tranquil mood Lon, it reminds me alot of Schroon River here in the Adirondacks. I especially like the dead wood on the shore, and the subtle autumn colors and reflections. Very appealing and beautiful scene.
John

Thanks for the comments so far! Although I like the square crop here and I wanted to emphasize the river and streaking leaves, I can see your issue of this being cramped up top Harley. I went back and took another look. I ended up tweaking this too, seeing the original now, the midtone contrast in the vegetation seems really flat to me, so I boosted that a little. Hope this is an improvement.

Is the full frame a better comp, or do you like the square?

Thanks folks!

I like both compositions Lon, but I think I favor the uncropped version a bit more. I do love the streaks in that perfect mirror reflection. It is as Rick said, a nice Monet moment.

I think it is a nice improvement. The image is now much more quaint. This is a real nice one, Mr. Lon Monet.

Lon, having looked at both, I prefer the second one. Having said that, I think the second one could be cropped from the top a bit more; to just above the top of the cedar on the left side. I think that crop puts more emphasis on the fore and mid-ground. I also prefer the tones in second one.

Nicely done, sir,

--P

This is lovely; outstanding reflection marked by the linear effects of the water flow; the light lines marking the exposure.

For me, one thing going on here is a kind of "arrow" effect pointing from left to right, which I feel is a natural way for us in the West ot view things. That occurs due to the forms but also because they have sort of a rim lighting with the yellows and especially the reds over toward the right side.

I like the square aspect ratio for this, especially since you provided an alternate version to compare it too. However, it does appear to me to be in need of a levels adjustment -- or something -- it just seems a bit too sombre for the potential of the brightness of the yellows and reds to pop; sort of feels like they are being held back. So I guess I would suggest jacking up the overall luminance a bit -- bringing in the right edge of the histogram a bit in levels.

The other thing is that since you have the center line between reflection and reality where it is, almost in the center of the frame, my eye seems to be seeing a "tilted horizon" effect even though I realize it's not. I'm just wondering if a perspective crop or a transform could be employed to flatten out the junction at the water's edge so that it would seem more level. To the extent that it is perceived as not level, it doesn't do anything but distract from the otherwise extradinory landscape and its reflection.

Very nice, Lon. I personally prefer the repost. I like seeing the tops of the trees, and the less vertically balanced (i.e., 50/50) comp.

I definitely like the second better. The linear extension of the background trees allows my eye to wander the frame better. The first does seem a bit cramped.

A good mirrored image, Lon. I like the colors. The diagonal tree is a plus. This has a
mood of serenity for me.

Nice Lon. I like the interest of the limbs on the shore, but agree the first is a little crowded. I prefer the second, although something a little tighter might hit the sweet spot.

Where nothing is, serenity has a chance to succeed. I like this! Very muted and calm. Looks like a good place to just sit and disappear into one's "nothing box".

This feels so good to me and what a great mood! I like the repost even better! Very, very nice work Lon!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Okay, I'm really curious as to what comes next. This is way more than filler or next step leading down the river IMO. The mood here is really great - pensive. Nice, muted color and deep, dark water. Works for me and adds variety to life. And I think I like the original square post better, for what that's worth.

lon, i like this very much. the motion in the water, the muted colours. maybe a little more room at the top (if possible) and the top left corner acts as an eye magnet for me (yellow leaves/dark area in particular - if you see where i'm talking about). two small nits to an otherwise fine image.

I like this scene a lot, it has a muted, subtle theme to it which I really like. The leaves on the dark water surface are specially nice.
I like the square crop more, because it puts me closer into the scene, but Preston has a good point: I think more room at the top would be nice, so I think I go for the vertical, but cropped a bit from the top.

I guess my favorite part of this is the way the more colorful foliage along the water is framed by the more somber tones in back. The vertical shows this off much better, I think. It's a lovely scene.

Really like the various colors throughout the scene, Lon. The small tree debris drifting in the water is at a perfect speed for show of movement without being at a radical pace upsetting this peaceful image.
My response to the crop was similar to others, too tight maybe at the top. I much prefer the second full size letting the main FG area blend easily towards the BG area.
Not sure if it might be the highlights or the contrast/sat that I would tweak a bit. I'm so bad in that arena and it takes me forever to get things right. I'm probably way off base as I did not think I saw any other comments on that point at all.
Maybe gamma?....

I like the second version much more than the first. I probably wouldn't even have commented on the first because it felt weird composition-wise to me. The second version is really lovely and quiet. I would want to put down a blanket and sit at that spot for a while.

- Dan

Lovely reflections, Lon. I really like the subtle colors and the streaks from the leaves floating down the river. The square crop feels slightly unbalanced with the relatively clear area in the left 1/4 making me wish there was some more space on the right. I find the repost a big improvement, with the inclusion of all of the evergree near the left improving the balance considerably and the contrast between the colored leaves and the dark greens adding more interest.

The uncropped versions stands out for me in its' harmony, dark water and the dead tree works very well with the leaves in it.

Defintiely was flat before your adjustment. Now it looks great. The comps are both a little left heavy for me, but not a complete image killer.

I missed this earlier. I find myself really enjoying this; the story it tells really speaks to me, perhaps because this image could almost take place here in NW Florida along some of the many streams my wife and I canoe and camp on. I like the varied elements in the BG and the mix of colors in the FG grasses. This is VERY nice.

Second version is the winner Lon. Love the contrast of the static vegetation and the moving water. Very tranquil and serene.