Roanoke River Storm

Super sweet moody B+W!  I love it.

The only thing to contend with is the haloing on the ridge line which should be an easy fix using either the more flexible Layer Style "Blend If" sliders in Photoshop or Luminosity masking and burning... 

I really like the luminosity of the treetops and the distant peaks, Brad. Very powerful B&W. I'm actually tempted to crop off the left side of the frame to get a symmetric comp. Might work as well :)

I think this is a very nice composition Brad.  I would not crop the left side. I find it a little bit dark but very little change is necessary.

Love your composition, and the ominous feel from the clouds.  Wonderful b/w tones throughout.  Wonder if a bit of detail can be squeezed out of the silhouetted trees on the ridgelines on the far right and far left sides of the image; maybe that's just the way the light was.  Regardless, a very nice image that is best appreciated with the larger image.

Brad, I like this comp and especially enjoy the b&w and mood that comes from it. The larger version is really nice to view. I will look forward to more of your b&w work as you do it.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Excellent! Very soothing and serene scene. This needs to be viewed large! 

I like how the 'lumpy' clouds duplicate the shapes of the tree tops below. I think that's what makes the image for me. Nice job. The foliage is beautifully lit. I can't find any crop that would improve the image as a whole. 

This works really well as a b&w. Very nice composition. I think Mark has made a good suggestion.

 Thank you for all the encouraging comments. Mark,  I noticed some haloing between the trees and sky, but I ultimately decided to leave it since it creates some separation between the sky and trees. I'm kind of concerned if I burn it down if I will lose that definition. I have seen halos that looks like a laser drawn around the object, and at least this doesn't seem to be like that.  I think it is mostly a natural occurring effect from the trees being backlit and is not much due to editing.  I'm glad to know about the Photoshop method of dealing with it though because I have a few images I've been struggling with a bad halo in. 

 My composition in the spot is often affected by where I get the best reflection off the river. Many times I have shot this with the river almost at center, and it is a good composition, but I think I like this better. 

 I did try to pull a bit more detail out of the trees in the upper left and upper right, but it was difficult, that's when I realized that they were shadows cast by the clouds and kind of mirror the shapes in the clouds, so I decided to leave it alone. 

Thanks again. All comments are appropriated. 

The large version is dripping with mood, Brad. I particularly love the drama in the sky. Great B&W.

Ed

Brad,

I'm with Igor and Ed.  I too see the echoing of shapes between the clouds and the trees.  I also think the mood and atmosphere is terrific.

While I wonder what the color version looks like, this is a very effective rendition in b&w. I enjoy how the b&w renders things it to their essence of shapes, form, design, light and contrasts.  

Well done,

Lon

An excellent, moody view, Brad.  It works very well in B&W.  I especially like how the shapes in the clouds mimic the shapes of the trees.

I too like the look of those trees and clouds, works very well in B+W. My only nit would be the aforementioned haloing. Nice work!

Looks like I'm in the minority with Sairam; I too would like that river moved slightly more to the left, crop or shift. Otherwise, I agree with the above. this works well as a BW.

I love this shot Brad, and agree with Mark about the haloing and darkness on the ridgeline. Some careful processing could take care of that.

Hi Brad,

This is a great moody black and white image with beautiful tones. The composition works for me, and those clouds up top are sweet.

Hi  Brad   The large version is a must see.    like the  other 's...     .    i  too see a repetition of form  between the clouds  and  the trees    ..    . which  adds to the beauty  and  magic  of this very fine presentation

Albert Darmp
Canada