I was there with my family. Due to business travel schedule, couldn't wait till clearing storm, so took this shot when it was snowing / raining.
I always love this part of the unspoiled valley, where you can breathe fresh mountain air instead of the smoke from campfire & BBQ, no man made structures are visible like rich people’s Ahwahnee Hotel or motel like “Yosemite Lodge by the Falls”. In this part of the valley, you will not find those retail outlets that specialize in the commodification of nature.
I took this image when my wife patiently waited in the car and went through the tantrum of two kids.
Technique:
Canon EOS 1Ds (I didn’t sell it yet for 5D). Initially I tried to use my Canon EF 17–40 f4/L, but at 20mm, trees were bending. So, switched to Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 TS.
Took two images using vertical shift, and stitched in Photoshop CS2 using Photomerge feature.
Converted from color to B&W,
As I'm on business travel, I edited this on my laptop, which is not so good and all of my tools are not installed in this box. So this is not the final version. But thought will share with those who couldn't make a trip to the valley last weekend.
Would appreciate your critiques and comments.
Posted by Richard Wong on March 1, 2007 at 9:36 PM
this is kind of an eerie looking shot. I like it. Though the tree crop on the left is distracting. Sounds like it's tough to go shooting w/ kids around.
I was there with you this weekend.... braving all the snow and wetness. Only I didn't have the kids to contend with...
I think you did a nice job of capturing this considering the conditions. Even though the stormy conditions can create some dramatic settings in Yosemite, I'm not sure that it helped here. So much mist/rain/snow in the air that the detail is lost in the cliffs and falls - but then that does add some mystery. I agree with Richard about cropping the tree from the left. Either include as a part of the image, or leave it out.
Glad you were able to visit Yosemite during your travels. Thanks for sharing.
Lon
Posted by Michie Wong on March 2, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Subrata,
Under your shooting conditions, I would agree with the comments above - I love shooting in Yosemite and will unfortunately miss the full moon and the new snow this weekend. Also, I would assume that you would straighten your horizon when you get home. Oh - is there any detail in the snow on the bank - it appears that it's blown out with the high contrast B&W conversion.
Michie
p.s. I would much rather brave freezing storms than tantrums in a car - your wife is a good woman.
Funny these tree branches did not bother me the most. If fact they still don't bother me.
My main thing is the photo shows light erry feel from the mist. it's achieved in the background, but I think the foreground is too contrasty and coarse.
I'd say try to rework the photo making the foreground more subtle in texture, and push the eeriness of the background by making sure it still does not blend with the foreground, but stays percieved as a different plane.
The other issue I have is the right hand backgroud disappears completely. having the left side background faint and very subtle would make it OK, by making it less obvious there's a white out on the right side.
Discussion
4 repliesI always love this part of the unspoiled valley, where you can breathe fresh mountain air instead of the smoke from campfire & BBQ, no man made structures are visible like rich people’s Ahwahnee Hotel or motel like “Yosemite Lodge by the Falls”. In this part of the valley, you will not find those retail outlets that specialize in the commodification of nature.
I took this image when my wife patiently waited in the car and went through the tantrum of two kids.
Technique:
Canon EOS 1Ds (I didn’t sell it yet for 5D). Initially I tried to use my Canon EF 17–40 f4/L, but at 20mm, trees were bending. So, switched to Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 TS.
Took two images using vertical shift, and stitched in Photoshop CS2 using Photomerge feature.
Converted from color to B&W,
As I'm on business travel, I edited this on my laptop, which is not so good and all of my tools are not installed in this box. So this is not the final version. But thought will share with those who couldn't make a trip to the valley last weekend.
Would appreciate your critiques and comments.
I was there with you this weekend.... braving all the snow and wetness. Only I didn't have the kids to contend with...
I think you did a nice job of capturing this considering the conditions. Even though the stormy conditions can create some dramatic settings in Yosemite, I'm not sure that it helped here. So much mist/rain/snow in the air that the detail is lost in the cliffs and falls - but then that does add some mystery. I agree with Richard about cropping the tree from the left. Either include as a part of the image, or leave it out.
Glad you were able to visit Yosemite during your travels. Thanks for sharing.
Lon
Under your shooting conditions, I would agree with the comments above - I love shooting in Yosemite and will unfortunately miss the full moon and the new snow this weekend. Also, I would assume that you would straighten your horizon when you get home. Oh - is there any detail in the snow on the bank - it appears that it's blown out with the high contrast B&W conversion.
Michie
p.s. I would much rather brave freezing storms than tantrums in a car - your wife is a good woman.
My main thing is the photo shows light erry feel from the mist. it's achieved in the background, but I think the foreground is too contrasty and coarse.
I'd say try to rework the photo making the foreground more subtle in texture, and push the eeriness of the background by making sure it still does not blend with the foreground, but stays percieved as a different plane.
The other issue I have is the right hand backgroud disappears completely. having the left side background faint and very subtle would make it OK, by making it less obvious there's a white out on the right side.