Smith Rock

Although I've been in Bend over a decade, this was only my second time to Smith Rock. I went this morning and began wandering aimlessly to find a shot. Unfortunately, shots from the upper rim weren't an option due to heavy smoke in the air. I'll probably spend another morning or two scouting around.

These are the two I like the best from this morning. I think this one is the strongest of the two but, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Both are taken from precarious positions on rocks in the river using my Tokina 12-24mm at the full 12mm. (top processed at WB 5500k; second at 6500k).

#2

i like the top one best. it's quite nice.

is this blended exposures ?

Thanks Michael. No, these are single exposures made using a 2-stop hard grad handheld to feather grad line. Very little processing involved.

so you used it to balance the reflection or to keep the sunny part from blowing out ?

It was used to keep the sky from blowing out and to balance the luminance of the areas where light was hitting the rocks with the shaded areas. The reflected area had just enough light loss from the water color that it didn't blow-out on its own.

thanks
that's what i was looking for, i guess i should have figured it out and put it to words

#1 for me. Congrats on not falling in and getting wet

My vote is for #1 as well. Very nice shot. Nice lighting - shame there were no clouds. #1 just feels a lot more balanced to me - better overall flow.

My vote is for #1 as well.

Both are great. For some reason, for me, the rocks in the lake stand out better in #2. Overall I like that one better. Love the comp.

Now I notice the slight difference in the comps and see what the guys mean by "good flow" in #1. Ack, how to decide? Nuts, I like them both, for different reasons.

Both are real nice, I like #1 the best. My only nit is that it feels a bit cramped on the sides.

The trio of rocks looks great centered in #2 and the positioning of the main subject looks great in #1. It's a tradeoff, but the big rock is much more dominant than the FG rocks, so I vote for #1. I like the motion lines in the river as well. Good work.

I like the 2nd version better. Nice and clean.

now i've looked a little closer and i still like 1.

number one has depth and leads your eye to the bg, 2 looks like an exercise in composition, but lacks the depth that people like to buy. 2 does have depth, but it sort of dead ends you at the base of the rock. 1 takes you around the photo.

2 looks 'crooked' to me too, but i see the trees are straight enough

I'll vote for the second image - less cramped in the background, and I really like the foreground rocks in this version. Beautiful, soft light in a place known for harsh, contrasty conditions - nice!

Tom

My vote is for #1 as well. The bright spot of the left most rock picked up in the reflection is a must with how dark the water is, and the shoreline leady my eye over there nicely. The #2 image feels too centered, and lacks the movement of the first. Plus the sky at the mid right frame is a dead end visually.
Both images are processed extremely well as always!

I like em both...but I do wish you would have included the whole reflection on the bottom ....great color and exposure!