Ice Falls Sunset

This one was just weird enough that I figured I'd better post it here and get some feedback. Does it work for you? Why or why not? This was taken in the Freemont range, Southeastern Oregon. I saw this beautiful sunset coming while I was hiking this canyon and tried to make something interesting out of it.

To tell you the truth.....this one does not have the wow factor that most of your photos do. I think the dark upper left corner is what bothers me the most in the composition. The detail is there in that corner, but it's just not helping the composition. It seems like this one might benefit from a different crop to focus on the falls, the right corner and rock above, and the splash of color in the sky.

I try not to post my best stuff here for that reason. I'm on the fence with this one for the same reasons you mention, Chris.

It's not your best image but it is still a pretty powerful image. It certainly has a lot of mood and feeling about it to me - claustrophobia comes to mind of being in this location when its getting dark. The comp works perfectly ok for me - nice lead in and then you hit the frozen falls and everything else seems to be bearing down on you. Perhaps it’s just my type of image. Tristan

It seems too dark to me, Marc. It's a real nice shot but not really a grabber.

I'd be happy to call this one of my "not so best images"! Marc, definitely not your best, however, it is a beautiful scene and is very dramatic. I certainly agree that there are points where improvements could be made, but as a photograph of opportunity, I'd say you did well.

I like this and with a little work I think it could be up to your usual standards. I would 1) lighten the water/ice maybe 1/3 of a stop, just enough to brighten slightly but still hold the detail you have and 2) lighten the canyon walls, say, 2/3 of a stop or so to bring out more detail but not so much as to make the lighting "out of synch" with the rest of the image.

Hey Marc, it's pretty much been said already. Compared to your other work this one is only ok in my book. I wonder what it would have looked like with a vertical comp here? Not sure if you took one and if that faired any better.

Adrian hinted at what I'm thinking here. Aside from being just a tad too dark, it looks too centered to me. Assuming this is a certain waterfall on a certain stream outside Adel that I won't name (I could be wrong), then I would have liked to have seen more of a focus on that killer columnar basalt outcrop on the left of the waterfall coupled with the bubble patterns in the water leading away from the falls.

There's actually a lot about this I like, but agree that the overall darkness is a hindrance. My take on the lightening is a bit different though, I think the best part of the photo by far is the ice and flow of the stream. Personally, I'd bring up the lightness, and thereby contrast, in the falls and leave the rock to frame it with almost a vignetting appearance. I do agree that cropping a small amount off the left and top, and also a slight saturation bump, would be good to compare to.

Nits aside, I like what AJ said, "I'd be happy to call this one of my "not so best images"!"

I know a bunch of ice climbers that would salivate over this shot.

Speaking from my guts, I really like it. Yes, the basalt is dark, but it is after sunset, and and the lack of "technical correctness" there draws my eye to the amazing half frozen water formation, which is pretty WOW to me. Perhaps the lightest ice tone is not white enough, but I would have to see another, lighter version before passing judgment on that.

I like it overall - I think it needs more work to be better exposed. It would have been more impressive if mother nature would have given you a better defined sky. But dude, this is a sight most people will never ever see. It's totally unique and that is as much what your work means to me. I love this but for different reasons than other shots of yours..... I'd be happy to call this one of my not so best images, too

PS - I see more halo at the ridge/sky than usual from you... you might want to darken the sky/lighten the rock face a bit more to balance the rest of the rock face.

The comments so far echo my opinion, too, for the most part, Marc. I really love the ice falls! That part is way cool. If it were me making adjustments to this, I would go for a selective lightening of the rocks on either side of the falls. Just a little bit... and perhaps a wee crop off the top.

I think it is a pretty neat image. The cool blues of the ice and water with the warm glow in the sky is what is attractive to me. For web posting, I like the overall darkness, but printed it would probably have to be lighter, right? Subject wise- great. Compositon wise- I agree about the ulc, but I don't see a better crop. I don't think you should lose any of the sky. The ice in the lrc does help the balance. I'd keep it.

Well, it sure is compositionally nice. And for me it works, even after reading all the comments. I think of ice and think dark and dreary yet there is hope through that period, as perceived by the beautiful bright sky. Thats just the way i see it. Cliff

I agree with the others - this one needs some Photoshop love. Brighten up everything BUT the sky which is perfect. The composition and subjects work VERY well. It just needs to be brightened up.

I am of the opinion that this could be VERY nice indeed with the above Photoshop tuning.

Marc I LOVE this image. There's nothing about it I would change.

Actually, I like it alot. The juxtaposition of warm sunset and cold ice may be enhanced by cropping the stone walls on both sides. But either way, it makes me wish I'd been there.

Marc, I rarely comment on images these days, mostly because I think I've burnt out my critique engine as a former moderator of PNWNP and the Man & Nature forums...But in this case I have to say:

Don't change a thing. This image has a mood, an emotional connection that will be destroyed with any further PS work. It hits right where it counts and is an awesome work of art. Congratulations.

David

I, personally, really like this shot.....an amazing array of colors, details, and textures. Well done Marc!