Does this image have an identity??

Just curious if there is enough here to hold interest.
(Just coughed up the membership fee, so it's my first post here.)
Chip

Canon 5D
Canon 16-35 f2.8L II
ISO 50, 16mm, 1.3 sec., F18, blended exposures for full tonal range.

Welcome to the forum Chip! And yes this image is a wonderful first post!! As moderator I do ask that folks post image details such as gear used and exposure settings. This helps us all both with providing valuable critiques and to learn from your choices of lens and exposure.

Again welcome!! This is a wonderful place to hang out and learn and grow!!

>>"I do ask that folks post image details such as gear used and exposure settings."

I guess I should start doing that again, huh?


I think the image is good but not as deep or compelling as your others from here. Since it is similar in color, format and style I probably wouldn't keep it. I know you have high standards too. Welcome to PNW forum.

Chip welcome to the forums ! I think this is a very nice photo overall. The light on the rocks and water really are awesome... you captured the moment really well... I do with there was something else that tied this all together or less... it's kind of in-between. So I don't know what your portfolio has but this might not match the standard from other shots of yours..... keep posting, I'm impressed with the work I've seen so far from you

Welcome to PNWNP Chip! This is a very nice photo, like some others have said, you do have better from this location, but there is a bit different. Beautiful work as usual.

Welcome to the forum. I am kind of new here too. We moved here to the Portland area last Summer. Your work ( and that on your site is inspiring. I see we are both Galen
( and Marc A.) fans!
JG

I think you have done a superb job with this image. Some day I will get off my butt and drive out to the Coast and attempt some landscapes in this style. For those of you who have easier access than I do, here is some potential material. I heard this story tonight on NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=36013288

Another great image - it is hard when you get to this caliber as there is a lot of great shots and separating the good ones from the even better ones is a hard task and one that I fail at so I post everything until I am told all the things wrong with it

I really like this shot.......love the water flow you captured here

Welcome Chip, and I too am enjoying your image. If I was pushed to give criticism, I suppose I would have opted for less sky and more FG, but the colors, comp and water movement make it a keeper as is.

Welcome to the forum Chip!

If this were my image I'd be ecstatic about it. But after browsing your website, I agree with Marc A. Although it's beautiful image, it doesn't measure up to most of your normal work.

That said, I do like it. the sky is nice, but the FG is what really holds my interest so I would also say less sky. maybe even a pano crop would work here.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I agree with all of you on this. Sometimes what I think is my better shot from a series is quite different from what others think, but I think I was right about this one. I think I might be slowly getting better at critiquing my own stuff. One problem I have is that I tend to stick with one comp throughout the whole light show. I even tend to stick to one compositional concept throughout entire trips-even seasons. Like last summer, I was really into reflections.....So I have a billion refection shots. I want to try more stuff/trip this year and more different comps/session. This is probably a good question for a new post:What is your individual approach, say from scouting a location, to sun down/up?

Well, speaking only for myself, since I have a family my time in the field is not often enough. That will improve once my wife gets her masters in teaching degree but that isn't for a year or so.... Being a professional musician, I use the same improvisational techniques from Jazz to taking pictures. When I arrive or when walking to my starting destination, I make little mental notes of places on the way back that would be interesting to work with. I then work with the conditions presented to make the most of my time. It's very interesting to look at a group of 20 or 30 shots that end up with "the one" to see how I worked, moved, removed distractions, found a better foreground before catching the one that works the best. I move after almost every shot. Some of my best shots have a single frame and then I kept moving on. Others work differently but this is what works for me and stimulates my creative juices the most.

It's beautiful ,and could be frame and sold, but your portfolio has set a pretty high standard. It appears as if you're be very critical with your work, and rightfully so. Because of this, this is a second- tier image.

Great to have you on the forum, and post on.