I made this image during the spring of '07 in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I'm getting a bit burned out on color, so I thought I'd give black and white a whirl. Thanks as always for taking a look.
Interesting view. I bet it is much better in larger format.
Posted by Kevin Trinkner on December 18, 2008 at 8:56 AM
Interesting find, that little pool is confusing me a bit, I can't seem to find the near edge of it.
I love the black and white conversion, have any details on the shot?
I wish the curve in the river wasn't cut off on the left hand side though, I would like a bit more room over there.
Kevin - I wish I had had a wider lens as well. This was taken with a 90mm on 4x5 film, which is approximately equivalent to 28mm on full frame 35. It's the widest lens I have, so I had to make due. So it goes. I'm not sure what to say about the end of the pool, as it seems pretty clear to me, but, I was there. Thanks for your critique.
Posted by Bruce Palla on December 18, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Joel, another quality shot! I have a question about the image and that is: What is the angled white section at lower left? Ice, frost? Just asking, I'm not good enough to find issues with a photo, I just know what I like when I see it and usually if your name is next to it, it's a keeper.
Posted by Brian Vance on December 18, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Joel, The top of this image is spectacular, with great tonal range. Its high on the 'wow' meter. Like Bruce, I'm wondering about the FG element as well in the lower left. My eye seems to get stuck there as is difficult to identify. I like this better with a 2x3 crop from the bottom of the frame. Still, it is a stunning image.
Thanks for the thoughts guys. Bruce: the angled white section is a rock pool filled with water, that is reflecting the sky. Seems that folks are getting hung up on that element - good to know!
Posted by Kirk Greene on December 21, 2008 at 3:48 AM
The FG is very unique and interesting and I like the B&W conversion for this image. I also find myself in a phase where a lot of images look better to me in B&W. I don't know if you had any room to step back a bit so that the bend in the river coud have been included?
Posted by Toni Lankerd on December 21, 2008 at 9:46 AM
I like the B&W conversion of this image, Joel....it shows much more detail than the color version would, I'm sure. Although, like the others, I would prefer to have the whole bend in the river included, I still like it as is. Your exposure is spot on.
Posted by Darren Huski on December 21, 2008 at 5:39 PM
Joel-
I like the B+W aspect of it. I also prefer the top half of the image to the bottom. Not the right foreground for me. The top is great, as a pano it is really nice. I'd like to see the same lens set up used at the edge of the water.
Posted by Philip Schwarz on December 22, 2008 at 10:35 PM
B&W works well for this photo. I really like the pine needles in the foreground.
Joel, I basically like this shot a lot; love all the details and the exposure. I'm not really bothered by the failure to capture the entire bend; even if it was there, it would be tucked into the ULC of the frame and be a secondary aspect of the comp at best.
My only hang up is the aforementioned bright FG object which you've now explained. To be honest, even now knowing what I'm looking at (a reflection), I'm having a hard time recognizing it as that. I'm wondering if you could post the color version of this image, just to see if the element is more recognizable. In any case, my suggestion for the b/w presentation would be to burn that pool in and see if the reflection can more easily be seen for what it is.
Discussion
11 repliesI made this image during the spring of '07 in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I'm getting a bit burned out on color, so I thought I'd give black and white a whirl. Thanks as always for taking a look.
I love the black and white conversion, have any details on the shot?
I wish the curve in the river wasn't cut off on the left hand side though, I would like a bit more room over there.
Kevin - I wish I had had a wider lens as well. This was taken with a 90mm on 4x5 film, which is approximately equivalent to 28mm on full frame 35. It's the widest lens I have, so I had to make due. So it goes. I'm not sure what to say about the end of the pool, as it seems pretty clear to me, but, I was there. Thanks for your critique.
I like the B+W aspect of it. I also prefer the top half of the image to the bottom. Not the right foreground for me. The top is great, as a pano it is really nice. I'd like to see the same lens set up used at the edge of the water.
My only hang up is the aforementioned bright FG object which you've now explained. To be honest, even now knowing what I'm looking at (a reflection), I'm having a hard time recognizing it as that. I'm wondering if you could post the color version of this image, just to see if the element is more recognizable. In any case, my suggestion for the b/w presentation would be to burn that pool in and see if the reflection can more easily be seen for what it is.