Shaft of Light (+repost)

Recently had good luck with a black & white image at a show in Durango, and this has sparked me to work more with this medium.

I would be grateful for any critique or tips regarding this image from Antelope Canyon. If it doesn't work for you, I'd like to know that, too.
The comments I received concerning my last b&w post ('Lost City of the Lukachukai') were extremely helpful in making the final print look its very best. I'm much obliged for the help.

Thanks!

Canon 40D w/24-105 lens
1/2 sec. @ f11
Converted to b&w w/PS
Tonal adjustments using Tony K.'s Luminosity Mask actions
ISO 100

All I can say is: wow! I can see why you've had good luck at the Durango show with this image. This seems masterfully exposed. There's a very wide tonal variation, great shadow detail (not easy to do in Antelope) and no blown highlights. My only suggestion, and I'm not sure if you cropped this image or took others, would be to see more of the bottom of the frame so that the "arch" where the light shaft is coming from is not in the middle. That's a very, very minor nit though. Nice photo!

Nice, John. I love the detail in the walls.
I like the B&W but knowing the colors of the walls I miss the richness of the reds, particularly in the roof above the arch.
The tonal range is nice. You might look at burning the upper left, particularly the overhang area just to balance the dark area on the right a little more.

Congrats on the show success.

Thanks a lot, folks!
Just what I was looking for. Great tip on that upper left corner, Kalin.
I really appreciate it!

First off, I have a color prejudice when it comes to B&W. That said, this treatment is exquisite, with extreme detail and a "colorful" personality. I agree with Kalin about darkening the upper left quadrant a bit as well. Seeing this makes me wish I could train my eye to see in B&W too.

I've got nothing to say. Your tonal range is perfect, this is very pleasing as is.

I really like this as-is, John. I would be interested to see a version w/ the ULH corner darkened a bit but really, that's very minor. Awesome work!

This is a beauty, John. The tonal range is really appealing. Other than the already mentioned comment about the ULH I can't see anything I'd change that would help. I do wonder what bumping the mid tone contrast a little would do, but it's certainly not necessary.

We are so used to see these slot canyons shot in colour, I think this is a very nice change to see it in B&W John!. The exposure control and tonal range is spot on, I think darkening the top left as mentioned will make this ready to print and sell!.

It's refreshing to see a different take on this subject. I'm a big fan of b&w to begin with, so it's especially nice to see it applied to a subject that has long begged for a creative presentation.

Only thing to add to what's already been said is that I'd like to see more detail in the dark areas on the right, while retaining the general 'darkness' of that area. Not a major nit since it occupies such a small % of the frame, but, assuming the detail can be coaxed out - and it appears that it can - I think it takes this from "refreshing and very good" to "refreshing and WOW".

This is a great shot just as it is!. A refreshing perspective to be sure. That combined with the B&W conversion make this a memorable shot. Well done John.

Recently had good luck with a black & white image at a show in Durango, and this has sparked me to work more with this medium.

Yeah, like you won best in show!! I could see how that would motivate you!

I think you've done a great job with this image. I agree with Rick in that it would be nice to coax a little more detail in the dark area on the right.

I think the conversion looks pretty good, maybe a slight boost in the shadows as has been suggested. The comp is very good, but im not totally sold on it; i feel like i want to see where the light ray is headed to, and it just abruptly ends at the bottom. BUt im being ultracritical with that.

Interesting take on this place. Some would consider it sacrilege to convert those colors to b&w. I like your conversion and the comp. My preference is for more contrast, but that's just my own tastes. This really makes it about lines, and forms, and tones.

Thanks again for all the time you took to help me.
I burned in the top left corner area and brought out a bit more detail in the top right. Hard to tell looking at it, but the detail is there in the original

I really appreciate all of the replies!

I think darkening the UL is a significant improvement. It really helps define the foreground rock shape.
I'd prefer the right even a lighter, but thats's very subjective.

I think you have all ten zones covered! Muy Bueno!

Fantastic texture and tone! Every pixel screams texture. I personally find the dark area at right to be fairly distracting and heavy, but I also realize that's a very subjective comment.

There's a lot to see and enjoy here, especially considering the lines/form.

The second version is a definite improvement. I love the textures and the b&w works well for this composition.