I took another Yellowstone Association photo class at the end of September as an inexpensive workshop. This day we went up the Clarks Fork East of Cooke City. The weather was fine but there were 4 forest fires burning creating hazy conditions. This image is of Pilot Peak from the Clarks Fork. Pentax K20D, DA*50-135 f/2.8, 50mm, 1/60 @ f/22, ISO 200.
Posted by John Mumaw on November 2, 2009 at 6:30 PM
I like the curving creek, but would like to have seen even more of it and less river rock.
Would a step or two to the left have provided better framing?
Posted by Todd Caudle on November 2, 2009 at 6:38 PM
The comp's pretty cool, but I sure wish there was something, anything of interest happening in an atmospheric sense. Even with the curve of the creek, this is a really static image. Even some snow up on the peak would really add spice to this. So, get that bucket of white paint...
Posted by Ken Wyatt on November 2, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Nice try...
It would be more visually pleasing if the river ended somewhere near the bottom of the frame - especially, since this is a vertical format. It would serve nicely as a leading line to the peak. The lighting here is pretty flat, which reduces any drama or depth to the composition. You might try this again with some side lighting - and either earlier or later in the day. Later in the afternoon might yield a few clouds in that clear blue sky. too! :-)
Keep trying Steve, we were all there once!
Ken
Posted by Jeremy Kessler on November 3, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Nice attempt. I personally would want to see a little more room to the right of Pilot, Feels a bit crowded to me. Probably not the most Ideal time of the day to shoot or year to shoot but you take what you can get. Its probably looking really neat with some snow on it right about now Tried climbing it with a friend two summers ago, some of the most rotten rock I've ever seen. Needless to say we didn't quite make it, maybe someday in the future....
One spectacular mountain! But I agree with the folks above that it really needs a sense of "moment," something like clouds, weather, dramatic light, seasonal conditions, &c., that will impart the sense that the image is unique and could only have been captured at one moment in time. I would also echo John's comment about moving to the left. As is, everything in the image sort of shoves me into the upper right edge. Definitely a location worth revisiting: I often find that a second trip to a location yields much better images than the first visit.
Posted by Jeff Beard on November 3, 2009 at 4:05 PM
This image has the 3 major elements of good landscapes: fore, mid and background. The "S" curve of the creek is also a classic feature. I agree that moving to the left would be helpful as well as returning when there are some clouds. One thing about forest fires that create haze is that the light at sunrise and sunset can be extra spectacular.
Discussion
6 repliesWould a step or two to the left have provided better framing?
It would be more visually pleasing if the river ended somewhere near the bottom of the frame - especially, since this is a vertical format. It would serve nicely as a leading line to the peak. The lighting here is pretty flat, which reduces any drama or depth to the composition. You might try this again with some side lighting - and either earlier or later in the day. Later in the afternoon might yield a few clouds in that clear blue sky. too! :-)
Keep trying Steve, we were all there once!
Ken