A photo from this morning up in RMNP. Unfortunately the conditions were brutally windy (to the point where it was blowing the tripod over), so I had to lower things and move in closer where there was not any foreground. Given the lack of foreground though, I am really looking for some critique on this image. How can I or could I have improved this? I really appreciate the feedback, and please be as critical as you like.
Posted by Bob Falcone on March 29, 2010 at 12:24 AM
If it were mine, I would crop out all that white space at the bottom... but that's just me.
It also looks pretty contrasty.
I like that you captured the nice light in the rising steam.
Bob, thanks for the feedback. I tried playing around with that, since the foreground is not that interesting, but then I felt I had too much sky in the image. If I kept the sky where it was and cropped from the bottom at the same aspect ratio, I lost too much on the sides. You think I should just go for a tighter crop and get rid of some of the sides too?
Posted by Bob Falcone on March 29, 2010 at 12:46 AM
Well, if you crop top and bottom, you could make a pano out of it...
Posted by Todd Caudle on March 29, 2010 at 12:53 AM
If you were re-shooting it, I'd say move in close to those trees back there, and make them your foreground.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on March 29, 2010 at 2:12 AM
I'm not too bothered by the foreground and appreciate the attempt at shooting this location in a different way, even though zooming in closer to Hallet/Flattop and the clouds might have been more effective in this case. The highlights appear a little hot to me in places.
Posted by Darren Huski on March 29, 2010 at 6:00 AM
I'd also say crop in. Top bottom and a little off each side to focus on the trees, mountains and clouds.
Hey Koveh, I think I agree with Joshua's suggestion, zooming in and framing just the peak and clouds may of worked better. I have been up there many times when you can hardly stand up, it's tough for sure trying to get a decent image in those conditions!.
It may be my browser problem but I am not able to see the photograph
Posted by Rajeev Thomas on March 29, 2010 at 3:37 PM
Koveh... I like the picture... but I also think the center of the image has more potential ...so zooming in to fill the frame with that interesting area is a good idea... this is a unique take of the place..
Ditto what Todd said, and for this version, crop to pano as has been suggested. Really nice light, and the cloud/blowing snow adds an extra something to it.
Posted by Jesse Speer on March 29, 2010 at 5:01 PM
Come back and try again another day. No joke. You aren't going to do much to improve this image, after the fact. Fighting a tighter telephoto comp from the lake surface would have been even more challenging, in that type of wind. I think you did the best you could - if you were dead set on shooting at/on the lake.
You could also hunker down over the tripod, latch your backpack onto the center post hook, set the camera at 200 iso and fight the wind at the more dynamic outlet area. Or, shake off your expectations and look outside the obvious sunrise at/on the lake scene. Snowshoe up the hillside and try a completely new perspective in the trees. Maybe that would have offered a better opportunity to focus on a tighter comp of the high peaks, great light and interesting clouds. Or, hike back down the trail just a short ways and photograph the grand Longs Peak view - where wind wouldn't have mattered nearly as much. In short, always be prepared to do something completely different - especially if you can't find something in the immediate area (i.e. sunrise at/on the lake). Take mental notes as you hike in - look for alternatives. Conditions like this is when I'll usually sit on the ground and explore some close-up details or abstracts ... like the dynamic ice at the lake. Some of my favorite Dream Lake detail images were captured on blue sky winter mornings featuring knock-down winds.
Anyway, sometimes considering how to redo an image completely - even refining your plan of attack - can be better than figuring out how to crop something, compose it better, etc.
Jesse, thank you. Some great feedback. I agree, with this image it sounds like my best bet is to just crop it and even then it isn't anything I would hang up on my wall. Your advice is fantastic, and in hindsight exactly what I should have done. I will take a mental note of your advice and change things up next time. I should have thought about some abstract shots of the ice! Anyhow, thank you!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on March 29, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Jesse very eloquently said what I wanted to. Thanks, Jesse. That's great advice for all of us.
Discussion
15 repliesIt also looks pretty contrasty.
I like that you captured the nice light in the rising steam.
You could also hunker down over the tripod, latch your backpack onto the center post hook, set the camera at 200 iso and fight the wind at the more dynamic outlet area. Or, shake off your expectations and look outside the obvious sunrise at/on the lake scene. Snowshoe up the hillside and try a completely new perspective in the trees. Maybe that would have offered a better opportunity to focus on a tighter comp of the high peaks, great light and interesting clouds. Or, hike back down the trail just a short ways and photograph the grand Longs Peak view - where wind wouldn't have mattered nearly as much. In short, always be prepared to do something completely different - especially if you can't find something in the immediate area (i.e. sunrise at/on the lake). Take mental notes as you hike in - look for alternatives. Conditions like this is when I'll usually sit on the ground and explore some close-up details or abstracts ... like the dynamic ice at the lake. Some of my favorite Dream Lake detail images were captured on blue sky winter mornings featuring knock-down winds.
Anyway, sometimes considering how to redo an image completely - even refining your plan of attack - can be better than figuring out how to crop something, compose it better, etc.