This falls is all rocks and much less water in the summer when things are green. Took this in Dec. with just a bit of light breaking through. It still seems emotionally cold to me.
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 18, 2006 at 10:06 AM
Seems pretty flat to me. No offense, but seems to be a very ordinary snapshot. Good exposure but I'm not a fan of the composition or perspective chosen.
Posted by Mark Hudon on March 18, 2006 at 11:05 AM
I don't know if you're into Mark Hobson's "ku" photos (some do it for me, most don't) but this photo, worked a little could be a good candidate. I think a little saturation, a little contrast would make it pretty nice.
If it was mine, I think I'd crop out half of the sky and try to get a "layers" feel.
Posted by Mike Jordan on March 18, 2006 at 11:27 AM
Marc, not everyone can spend the time or be willing to take the risks you do to find a cliff to hang off of or a rock in the middle of breaking waves and wait for the perfect shot to come along. I think at one time or another, all of us have posted a few images that could be considered snapshots just because we wanted to share a scene or maybe to give others ideas of potential shooting places when the conditions are better. If everyone waited to post images until they had perfect lighting, composition, exposure, etc., there would be even fewer pictures posted in here than there is now.
It does have a cold feeling to it. If you have an opportunity to play with it in photoshop (or equivalent) and perhpas some cropping as suggested, I think this image can pop out a little more.
Well, this shot doesn't get past my so what filter. It could be any PacNW river drop. The ensuing discussion however perked up my ears...
Mike's right. Nothing wrong with 'snapshots', quite the opposite. Wish there were more of them here.
I'm totally bored with most of the hallmark card, near-far, meunch wannabe stuff that gets posted. Seen a jillion and one of them already. I'm more interested in shots that tell me something about a place/person/thing beyond "ooooh preeeeetty...". These shots are often 'snapsots' whatever that term means. My friend John's 'Wild Things' series is a good example although I could list tons of other more well known examples: Wild Things Example
Another example would be Kent Staubus' recent Lake Fishing series, his winter dead animals, Mark Hobson's KU's and especially Eric Fredine's Prairie's and Roads.
I have an admittedly strong bias so of course YMMV.
Well I'm tickled my photo seemed to gather up some emotion from you guys. I really appreciate the comments from all of you and I can use them ALL to make improvements that I want to make. Mark A, please continue to critique my photos, to understand your thought process and vision to get the photos you do would be so helpfull. EVERONE: I value your comments so much, hope to meet and shoot with some of you this year, and I am pleased to be part of the best regional group of NPN and live in the best region also.
Posted by Ned Fenimore on March 18, 2006 at 4:10 PM
For what it is worth.. ... I find the image intriguing in the fact that from left to right, the scene transforms itself from a nice, muted color to a monochromatic image.. almost like today and yesterday look. That in itself seems pretty cool!
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 18, 2006 at 9:36 PM
This is a forum for sharing thoughts on photos and expressing how a you percieve a particular image emotionally and astheticly. My comment was not intended as insulting or condensending in any way. Either you want my honest opinions or you don't. It seems that Mike does not. I however, would like to know whether my images connect with their viewers and welcome all opinions.
Thomas, you have a point I can respect though personally I get tired of seeing every day stuff so I try to seek out the magic moments.
OK John , here is the Hobsonian version. By the way I really like the KU series with their dark tones and mysterious lighting.
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on March 19, 2006 at 1:10 AM
1st one didn't do a lot for me, but the 2nd version is much improved !! I really like the color with the spot of magic light. The water isn't doing much for me, there is simply too much of it on the falls. But it's still a nice photo to post and share.
Posted by Mike Jordan on March 19, 2006 at 2:10 AM
Marc, consider it as having your comments critiqued... either you can take honest opinions or you don't. Obviously you can't take them.
Let me remind everyone that this is a forum for critiquing images and not for critiquing others comments or replys.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on March 19, 2006 at 3:53 AM
To me, the second version is much more interesting. The drab hillsides weren't adding anything for me, the darker tones and lighting effect really helped create a mood to respond to.
Marc, I always appreciate your honest critique, same with many others like Mark Hudon who choose to be honest and give you their genuine opinion. I don't think there is anything wrong with posting snap shots either, I do it all the time, but I still want honest opinions unless I state otherwise in the post.
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 19, 2006 at 4:58 AM
The second version is doing more for me as well. Seems more mysterious and dramatic and artistic.
You know, just like Hobson's photos, this one, maybe in a set of similar shots, would make me want to stop and look at them alot. I'd be thinking, "why the hell did I buy these, I sort of like them but I sort of don't and yet they capture me somehow..."? To me, that's compelling, and to me, compelling has to be high on the list for the photo to succeed.
I like the 2nd verion much better, too. If it were my photo I'd push back the darken effect to bring in more details in the rocks and water. Whereas the 1st shot looked too gray to me, this one is better but just a bit too solid black IMHO.
I would try pushing the contrast in the clouds to echo the water, otherwise it's not doing much for the image and could be cropped in half to focus more on the falls. Acutally, if you crop off the sky entirely you get a nice water pano - try scrolling it off your browser window to see if you like it.
Discussion
16 repliesIf it was mine, I think I'd crop out half of the sky and try to get a "layers" feel.
Mike
Mike's right. Nothing wrong with 'snapshots', quite the opposite. Wish there were more of them here.
I'm totally bored with most of the hallmark card, near-far, meunch wannabe stuff that gets posted. Seen a jillion and one of them already. I'm more interested in shots that tell me something about a place/person/thing beyond "ooooh preeeeetty...". These shots are often 'snapsots' whatever that term means. My friend John's 'Wild Things' series is a good example although I could list tons of other more well known examples: Wild Things Example
Another example would be Kent Staubus' recent Lake Fishing series, his winter dead animals, Mark Hobson's KU's and especially Eric Fredine's Prairie's and Roads.
I have an admittedly strong bias so of course YMMV.
T.
Thomas, you have a point I can respect though personally I get tired of seeing every day stuff so I try to seek out the magic moments.
Mike
Marc, I always appreciate your honest critique, same with many others like Mark Hudon who choose to be honest and give you their genuine opinion. I don't think there is anything wrong with posting snap shots either, I do it all the time, but I still want honest opinions unless I state otherwise in the post.
I would try pushing the contrast in the clouds to echo the water, otherwise it's not doing much for the image and could be cropped in half to focus more on the falls. Acutally, if you crop off the sky entirely you get a nice water pano - try scrolling it off your browser window to see if you like it.