"Hope"

In our darkest worlds, against currents of uncertainty, move forward towards Gods Light; there is Hope.

The Narrows, Zion National Park

Comments and Critique welcome. I was thinking of adding a vignette, but last second selected not to.. Is this image too wide?

I definitely like the shot. Having seen so many shots from here does make me a little more picky, though. I'd like to see a little something more in the foreground to grab my attention, like more prominent rapids or rocks. But I'm not viewing this on the best monitor, so that may be part of it. I like it fine without the vignetting.

Amen, Brother!

It looks fine without the vignette. Plenty of power and majesty here. If you do crop it narrower, do NOT take out the blue rocks on the left side. They add a great element to the scene. Love the light and color in this, too. Exceptional work, Kane!

I like this image from the Narrows quite a bit. I don't feel that it's too wide at all. I think that it's the perfect width to accentuate the feeling of being drawn into the light. Nature has provided enough vignette, too.
What Grant says has some resonance with me, though. Did you use a polarizer here? I just wonder if the sheen of the water or the more accentuated rapids from a non-polarized view might have added more 'pop' to the foreground.

Hi John, I didn't use a polarizer but I did work on the foreground water with selective color black-add black to accentuate the streaking water and deepen the emotion, and blue-add cyan to accentuate the limited blue sky above. I may have darkened it a bit too much? Bottom line, no foreground static subject so its about getting that water right. I'm not sure I can do much more with that water. If you can think of anything here let me know, I'll give it a try. BTW, I appreciate the critique.

Hi Kane, I certainly do like the shot, although I have to say I don't get the emotion "hope" from it. The feeling to me is more ominous and claustrophobic. Maybe that's a volcano around the corner, or the fires of Mordor! Okay, I'm exaggerating here, but you get my point. The image certainly doesn't feel too wide to me, and I see no need for a vignette. As I think you know, I'm personally reluctant to tinker much with the color that was there. Your work on the water is subtle, but perhaps a bit too much nonetheless. I have to agree with Grant that something with a more defined shape in the foreground would have added some interest, but of course we armchair photographers can suggest all sorts of solutions that simply aren't possible when you're standing there.

"...of course we armchair photographers can suggest all sorts of solutions that simply aren't possible when you're standing there."

Well stated. And the more I look at this image, the more I like it.
Now having said that, here's an idea that may add a certain something to the foreground. Using Selective Colors applied to the waters only, choose Cyans and move the Black slider all the way to the left. This seems to give a bit more definition to the rapids. Need more? Do the same with the Blues to taste. Both of these steps together added much greater interest to the foreground rapids, IMO.

I really like the balance of the comp and perspective. Here's my 3 pennies: Since the trademark red glow isnt really present here, IMO this is a shot of contrasts, the light in the 'v' in back, and the water highlights as well as that wall highlights. For that reason, id go B&W, and really accentuate the highlights (super hi contrast) so it's more about the shapes than the subject itself.

It's funny I had the same reaction as Glenn. I didn't see the light as hope but the water as a threat, drowning, against the current.... on the other hand maybe the different reactions is what makes it a good image!

I feel the width is just fine. I might think the left wall and water are too blue, and might reduce the blue saturation about 7 points or so.

Kane,

I like it. As others have said, I don't necessarily get the emotion of "hope" from it, but considering that it was your first trip up the narrows, I think I can understand. It's a really interesting take on the blue/red color contrast, and I appreciate that. I've got a similar shot from that hike, with a lot more neutral walls and green water, but we've already talked about the different color rendition of our cameras...

I don't think it's too wide. I ended up going with a 4x5 aspect ratio myself.

Nice work for a long weekend trip!

Lots of interesting critique here from a group of excellent photographers. Overall, it's certainly not my favorite image from my hike up the Narrows but I think its good enough with a few recommended tweaks to make my website. I'm gonna stick with the title "Hope." Over the years I've been blessed to know great people that describe their life as a journey through darkness and Gods light, always wishing their time in Gods light could last longer before the inevitable. I get the feeling most of them, including myself strive for that light. I feel my image depicts the normal day for those great people where better times are just around that corner.