Photo of the Grand Canyon shot from the south rim

Excellent craftmanship. It evokes the set of an old western TV show. I almost expect "The Lone Ranger" to come riding up.

 

There is a lot going on for a photograph though. The sky is worthy of being a subject, as is the landscape and the tree on the right. The tree on the left, while defining a space that calls for a model, gets in the way of canyon.

 

As to the crop, I think it helps to bring the eye to the canyon.

 

The only thing to make this picture better might be to change your location to remove the distraction.

 

Excellent grain though. It is easy to forget how textural film can be.

 

Red

I like this picture. I could live with it; in fact I'd happily hang it on the wall, and it would be there for years. It's the kind of picture I can contemplate and walk into, figuratively speaking. The tree on the right puts me in mind of a ballet dancer reaching out to his partner.

Michael.... The tonality captured in this shot is simply phenomenal

Ok, the grainy sky and the mild tilt may be some minor weaknesses. But I think this is a very nice picture, with a very conventional but interesting composition - although I feel the framing is perhaps just a bit tight. So, it's perhaps not a "fantastic" shot, but some of the harsh criticism I read on this page seems a bit extreme to me.

 

I like the mad shape of the trees and the tormented sky, and to me, the canyon is not the main subject here: the atmosphere of this place is. And I love the light.

 

I don't feel the composition is "too" busy, although it is indeed busy. A busy picture is ok provided 1) that it is well organized (it is ok, in this case, because of the trees framing the background mountains), and 2) provided that the light and angle give the photo some depth. ASo, all this seems very acceptable to me.

 

I feel this picture's appeal mostly relies on beautiful details, on the interesting shapes and textures, and on great light. And for all this, it's a good photo, and a good choice for a POW discussion as well - imo.

 

All that said, I had a look at the entire folder, and was quite surprised. So I'd agree that this POW picture is perhaps not your best picture posted at photo.net, and I also feel choosing a landscape from your folder was an odd choice, given the fact that you seem to be mostly a good people photographer.

 

THIS picture of yours is imo absolutely outstanding:

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2521222

Photos like this are the reason I don't call film dead. Thanks

I'll repeat that Grand Canyon is a Disneyland phenomenon for most who visit. Look around, next time you're there. There's really no way to comprehend something that vast, so we sell it short with postcard-style snapshots. The only truely gripping photographic rendition that I've seen was done with 70mm IMAX camera in the nose of a B25, many years ago.

 

THAT SAID, I have slowly become aware that there's a dance going on, or a flirtation, between Ging's two trees. Something delicate. Easier to see if one looks casually than if one studies. It's a more interesting photo than I'd first concluded.

...reading back, I see that Daniel OB beat me to the punch, was also moved by the dancers. :-)

Too much over-analyzation. Its a nice image. Visually pleasing, if not technically correct.

Definitely too much overanalyzing. There always is, its just the nature of this type of forum. The photo is exceptional but on the cropping issue, I would like to see the above crop moved. Do not crop the upper portion of the photo, it does close you in. Instead crop from the bottom to the base of the tree in the foreground. I feel this lifts yours eyes up toward the horizon, thus taking in the whole landscape.

Sorry, but the suggested crops above ruin it because they change the spatial relationship of

the 2 trees to each other. A typical example of over-thinking the photo right out of what

makes it intersting by losing track of what's important. Actually, I think Doug B caught the

relationships well if poetically. All that gets ruined with the suggested crops.

 

Its a nice photo, not astounding, but nice. Nothing wrong with that:)

Maybe Christian's suggestion helps it a tad, t's not really critical through. Taking off the top

kills it.

I like it. So often these types of shots put us on the edge of the canyon to appreciate the vista in all its glory. By being further back and in with the trees, I have more a feeling that I really am there, and coming up on a wonder indeed.

 

Ah, those clever elves. They don't go for the obvious perhaps just so we will have these discussions AND check out the rest of the photographer's portfolio...which is impressive. Who can forget this one: elf worthy

 

Thanks, Mike!

Amazing! One of the most dramatic photos I've seen. The lines in the foreground tree perfectly match the dramatic cloud formations. The canyon in the background and the choice to shoot in b/w just add more to the drama! Beautiful...

 

I've also looked through the rest of your gallery. Your talent in b/w photography is obvious

I don't see the photograph as one of the Grand Canyon, though it features. Rather, it's a photo of two trees and their relationship against a mythological backdrop. Somewhere in there there's a knightly tale telling how a saintly one in a wilderness was tempted by a disfigured one disguised as a maiden. I think the sky closer associated with the backdrop than the immediate foreground. It has drama. If we're into cropping as we seem to be, I'd crop up from the bottom, a smidge from the top, create something squarish, lose the witches feet and the presence of some third character represented by the shadow, and have the horizon running somewhere through the middle, throwing the emphasis on the tree as subject found left. The picture has already been cropped to a 3:4 ratio from the original 2:3 and I imagine what has been removed is from the top and bottom, otherwise the inch or so of branch lost to the left would have been retained. I don't think stepping back a better option therefore. I prefer the tightness here, it contains all that is essential plus a little more besides.

 

I regret the branch should connect the two trees and the branch exiting the frame on the left mentioned previously. That the right sided tree does this is insignificant since it serves as a frame the full height of the picture and I like it that way.

 

The light is gorgeous, moulding the land with brilliant flicks of detail, though may be a tadge too bright on the trunk of the twisted tree. Nice one.

WOW! This image makes me want to look closer...the detail is amazing.

this image is brilliant

i would like to see this scene gone back to and shot with 5x4 sheet and a red filter ansel adams style! it reminds me of his work alot

very nice

Excellent as it is. No need for cropping.

Is this done with the "Standard Print Time" or did you dodge/burn some part ?

I like the photo, as I said above. I did, however, finally go to the folder that everyone is raving about. Here is one that I found that was shot with a Nikon F--manual focus and all.

 

There are many other great shots in this portfolio.

 

--Lannie

Michael's portfolio is world class. This image is fine, but does not stand out as exceptional among his body of work, where his portraits show a very rare sensitivity and moving poignancy. The composition, lighting and detail all stand up here. Actually the sky which has been referenced as imparting drama to the image, seems rather weak to me, with some of the highlights blown. There was more to be taken from this sky which would have given this image a needed tension. Michael congratulations on a well-deserved POW.

This is the first POW I've clicked on in several months and was instantly glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was one of Michael Ging's photographs because I have been a fan of his work for some time and I honestly would not have recognized it as one of his. It's a different style. But I disagree with those who say this isn't one of his best photographs. I believe it is. Congratulations Michael. You are at the top of your game. And congratulations to the Elves who chose this as Picture of the Week. I only wish this had been shot in a larger format. It would look superb in a huge poster size print.

 

The stroke of the clouds at the top are repeated in the twist of the wood grain in the tree on the right. And the limbs of both trees seperate same as the earth seperates to form the canyon. To remove or crop any of this makes absolutely no sense at all.

 

I think the only mistake Michael made here was letting anybody know this was *the* Grand Canyon. Everybody wants to see a big hole in the ground and it seems that's all they want to see.

I believe if you do not over-think, and you go with your gut reaction to this photo...it is just superb.

Wow! a timeless photo.., knarled old age in the foreground, youthful stature and strength in the second tree waiting it's turn grow up and all the while, the ageless infinte Grand Canyon in the background! I should hope to capture such a scene one day. Inspiring pic of the week - thank you

This is, in my opinion, a great shot. I know there could be work done to it in Photoshop, but I don't think that a good photo should depend on whether or not you use Photoshop to make it perfect...

 

Nice work, Michael.

I like the photo, I would just darken a bit the sky on the left corner. I agree with Marc G. the image is not to much busy and the light is beautifull. Less grain would improve the overall "look" of the photo, that's one of the reasons most landscape photographers use large or medium format cameras. With larger negatives, you can burn the sky, without so much grain improvement.