Shadow Of The Crow

Not a real Angel, or for that matter a real Crow, but that doesn't

mean they arn't there : - )

 

I'm not sure about the reflection on this image, I like the misty bits

rolling off the top of the ridge, but its corresponding reflection kind of

covers the clarity of the water. Your thoughts and comments are

always appreciated. Thank You.

This is a fine landscape Alf.  Viewed large it feels three dimensional.  Great cloud detail too.

Alf, I really think the strongest elements here are the clouds (great clouds!) and how they are rolling across and partly obscuring the ridge.  You're right, the water is not as distinct, but to my eyes that doesn't matter because the top of the photo is so strong.  In fact, you might think about cropping the bottom just above the rock and tuft of grass in the left corner, allowing the bigger rocks to form the bottom edge.  That puts even more emphasis on the clouds and ridge, which I think further strengthens the photo.  All IMO, of course.

i'm not sure how or why, but it looks like two pictures, one on top of the other. they just don't knit together for me. majestic scene, though. best, j

This is a very nice landscape with a lot of depth, and indeed a 3D feeling to it. The foreground and the reflections add to the value of the image. Well Done.

Ben

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful b/w scene with beautiful details & powerful sky that seems to pull you in.  Excellent work.  Take care, Patsy

I love the tonal range of the image.  I agree that the sky/clouds are very strong elements that attract the viewer's eye. The placement of the rocks really grounds the image. Great image. 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, you just reminded me actually I should have added the words VIEW LARGE somewhere in the above text.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

STEPHEN

I don't like cropping photo's if I can help it, but in this case you have made a very strong case for doing so. I just wish I'd thought of it when I composed the scene through the viewfinder. Many thanks for your thoughts and helpful comments, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

Many Thanks!

Maybe the dividing line isn't as obvious as some, and interaction doesn't gel because of the pale reflections. Maybe.........

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

BEN

Sincere Thanks, I'm glad you get that 3D impression, it was a glorious morning, but there was a lot of shadow on the left of the image and bright colour to the right hence the B & W conversion.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Many Thanks for your thougtful comments, much appreciated.  It is a place with great magnetism, so I'm glad that asdpect has come across to you.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

PAUL

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated. I have only recently had any success at all with B & W conversions, so its very gratifying to read your appreciaton of the tonal range.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alf, Great Sky, unfortunately for me the image is too flat and lacks any real focal point. The mid tone contrast needs to be enhanced and some dodging and burning done to bring out what the key elements in the photograph are. I also think with more work you could really create a bit more drama in the clouds. This is a good image that just needs more work.

Cheers Alf

Alf, I don't like to crop either, and I take pains to try to get it right in the viewfinder.  But sometimes the composition does best in an aspect ratio that is different than what my camera captures.  Today, in fact, I took a photo knowing full well I would have to crop in order to get the composition right -- no amount of moving or zooming (well, it was a prime lens, so that second option wasn't available) was going to get a satisfactory composition.

Hi Alf

 

I think it may have been an oversight on your part,omitting the words "VIEW LARGE" because I did on this image and it is stunning!..... Black and Whites are a particular favourite of mine and so is this image now!  The clouds are just sublime....rolling across the sky,giving a volcanic feel to the atmosphere of this image.... When viewed large the reflection really comes into its own,the little ripples hugging the rocks... Absolutely stunning image IMO...  Well done Alf!

 

King regards 

Jacqueline

I think you might have a point with the light being relatively flat, it was very early morning and although it was bright it was kind of even. The other problem was in processing I think I may have inadvertantely made the light even more flat by trying to even out the shadow area.  So rather than dodgng and burning I think maybe doing less in the way of fill light would have the necessary effect. As for a focal point I agree it isn't at all obvious and for that reason I think the crop that Stephen has suggested would be likely to provide that key focal point. In fact by scrolling the image down you get a good idea of how it would look, and I have to say I quite like it.

Many Thanks for your interest Richard, some valid points well made. I will try again with this one.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

STEPHEN

You have a valid point, but it takes a practised eye to see it, and although I know in certain situations I will have to change the aspect ratio to get the image I desire. I have to confess on this one, it escaped me completely at the time I took the photo.  That being said the opportunity to crop still exists, and it was a sound practical suggestion that you made, so yeah, I can overcome my initial reluctance to do the photograph some justice by cropping. I think my reluctance stems from the fact that somewhere in the archives of my grey matter, a faint echo of "compromised quality" relating to excessive cropping can be heard. But such are the suggested parameters of this particular crop, and the characteristics of the lens and camera, I don't think it would effect quality too much.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JACQUELINE

You are quite right, I did forget to mention anywhere in the above text to "View Large" and it does make a difference, as the image is optimised for the larger size. So thank you for pointing that out!  The clouds that you mentioned really were "Rolling" too, the scene changed by the second. I'm really pleased  you liked this one Jacqueline, I think it can only get better with the suggestions from both Richard & Stephen.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

Killer clouds in this beautifully processed B&W Alf! This really is magic when viewed in the larger format! Superb work Alf!

All the best,
Neil

When I view it Alf, I find it rather amazing. There is so much to be seen in the reflections, and then the detail of the rock formations in the foreground as well. I agree the clouds are so impressive. When you named it 'Shadow of the Crow' it reminded me of a Bev Doolittle print 'Season of the Eagle. She is a very well known American Artist. Within her images of mountains and rock formations you can see birds and animals and even Indians. This kind of reminds me of something she would take and make an incredible painting from, the more I look at it.

Gail, that's a neat reference to Bev Doolittle.  This does look like something she would create, and now I'm searching for the hidden figures.

Good Morning Alf, The sky and clouds rolling over the edge of the mountain are very nice and add some depth to the image. One of the posters mentioned viewing larger helps and I agree. I see the beak like reflection and shadow along the mountain wall on left, hence the title I guess. Alf, the only constructive remark I see making is the reflection in front of the rocks in the water is slightly distracting, and you know I like reflective images. Overall a very good landscape with a minor distraction.

Best,

Holger

Alf, A wonderful looking black and white image that must be viewed large to really appreciate.

When viewed small the center of the frame seems a little cluttered and the dividing line between water and mountain blurred due to the excellent capture of the reflections. But once this is viewed large the image is spectacular. Everything becomes very clear and apparent, the reflections are excellent and the clouds pouring over the mountain side are simply excellent. Not sure how long you had to wait to get this shot but whatever it was it was worth it.

The black and white tones are excellent, do I detect a HC red filter here?

There isn't much I would change aside from adding that this must be viewed large to be appreciated.

A unique bw landscape! BW landscapes are very hard to become successful, and i liked few of them by now, but this one is one of the most successful landscape photos. Everything are just right and nice. Congratulations.

My best regards,

Hamid.

Alf, After looking at this again in large veiw I must agree with the above poster. It is far better large and the distraction I spoke about earlier is not a distraction at all. This really makes the case for veiwing larger. Take care.

Sincerely,

Holger

Many Thanks for your well considered feedback. much appreciated.  I think perhaps the smaller version looks a bit flat, this is probably due to the fact that it has been optimised for the the larger view.  I just omitted to tell anyone this time : - )  Fortunately Jacqueline did it for me!

Cheers Neil!

 

Alf

 

GAIL

 

I am very honoured to have my work mentioned in the same sentence as a reference to Bev Doolittle.  I looked up her work and I can see where you draw the analogy with "Season of The Eagle" a most impressive piece of work that pales my humble photograph into insignificance. I wasn't familiar with her work before you mentioned her, but I loved what I saw from viewing her work on line. I would also venture that you draw some of your own inspiration from her work, particularly the subtle layered variety of image that takes a bit of studying to fully appreciate.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

STEPHEN

 

It was indeed a clever analogy by Gail! Just in case you haven't found them, the crow is the shadow and reflection that forms a beak shape on the left of the image. The Angel is reference to the "wings" / clouds across the top of the image, more a figment of my imagination than a recognisable figure I'm afraid, but you get the general idea I think.

Cheers!

 

Alf

 

HOLGER

 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback, much appreciated!

You guessed right at the title, it is indeed the shadow and reflectin that forms the "beak" of the crow.  i actually think you have a valid point with the reflected foreground, it was one of my concerns and reasons for posting to see if other people had the same impression.  I think it is for the most part an initial reaction, but initial reactions are important, and could be the difference between further study or skipping to the next image, so I appreciate your honest feedback. 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JOE

 

I shoud have added the words "View Large" as I normally do, but I was lucky enough that it was added by Jacqueline after my omission. 

I think you have rasised a good point about the initial viewing, the larger version is optimised at that size and the detail is more apparent. I also think the foreground is initially a bit disconcerting and it takes a bit of study to differentiate between the reflected cloud and the sub surface stones.  To be honest I didn't have to wait long at all for this shot, the water flat calm, but the mist and low cloud was burning off very quickly so I had to take advantage and get a few shots within a relatively short time frame of about 20 minutes. No filters used Joe, but I did process the image using channels so that may have had a similar effect.

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback Joe much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

HAMID

 

I think you are right, B &W landscapes can be very difficult to communicate effectively and maybe this one isn't to everyones taste either, but Its most gratifying to read that it works for you, and I appreciate your thoughts and positive feedback.  

 

I have posted the B & W version of "Sunday Rest" as per your suggestion.

 

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

HOLGER

 

I actually agree with your first analogy Holger, although I appreciate that the initial "distraction" can be overcome with some study, it is nonetheless a distraction of some kind. But I thank you most sincerely for giving it the benefit of a second look.

Cheers Holger!

 

Alf

 

 

the bottom has so much less contrast than the top. best, j

What a scene! And what a capture! The large view gives the viewer more to appreciate and seems to give a tad more tonal range. I don't like to read the other reviews until I have formed some opinions but that increases the risk of being repetitive but at least it is unbiased. I am thinking that it needs some mid-range contrast increase and maybe, going against the grain,  lightening the foreground because of underwater rocks and other elements that I believe are worth emphasizing.

Alf you must keep in mind that this is a top notch BW image that, based on some additional tweaking will result in an even nicer aesthetics. I use the word 'tweaking' since any gross modifications which I think are very unnecessary, will change the mood and misrepresent what you saw combined with what you want to present. 

 

I will download and see if I can do something but if you see no additional input it is because I could not achieve anything worth discussing in this forum.

 

I do have a modification and with the excuse of time constraints, I did a quick change. While it increases the contrast and lightens the foreground a bit, I believe that I have gone too far because IMO it has changed the mood too much. In addition the clouds could be a bit lighter. Mine is definitely not better but it is different.

Interesting to note we are thinking on the same lines and Tony below has also picked up on the same theme.

Many Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TONY

 

Yes, I agree with your analysis, the foreground in particular has benefitted from your "tweak" it has emphasised the submerged rock and created a more interesting feature. I do realise that your a busy man, but I would concur that you have probably over-emphasised the desired effect in your haste. However I think the important thing is that your efforts have illustrated without doubt what I already suspected myself, and gives me the opportunity make similar adjustments to a less acute degree in order to bring about a balance somewhere between the original and your adjusted version. 

Sincere Thanks for taking the time Tony, very much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

You are welcome!