Peak happiness

I am trying to improve my composition skills for mountaneeringpictures, and I would truly appreciate some input on the compositionof this shot, expecially when compared to a tighter crop.

By the way, the picture was taken while walking on the Spitsbergenisland, in one of the rare sunny days of the summer, amidst primevalscenery of rugged rock, moraine withnessing the immense force ofglaciers, and icecaps meeting a sea littered with icebergs.

Still like the other version. Both are well shot.

David, thanks for your insight. Now, if someone could explain to me the 2/2 of mr. Leika King... maybe I could learn something as well...

Espectacular scenery and composition! Regards

My preference goes towards this version, as I find the cropped view too tight and prevents me from seeing how the fellow with the bright jacket reached the summit. Or, in other words, I like to see more of the foreground against this magnificent backdrop. I truly envy your expedition to Svalbard. Have always wanted to go there (never have got any further north than Hammerfest), but the prerequisite of carrying a firearm was not within my capabilities, at the time. Has that 'requirement' been amended, since?

I was about to have a further look through your portfolio, when I spotted this new upload of yours. Very nice, Salvatore. Thanks for sharing the scenery you captured in the far northern hemisphere...

First, the photographic part.

 

The other interesting part of this shot is the glacier well below us, which contrast with the rock above, and puts arctic wilderness even more into contest.

 

I see your point about ***SHE*** getting onto the peak, but -eventually- all this rock on the left distracts me from the background... will see if I get more feedback... Incidentally, the original shot has another third of sky on top and rock on the bottom. Both worth cropping away as I did.

 

Now the non-photographic part. The firearm requirement is not only not amended but more and more strongly endorsed, together with requirements for independent expeditions, like ours, to submit plans in advance, and have search and rescue insurance and arrangements, otherwise even permission to set foot ashore can be denied.

 

There are a few hundredths picture in the scanning pipeline, now, and after pre-selection and editing will all appear here. I will be using the PN space to get the usual feedback, but also share this unique adventure with many friends. So... just keep coming back! I will add details about the different places in the requests for critiques...

My apologies, I have not perused your portfolio and comments enough to discover that the fellow with the bright jacket is a she. Has ***SHE*** got a name?

How about a compromise and remove 1/4 from the bottom of this composition?

Thanks for bringing me up-to-date about the firearm and other requirements, for travel in Svalbard. Just green with envy...

In http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=404565> a few other shots there is instead a guy in orange jacket, instead... Fashion went from the red of a decade ago, to the 'The North Face' yellow of five years ago, and now it looks like orange is the colour.

As for the photographic part, I thought of removing a quarter from the bottom here, but then I end up with an aspect ratio for the rest which does not tell me anything or rather confuses me... I am either ~35mm, or square or panoramic...

Conclusion: I should have shot horizontal when I was there!

Incredible scene and the lighting is also good. I think this might be one of your best. You did great on composition. My only nit would be move the person a little bit to avoid the ridge line of background mountain. Impressive work in a such great place.

One of your best comps, Sal'. Because of its square format ? Anyway, the rule of thirds is nicely applied, the landscape wonderful. Some color burning in the sky, the darkening of the lower left corner (distracting as it's too bright) and the use of more softened blue tones (too much cyan) would in my very humble opinion help you to achieve this (very nice) work. I'm glad you got there. a+ chris

Just a thought about composition. To me the lines would be improved if the foreground ridge went more to the corner. Here is one I've played with but it would be easier to perhaps move a little to the left! regards Colin

Lovely details

@Chris Thanks for the insight. As for the colours... these were -at least on two of my monitors- more or less those which we had there. I agree on the possible darkening of the ridge though. This is exactly what disturbs me of the original shot and triggered the other crop. Once the 3000negatives which are on my desk from the last three years of trip are through the scanner, I will start systematically editing the pictures for more than my stupid crops! a+ s.

@Colin I like your crop, and one should always put ridges in the corner. I appreciate you taking the time for it. The problem which I have with it, as in a previous answer, is that the final aspect ratio is not a` la 35mm, nor panoramic, and I am not attracted to it. I should just have shot the original in horizontal rather than vertical, so to start with with the ridge in the corner... I should have something similar in some other frame, though, stay tuned.

i like the color of the rock and of course the little yellow spot!

Wonderful picture. But I wonder why you are so sensitive about cropping, Salvatore? You have cropped once in the finder when you pushed the shutter. Then what is that image? Usually, that image should be final or decisive. 50mm lens is enough wide as you showed here by the image of "the infinite". The same place , the same lens, isn't it? Judging from these two, I think you had better use 85 or 105 here instead of cropping the original, and you should take pains to decide angle before you push the shutter. I like "the infinite" better, but I might ask the man to stand still on top of the pinnacle to get more feeling of "infinite". Don't you agree?

And let me speak one more, Salvatore. I recommend you to try to choose only one, the best image in one place or one occasion. This will help you to improve your eyes, because it is like a work to cut your hand or leg off with enough pain. To choose one among 10 similer images means to throw away 9 images, all your favorite. By this training, you can be more decisive about what you take at the moment you push the shutter. It's you to decide which is better, from the beginning to the end. Sorry, I spoke too much. I love your photos, quality as well as variety. Good luck!

That looks familiar to me! I spent 6 months on Svalbard/Spitzbergen and am currently writing my master thesis on glaciers there. I have not scanned my slides yet but will do so soon. Great picture Salvatore, makes me want to fly back up there. Best place for trekking!