Rainier Rocks I

Your comments and suggestions are most welcomed.

This one I'm not sure about. I like the green in the corner and its link to the background trees, but I'm not sure about the composition. I wonder if this would be better as a square crop? Not sure where to crop it from, though... mainly on the right, but a little on the left? Cuts down on the relationship between the trees and the green, but...

I feel kind of comfortable in this composition. I want to follow the outline from the top of the rock down the left side and across the crack and down to the corner. I think what I like about this image and what pulls me in is that it kind of has a look of a stone warrior that has been shot through the heart and has been petrified where he fell. I like the muted colors with the fog as it holds a mystical feel to the image. I feel quiet solitude when looking at this image.

 

Don

My favourite from your trilogy. Your vantage point is just perfect, together with the wide FOF you create a flow of lines beginning in the lower left, to the uppr right. Branches and rocks in the foreground point to the distant crest, for me an outstanding composition. Viewed large, I have no complaints about contrast, just right for this lighting. Very attractive is the hazy backlight, with hints of sunrays in the moss. This is the only reason why I dont vote for B&W here.

Stephen this was actually my favorite. I think Don articulated the mood here very well. This day was very foggy creating a strong feeling of solitude. I was hiking on Mr. Rainier. There were no views but these rock seemed to come alive in their vibrancy against this grey day. Carsten I agree about the composition here, and yes this really must be viewed large. Thanks to you all for commenting...

This is the image I prefer among those of that day/location you've shown us. It conveys very well the feeling one gets when, in the mountains, the fog sets in and you are forced to contemplate the more mundane rocks around you rather than the distant peaks and valleys which usually grab most of one's attention.

 

In this respect, you did a very good job to isolate and add together the different feature of such a landscape, both mineral and vegetal.

 

The only thing I am not convinced about, is the line of tree tops coming above the r.h.s. rock: I would have preferred if that rock too would have been against the sky rather than against the trees. I guess it would give all the rock outcrop more relevance altogether.

I agree with Carsten's assessment, David. For me the proximity to the rock and shroud of vegetation gives this shot a sense of forboding. The recession of rocks pulls the eye through the scene, but a tension remains that is appropriate to the bleakness of the scene.

I like here the way the rock blocks the path but then a way round is seen on the right.

Salvatore, I am very pleased to hear your response you know the alpine intimately. Leigh, good to hear from you as always. Thanks for sharing your insights on this composition. Colin, Yea that right side gives us an escape. Thanks to you all...