black & white Merced River Reflections Yosemite

Yosemite in the summer is sometimes filled with a smoky haze which

does not lend well to photographic endeavors. This particular scene

was extremely bright and hazy in the distant and in full shade in the

foreground. I knew this would be a normal minus development and

exposed the negative accordingly.After development I attempted several

darkroom prints but never felt like they ever produced anything

worthwhile. Twenty years later and Photoshop and the whole story has

changed. By sectioning out the photograph and working on each area by

itself I have achieved a print that I thought was impossible. Now

normally the hazy highlights don't appeal to me much because of their

lack of detail but in this case I think a good balanced with the

foreground has been achieved. By bending the far trees between the two

extremes and having good detial in my low values has produced a good

photograph. I toned this with Ektalure cream tone. When I printed in

the darkroom I never liked warm tone papers but I must say I am

growing very fond of this tone. After processing each photograph I

tone them with just selenium, selenium and Ektalure and Ektalure alone

and invariable I keep choosing the Ektalure toning.What a surprise to

me. You comments are always welcome. A processing note: Have you ever

made a gradient layer for the sky with a tree or other object in it

and like the darkening of the sky by not the tree? Take your eraser

toool and erase the gradient away from the tree. Why I never thought

of this before baffles me!

Well, I would say the effort is worth the result.

Beautiful picture. Thanks for sharing the technical details. Regards.

Attractive shot. I especially like the pine and deciduous reflection.

 

I have a similar shot, though in an altogether different location. Almost the same equipment, too ;-)

This has a distinct Albert Bierstadt feel to it, Leo. Very painterly and delicate. Again, I am blown away by the depth and detail, and then the purposeful acknowledgement of the fade into the mist in the BG. My friend, I am so looking foward to sitting down with you and exploring these wonderful techniques. Excellent work! A 7/7 anonymously. Cheers! Chris

What a wonderful image!! Beautiful composition, tonal range, clarity, exposure. I'm sure you spent a lot of time on this, but boy it was worth it!

Beautiful tones and great dynamic range. Great scene and great capture.

Beautiful image. Great b&w tones.

Great tones...very innovtive use of B&W in this kind of photo.

wonderful work, very good use of the zone of Ansel Adams, congratulations 7/7

Leo, Whats not to love in this shot. Dark crisp trees in the foreground that fade away as you go back in the photo. The two trees at the end reflected in the Merced River. Visually the composition reminds me of an hourglass ><. Is this a correct terminology?No matter because it still a fine example of photographic art. Congratulation my friend...RAY

Excellent photo!!

This is stunning one of the most beautiful BW images I have seen in a very long time..... e x c e l l e n t........

Truly beautiful.

Bellisima imagen con un cierto toque surrealista.

 

Mi enhorabuena!

Wonderful photo Leo. Reflections in the water and this special atmospher are excellent. I cannot rate 7/7 and I prefer not to rate it in order that it does not lower the average. Congratulation.

Yes well worth the effort. Excellent work. Now I am trying to figure out if my head is on crooked, my monitor is leaning to the left or this picture needs to be rotated a half or 1 degree clockwise. Lets just go with my head is on crooked. Great shot.

The hazier parts remind me of those woodcuts used to illustrate books before photographs replaced them.