Nine Mile Dam

Thanks for any thoughts or ratings.

Jim,

 

We clearly are at a point in the development of photographic technology where digital is taking us in new directions. Here you have gone quite far in post processing the image to the point where it stops looking like a photograph and begins to look like a hybrid between photography and other forms of art. I cannot tell you whether this is good or bad, just moving in a new direction.

 

In gauging others' reactions to my own work, I notice that many photographers who grew up on film and chemical development react negatively to works like this because they don't see them as photographs, but some form of graphic art. The cloudy sky especially looks this way, as does the foreground water and nearby river banks. I suspect you did something like use the clarity command in any of several software programs to a very high degree. The clarity function seems to emphasize local texture by emphasizing local contrast. Perhaps you have overdone this here.

 

In more traditional photographic terms you have badly overexposed the spillway water (to the point where all texture is lost) This looks especially poor when compared to the highly textured appearance to the rest of the photograph. Because the sky seems darkened, the bright water has no source of light that is explainable in this landscape and begins to look like an explosion taking place.

 

You have also adopted the idea of putting a black frame on the bottom and top only on horizontally framed images - this use baffles me, and IMHO looks especially bad on your photograph.

 

Please don't think of me as being negative - I think we all need to express exactly what our feelings are regarding the other's work and our reactions to it. Please feel free to reciprocate - just react honestly.

 

 

Regards,

Jerry

Jerry,

 

First off thanks for taking the time to write such an insightful critique. I truly enjoyed and will benefit from the feed back. This particular picture is a HDR image. They can, by choice, turn out looking a little (or a lot) over cooked. This was actually meditated. That IMHO is the great thing about the digital age. It allows the photographer to perhaps challenge traditional perspectives. I think we both agree that photography as an art form has reached a new level because of the digital revolution. Neither is this good or bad, it just is. Photography for me is a two fold love. I like both aspects probably equally, shooting and processing (although I will admit both have room for huge improvements.) In regards to the blown water, that was a creative choice that I knew went against traditional convention. It just best conveyed what I saw standing on that bridge in the morning light and I like the reflection off the mist. You may be right regarding the letter boxing at the top and bottom of the picture. Habitually using may not be appropriate. I do like the look personally, but it may not be something that works well with every photo. Once again, thanks for taking the time. It was honestly appreciated. Please check back and comment as you see appropriate.

 

All my best,

Jim

I can feel the power of the water here...congrats

Beautiful photograph and wonderful treatment. Best regards.

I am a HUGE fan of HDR, Jim. So to me, this is fantastic. I see Jerry's point of view and then I read you response, and both your views are very valid. It confuses me because Jerry makes sense, but your reasoning makes more sense from the point of view of enjoying photographing as much a p/p work which is where I find myself right now. I feel that today's tools allows us to go beyond the restrictions of just the shot to the printer or web. So for me, p/p work is a whole new experience. Quite frankly, I love it...I'm learning more all the time. As for your shot, I love the dramatic sky and the hill on the right.

Keep up the awesome work. Well done, my friend. Regards, as always, Lawrence.

Terrific scene from a fantastic viewpoint, very nice light and detail in the rocky outpost to the right with the dam itself and the sky adding a contrasting lighting effect. Regarding the debate:-)) If this was processed before the digital error you could say that a section of this was over-exposed, but as you could have toned this down and chose not to, then it's your creation and interpretation of this beautiful scene. You can't please all of the people all of the time:-)) Take care Mate....Regards