I hiked the Zion National Park Narrows bottom up route in early November. I missed most of the fall color but at least an early morning start and 32 degree water kept most of the casual tourists out of the way. I ended up with two images I like. I think I know which I prefer but I'd like a second opinion. Which do you prefer? Why? What could be better? The image in portrait orientation was exposure bracketed, the other is a single frame. Thanks.
Like the top one, like the grandeur of the scene, the colors and the right amount of long exposure
Thank you. I also prefer that one. It was a bit more of a struggle in post and I needed some convincing it actually was better and not merely harder to produce.
Top. The height of the walls, the deep brown colors in shadow, leading to warm orange light beyond. 2nd shot seems cut off by comparison.
Thank you. That is also my preference.
If you had two children, Daniel, to paraphrase Barack... Personally I prefer the second, for the colour contrast between warm rock and cool water. But both are fine images, just different. Both compositions appeal to me. The first could be a cover for a travel/outdoors magazine, the second much less suitable. Love both these children!
As they come up on my screen, the shadows are a bit blocked up on the first, especially at upper left .Perhaps I'd open them up in the second, too. But you may like that crisper contrast.
I'm looking at the vertical image on my work machine now and it does look a bit dark on the upper left. The brightness on my editing monitor at home is set with prints in mind. It definitely appears a touch darker than I intended.
I'm surprised the vertical image is the blended version. Usually, people try to (unsuccessfully) extract every detail from the darkest shadows when they use that technique, but here, you've managed a very natural-looking exposure and I love it. I don't mind the dark corners that Chris mentioned, but I can understand his point.
The horizontal photo just looks a little too uneven for my taste. The mix of vertical lines in the background and jumbled rocks in the foreground makes it a little too messy for me. It's a fine image, just not my favorite.
EDIT: I might suggest a panoramic crop for the second image. Works better for me, but it's just a thought.
Hi Phillip. Thank you for this detailed analysis. I'm an intermittent, long time shooter, but short on training to understand why and what it is that I like or dislike in an image. This moves my awareness forward. :)
Thank you. I wanted to keep it a bit moody. Though, I was afraid that left wall was a bit dark. I'll look into the panoramic. It does seem to create a clearer subject.
The vertical one on top is world-class Daniel.