Too Busy for as B&W??

[flechtight]

Have I hit the wall with too busy for a B&W?? Too much detail? What do you think?




Split Rock w/ MT. Index in background on the South Fork of the Skykomish river, Index Washington

[Andrew76]

Nope, not at all. I really like it. In fact, if anything, I think you're lacking a little on the black end, and could even benefit more from pushing some of those darks right into black.

Very nice shot.

[Donald]

That's a wonderful scene for a B & W image and you have done it very well.

What was it that led you to the question about it maybe being too busy?

[Daisy Mae]

Agree with Donald and Andrew...you can afford to push those blacks a bit for extra 'oomph' on a great scene but it is swell as it is.

[Geoff F]

Just wondering about cropping a little tighter to reduce the competing elements a little.

A bit from both top and bottom; but I'm not quite sure how to crop. I would prefer the scene to be in landscape format or at least square to remove some of the sky.

Possibly 5 x 4 ratio might work but I fear this could reduce too much of the reflection. Maybe a case of try it then decide.

[MilT0s]

That's great Jon, I don't think it's too busy.

Andrew has a nice point about pushing the darks a bit.

[pnodrog]

It is not to busy for B&W in fact I think it suits it. My preference is for a stronger base by avoiding the light area of cloud reflection. Below is a cropped version of what I envisaged. A little bit of burning shadows has been done in the middle of the image.

It is as Andrew wrote a very nice shot.

[Designer]

Jon, FWIW; I like it better with cropping away the lightest reflection and the highest clouds. Try it, I think you will like it.

[jeeperman]

Very nice, Jon. You have capture the area very well. I like it as is but can see the argument in favor of a touch more black....just a touch.

[pnodrog]

Jon, FWIW; I like it better with cropping away the lightest reflection and the highest clouds. Try it, I think you will like it.

When I did my crop I thought about taking a little off the top - but getting a darker base was my main concern.

It will be interesting to see what Jon decides is right for him, after all he is the artistic director.

[Shadowman]

Very hypnotic, yet makes the eyes move around the image.

[flechtight]

Thanks for all the input, i will press forward this and see what I can come up with. While Processed this in Exfex2 I do remember using the zone system and pushing the blacks out to zone 3, I will go back and try Zone 2 or maybe a 1

Donald,it's like Shadowman commented, It makes the eyes move around the image, hypnotic like. I have been going back and forth with this scene since August and now I have time to devote to it.

[flechtight]

L.Paul I Have to agree with the crop and burning, my eyes have been bought up a bit higher and less eye wandering , back to efex and see what I can do with it in there

[flechtight]

I cropped and brought back some of the blacks from Zone 3 to Zone 2 and some 1's and reduced the highlights in the reflection area. I think it looks much better now, thanks for all the input. But feel free to add your own opinion, thats how I learn to see things different and hopefully improve upon my skills.




A landscape version as well

[mknittle]

I Like them a lot! They have a Ansel Adams feel to them.