A Couple More from Yosemite

[PrevailingConditions]

I'm slowing getting a chance to go through some of my shots and wanted to run these past the group for some comments. What works? What doesn't?

Thanks in advance,

PC

[MB1]

The first one doesn't say "Yosemite" at all.

I love the second one (might be a bit contrasty) but wish there were a tad more foreground although I wouldn't want to lose any sky to get more foreground.

[Didache]

Both work, I think. I echo the sentiment that a sliver more foreground is necessary in the second one - not a lot, just some. Apart from that it's very nice. The first one is pleasant too - the one comment I would make is that the snow on the left draws the eye a little from the waterfall (which you have done very nicely).

Cheers
Mike

[PrevailingConditions]

MB & Mike - Thanks for the observations. I had my concerns about the waterfall, but couldn't put my finger on the problem. The snow could very well be the culprit here. On the second shot, I don't think I cropped much off the bottom, but I may have a little that I could recover. I'm not sure if you can see it very clearly or not, but there's another photographer at the base of the left tree.

Thanks,

PC

[Frog]

I can't quite put my finger on why the first one isn't working. It seems all the parts work but the whole doesn't. Does that make sense?
I too think the second could use that sliver of foreground.
I see the photographer but would have though him/her to be a stump if you hadn't told us.
I would clone out the stump protruding from frame on right bottom and that bit of brush to the left of the photographer.
Nice shots though.

[GB1]

PC -

I think they're interesting in a rugged sort of way, but I also don't think they're your best work. I agree that there's no context on the waterfall, which I know is prob Bridal Veil Falls. There's also too much contrast on both of them - I suspect you used a polarizer, but the lighting conditions did not call for one, and it created a super contrasty scene (being an NFL junkie, it reminds me of the saying "You live by the blitz, then you die by the blitz." You could morph that into a saying with "polarizer" instead). There's also not that much happening in the bottom scene, maybe too little foreground.

Anyway - hope to see more Y shots

G

[gahspidy]

Waterfall shot is nice but the highlights on the tops of the rocks are alittle bright and reflective. Polarizer would have done the trick on that one, I think.
The second is very nice. I agree a sliver more fg would work and also more detail in the fg area. It is a little dark.
Nice works as always.

[PrevailingConditions]

I was perplexed on the fall when I was there and I still am. I was trying to catch some of the river below the falls to "complete" the shot, but it just seemed to disappear into the rocks.

Frog - Thanks for commenting. That's a good catch on the stump, it should probably go.

GB - Thank you so much for the candor. It was getting late and the light was failing so I took the polarizer off for the falls, but put it back for the second shot where I was trying to catch the light on the face of the mountain. The falls are actually the base of Lower Yosemite falls, near where I took the shot I posted earlier. Quite a difference in water flow. Come back later when the falls are really running and I wouldn't be able to stand where I was shooting from.

Gary - Thanks for your feedback as well. Sounds like I need a little more foreground and to lighten things up a bit (probably a little less contrast too).

Thanks again,

PC