Merced River Reflections

This is one of those images that are thoroughly enjoyable, Harley. I could see myself pulling up a chair and relaxing as this scene unfolded before me. The light helps bring out all the details of the trees and the fog above the meadow is a real treat. Great work.

Ed

Harley, great image!   I really like the fog above the trees and the reflections in the water.  It sure looks peaceful!

Definitely a treat all around.  A really gorgeous scene. 

The trees leaves feel a bit too yellow to me.  Sort of enhances the sense of light shining on them, but they feel a bit autumnish. 

Really like what appears to be a natural vignette at the bottom of the image.

Just a wonderful moment, Harley, very nicely rendered as usual.

Compositionally though I am torn as to whether the right side of the image is too different from the left two-thirds. The bright, cliff-obscuring, fog behind the largest tree (which is the only tree to leave the frame) seems incongruous to the left side's less intense fog and the cliff beyond. This could be an image that might work as two separate photos. YMMV of course...

Harley, This is one beautiful image and I like everything about it just as it is. Wonderful light and color and so very inviting. The fog looks great and I love the reflections. Excellent work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Beautiful scene in the valley. I always associate lifting mists such as this with cooler colors. I would adjust the white balance accordingly.

Harley,

I love, love, love the early morning light on the oaks and the reflection is sublime.  This spot is special for me and I'm envious of this moment you were able to experience.

While the broad view here is beautiful, the heart for me is the left 2/3 of the image, both the grove of side-lit black oaks - AND their reflection in the Merced.  I think there's an image within your presentation.  The comp with the tall pines on the right 1/3 isn't really a problem per se, but I'm in agreement with Dave Edward's comments.  The big, bright mist on the right and more importantly it's reflection I think take away from the glorious left 2/3's of the image.  As it is, the reflected mist, LR, is void of any detail.

I know I'm being picky - but it's only because I love this scene and at least for me, it's all in the left 2/3 (where you would crop relative to the vertical trees... is problematic however.)

Lastly, while I'm on a roll of picky, I think El Cap is a bit too blue.  Funny, I'm often defending the blue in the scene... and yes, El Cap is not being hit directly with warm, yellow light; however, my recollection of viewing this scene is that the wall isn't that blue, even in the morning.  But that's just me.

Love this moment Mr. H.

Lon
 

Love the composition, the light and the reflections, Harley. Maybe I would work a little bit on the color balance as Lon suggested. The pine tree can be a source of distraction and the left part of the image would work well on its own. I cannot stop looking at the reflections, just so eye catching.

Mattia

Wow, Harley, this image literally jumps off the screen.   Such a nice transition from soft reflection to the lit oaks to the substantial backdrop of El Cap's granite.  Outstanding......love this one.

What a wonderful morning this must have been. I can feel the freshness in the air. I love the cloud floating at the bottom of the cliffs and all the big water with great reflections. I'm undecided about the pines on the right. There's a lot to look at here.

Harley

This is just drop dead gorgeous.  Everything about it.  Makes me want to be there

 

Very cool scene!  Compwise...not sure my thoughts...feels heavy weighted to the right but maybe doesnt matter.  Pretty stuff though.

aF

The spring greens look fresh and the low cloud sets them off nicely.  My only nit suggestion might be to clone out the underwater branch along the bottom center edge by the tip of the reflected tree,

Wow, Harley. This image has it all, not the least of which is that it is both beautiful and unique, and stands out among the thousands of  "good" Yosemite valley images. I like that you were able to get some of EL Cap in the bg, given this image a sense of place.