Prepping for Fall +RP

Lon, This is very nice. This composition works great and the light is wonderful. The colors are beautiful, warm and inviting, then the reflections are just wonderful. I like it very much. 
Not bad for the first time out with a borrowed DSLR...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

This image is just screaming with quiet, Lon.  Very peaceful feel and I think I prefer the rippled reflection over a seldom seen glass reflection. The colors and the 50/50 comp work really well. When I first looked at this, the dark left side jumped out in the smaller version, but adds a proper sense of mystery in the large view. So, the larger question is "Do you regret the change?".  No nits from me, I like it.

Wonderfully composed, Lon. The rich but muted tones are beautiful. Hard to come up with improvement suggestions other than that I could see opening up the shadows a touch above the left shoreline. Nice work.  

Thanks for the comments thus far!

@Dave - I've had previous feedback about that darker area.  I'll take a look at that.  In fact, seeing this on NPN now, the image perhaps could be brightened, if only slightly.  It's a tad dark globally, and given this is in pretty much fill sun, all be it, late light, this could be brighter. Especially in the shadows.  Thanks for mentioning.

@Gary  

Do you regret the change?

If you mean going digital?  No I don't regret.  I still have a great love for just the whole process of the large format and being able to hold a piece of film in your hand.... But I certainly don't regret the switch. For me it was purely a practical decision, nothing more or less.  Of course now, I can click the shutter freely - which is 100 times more than before, which isn't always a good thing.  But I still enjoy  the ability to capture images of nature, being out there and just enjoying the experience.  That hasn't changed!  Thanks for asking!

My only nit is is appears a bit crunchy (common jpeg compression?).
The colors are natural and very attractive.
No mention of your settings, but maybe a longer SS would have smoothed out the water a bit.

Thank you for the feedback, suggestions and observations!  I've incorporated a few changes, subtle, but hopefully an improvement.

@Paul - thanks!  And very interesting that you mentioned the "two snags."  One looks at an image too long, and I can tell you I never once noticed or considered that secondary snag! but now that you mention it, I see it! And their leanings.  Good stuff!

@Dave, I've raised the levels using a TK Triple play layer (yes, still using them!)  Any number of ways to increase the shadows there.

And @Dan, yeah, I see the crunchiness.  Happens a lot with fine detail like autumn leaves.  I use TK's web sharpening and for this alternate I backed way off on the opacity of the sharpening layer.  Hopefully this one is less crunchy.

It's one of the great things about providing and receiving feedback.  Having that opportunity to improve our images and our work.

Also, learning tips from Dan and some other examples by Dave - to try longer shutter speeds to see the effects in reflections where the water isn't just a mirror.  I'll have to remember this!

thanks again!

Lovely, peaceful image, Lon.  I love the darker nature of the image and the wonderful composition, but I find the large, dark shadow on the left to be a real eye magnet.  It's stranger, the darkness in the reflection isn't so bothersome as the actual shadow.  I might try opening the shadow a good bit and see if that helps.

Great colors here and I think opening up the shadows in the repost is even better.  This is one of my favorite areas for fall colors on the east side.  I'm also heading up this weekend and plan on a morning hike up Lundy.  I haven't been up yet this season but hear the colors around June Lake are at their peak.

Hi Lon, I love the design of this composition. It is split in the middle but I find that if offers symmetry with a twist. I suppose that is courtesy of the dominant trunk and its slight lean. The colors are gorgeous and with the slightly opened up darks it is perfect.

I'll keep an eye out for your photos from this fall.

Lon, I'm really enjoying this scene. I think that you did well to brighten up that left shadow area. It doesn't pull my eye there in the repost. I still think it could be just a bit brighter in the lighter areas now.

The repost looks very nice, Lon, especially the details in the shadows. To me, this looks a tad a on the red side, which is noticeable in the gree fir on the right. You might try reducing the red a bit and increasing brightness the yellow.

I have always liked the beaver ponds in Lundy, but it is challenging to get good compositions there. You did very well here.
--P