Elk Mountains

Continuing with my black and white theme, here’s a shot of the Elk Mountains in Colorado that I took while backpacking there last year.  I’m working through John Beardworth book, Advanced Digital Black & White Photography, in order to improve my b&w images.  This book has taught me the basic digital b&w methodologies (both historically and currently), it has helped me understand the use of color, masking, dodging, and burning.  I highly recommend the book for those wanting to learn b&w.  However, I’m also aware that technique is not enough.  There is always the artist’s choices of shadow, brightness, cropping, focal points, etc. that make (or break) a photograph.  I can’t get that from a book.  However, I can get it becoming a student of other photographers.  Take the time to read books like Beardworth’s.  Then go further by studying photographs.  Figure out what you like and work at emulating it in your own work.

4 Responses to “Elk Mountains”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Not my fav. I can’t tell if it’s sunny or rainy; spring, summer or fall. It’s an angry looking, sad picture to me. Uninviting.

  2. Joey Clifton says:

    Thanks for the response. I really appreciate the feedback. What do you think I could do differently? Do I need to lighten the sky to make it look more sunny? Perhaps I should have framed it differently and picked up more of the light colored trees in the front of the picture. On the other hand, sometimes the Rocky Mountains are simply barren, angry, and sad looking.

  3. Anonymous says:

    My eye isn’t drawn to anything in particular…..it’s too much. I agree, the Rockies are overwhelming in general!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Hummmm….I think w/o the light colored trees in the foreground this would be perfect. I like the darkness of it. Maybe a tad more sky….it’s such an emposing mountain.

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