Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks so much for your time and viewpoint, Dave!

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

A beautiful area, and how blessed are you to have it close at hand! Interesting opinions and suggestions offered here, but ultimately it's your own vision of how you want this.

Of them all, I like Frank 2013's reversed image best. There's more balance to it with the plume of smoke, and the weighting seems to me to work better with the volcano on the right side, as it creates a crescendo for the image, rising tension, which to me works better than the decrescendo or anti-climax of the original. But again, it's your vision, not mine, that counts.

I have no idea whether there's a rule about it, but I prefer to weight my own stuff to the right, not the left. Build tension, don't decrease it. I think it works better. Just a personal preference based on observation and the way we read. Rules are not absolutes, but mostly they're rules for a reason.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks so much for your input, Randy. We have had quite a few discussions here - and many flips by Frank - about composing the subject to the left or right. I also prefer having space for the eye to lead into the frame.

However, with a major, immovable - lol - landmark such as this, I doubt I'd ever be comfortable switching around reality :)

ediesaul

I like your original image the best. I like seeing the little town nestled in front of the mountain. I especially like the tonal range down there in comparison to the tones in subsequent images. The details are clearer. I think it is a lovely image, Linda!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thank you, Edie! I'm so glad you enjoyed.

The crops were done in a little Chromebook app and at lower resolution, so that might be the difference in what you're seeing tone-wise.

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Hi Linda
I like the original shot as posted. I think it is one of your most informative images. You have heard some of my thoughts regarding a"sense of place". This perspective evokes a finite sense of humanity in a very large environment. For me it is a very complete and contained depiction of place. I really like it! Your processing is just right.
All the best, Phil

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thank you so much for your comments, Phil! I'm particularly grateful that you found a "sense of place" in the details. Much appreciated!

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I like the grain. I also like the sepia treatment here. I like it just the way it is; but I would still try it with less sky. The grain is nice; but I wonder how it would look if there were less of it. The sky is less interesting in this shot than the rest of the photo, so putting the horizon line higher in the composition put the viewers eye on the land where, in my opinion, it belongs with this shot. I also think the steam on the right adds a lot to this image. Really nice. It is different and interesting. I think it stands up well to scrutiny.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks so much for your time and viewpoint, Erich! I do like it with less sky. I'm going to post a version with a slight bit of color (and much less grain) in photo gallery tomorrow, along with some other gray-ish shots :)