Different Emphasis
Today’s post features two images taken in 2023, at a location known as the White Pocket, in northern Arizona. I’ve used earlier versions of these pictures in a previous post entitled “White Pocket” in April 2023. I have re-worked these two images, applying new techniques I have recently introduced to my photos. This new approach puts a greater emphasis on tone sculpting (the strength of light and dark tones) and colour separation (greater distinction between similar colours).
This first picture features strong contrast between the dark tones of the rock structure and the light tones of the sky and pond. I’ve enhanced the detail and drawn out the dark red hue in the rock surrounding the pond.
This photograph features a variety of similar colours, making it a good candidate for colour separation. It also features greater tonal contrast than the earlier version.
The purpose in developing the images this way is to draw the viewer’s attention to those elements the photographer wishes to highlight, leading the eye through the photo. If I have been successful, I should have drawn your attention to the red and white swirl in the lower left hand corner and the multi-coloured vertical structure in the upper right hand corner of “Colourful Butte”.
Similarly, I hope that the foreground pond and glow of the setting sun have served a similar purpose in “Sunset Pond”. In this case, I suspect you may have paid much less attention to the detail in the darkly shaded rock.
I’ll continue to experiment with this approach, mindful that the techniques employed may not necessarily work for all photographs.