Rock House Reservation is another of the Trustees of Reservations properties and is located in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. It is pretty easy to get there (right on Route 9) and I’m ashamed to say this was my first visit.
For me, the highlight is the pond and the short half mile trail which includes a trailside museum. At first approach there is a nice rock feature in the water with a great reflection. I tried to portray this three ways although there is not much variation in the composition…only in how much sky is presented and how I processed the light. I hope one appeals to you.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Usually I’m trying to get the sky into photographs because it generally adds so much. In some ways it does here, but your rocks, colors and tree mirroring are so much stronger in the first image, that it gets my vote. I say the one without the sky is the best in this case.
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Thank you for your comment David. The first is also my preference, but someone elsewhere asked about having the sky show and I did try several compositions so posted a few to see how people felt about them. So far the votes are split. Thanks for weighing in.
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I still like all three…on their own merit. If I were forced to choose one, I’d choose the second one, I think…I love that sky, with those wispy clouds. But, they’re all good. Argh…so hard to choose! Can I just have all 3? 🙂
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Thanks Greg. I appreciate your enthusiastic response to them. I have already gone on record as preferring the first, so there I am. But that said I do like them all and prefer the second over the third. Now what do I say if someone likes the third the best. 🙂
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I prefer the bottom comp; it has a better balance, though the foliage could use more color.
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Hi Gustav. I guess your vote means that all three work for folks and for a variety of reasons which is exactly why we all shoot scenes with different results. Thanks for adding your input and the visit to the blog as well as the suggestion for the color. I definitely need to visit your part of New England one of these days.
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I agree with your note to Gustav. If I were to rank the order, I like the middle one first. It offers an interesting perspective not normally scene in photos. I do agree the trees and foreground could be punched, however, to yield the brightness of the first picture. I like your original picture next because of the true balance it exhibits. There is a balance between the tranquility of the picture with the tension created by the converging diagonal lines. Then there is the third picture. I don’t care for the single wispy cloud when you have more dramatic clouds in the reflection. The sky is pale compared to the remainder of the picture, and I find that a bit distracting. However, what do I know, I am just starting out as a student of photography and have a lot to learn, so why should I even be so bold as to offer my comments anyway?
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Firstly, thanks for visiting the blog and for leaving a comment, Dee.
I appreciate your commenting on all three shots and what you do and don’t care for about each. We have a tendency to fall in love with our images and it is great to hear what others think of them and why, so thanks again.
As far as “what do I know”, that is not a factor at all. We all learn from the critiques of others and whether you are just learning or a seasoned pro, if one puts thought into their analysis then any commentary is useful to both the person who took the image and the person learning the craft. Both the viewer and the presenter learn constantly. So you should never hesitate to offer your impressions.
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I’m gonna go with one and three. I like the first one for its abstract nature but three really captures my attention.
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Thanks Frank. I’m enjoying the different responses to the images and appreciate you adding to the comments.
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#1 and #2….just absolutely stunning….not that there is anything wrong with #3.
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Thanks Greg. I appreciate your taking a look and doing some choosing.
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All three are excellent, but I agree with David. The first one best brings out the strength of the rocks and reflections, which to me are the heart of this scene.
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Well that’s embarrassing! Sorry it took me two months to approve your comment pj. I don’t know how I missed it. I appreciate you visiting (even though it may not have seemed that way). You are with the majority as am I regarding the first composition. Thanks.
I hope you will visit again…I will be a bit more prompt. 🙂
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Nice conversation you’ve got going here! I like them all as well, but 1 and 3 seem the most balanced compositions. Beautiful still water and clear reflections.
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Thanks Tom. I’m glad that they all seem to have their appeal.
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Hi Stephen,
Isn’t this a great location. If you’re there on the right day(s) which you were, it’s truly amazing. I’m going with number one as it reduces the number of elements and, for me, makes the rocks jump off the page. (It also does have more punch. I know what the other commentators are saying. That middle stand of trees on the far bank is going to get dark if you include the sky in the composition and then some type of boost could be of interest.) Don’t you wonder if the big one isn’t trying to catch the smaller one? Well done.
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Thank you James. I’m really sorry that I only just visited Rock House. I’ll definitely be there again in the Spring…maybe before.
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nice captures, I think that the first one is the best
cheers!
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Thank you for the comment, nomountainsinaustria.
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Hi Steve. What a great find! I have never seen rocks like these before – with the reflection, they look like giant arrowheads. I like the first and third the best.
Sharon
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Thanks Sharon. I always wonder how large rocks end up in some of these places. Obviously, the glaciers left most behind, but some show up in places you would not think of with glaciers. They are really interesting rocks. There are others that somehow arranged themselves as a shelter on the grounds nearby which is how the place was named..
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I’m late to the party, but I’ll go with that the first commenter said about preferring the first image. By closing in more on the rocks you emphasize their angularity, which harmonizes with the reflections of the trees. I find the blue sky and bright clouds distracting in the other two views.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
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Hi Steve. There’s no end to the party, so any timing works. I appreciate your visit and comment.
Well, we usually love our images, so I do like all three. But the first is my preference too and was the first composition I shot. But as photographers we’re never satisfied and explore other views. So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…but the first is my favorite..
Thanks.
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