What could I have done to make this a better pic? Crop off the top?

Question: What could I have done to make this a better pic!? Crop off the top!?

I'm a beginning beginner at photography, I know it's hard to take a bad pic in Yosemite, but I know I have taken many, lol!. This is one of my favorites, 'tho!. Any suggestions!?
http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/24078431@N0!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Okay, here is my idea!.!.!.
You should have been closer to the water, bent down and take to photo looking up at the hills!.!.!.
The water from this angle sort of looks like asphalt, and the hills are really hard to pick out too!. But, from a angle looking up they would appear larger than the trees!.!.!.and if you are closer to the water, more of the movement would be captured!.!.!.
I love the scenery!.!.!.

Faery Watcher has a great point, I would also recommend repositioning the camera to portrait, verses landscape angle!.!.!. (hold the camera sideways, instead of the normal position)!.!.!. THANKS for pointing out my obvious exclusion!.!.!.

Saw your new post that you were standing on a bridge!.!.!.and couldn't get close to the water!. So my thoughts would be use the same techniques I described above, but get the side of the bridge in the photo, verses close to the water!.!.!. You still need to try to get the tops of those mountains in it too!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

El Capitan is wonderful!.!.!.and so is the one of the mountain tops with whisps of snow blowing off of them!.
his photo only needed you to have turned the camera (I think) so it was not a 'landscape' shot!. The river might have been sacrificed for the tops of the mountains---& justifiably so!.
JJH!.!.!.!.Right On! ALL the way! She gets Best!.Answer in my book!. She's so right about the river looking like asphalt!.!.!.Getting closer to it with the camera pointing UP!.!.!.would have caused the eye more joy!.!.!.and less !?!?!?!?
I'm on Webshots ("MissWebshot") is my moniker!. I have safed your site in my Faves!.!.!.c-ya there!Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's a splendid scene!. I think your apprehension stems from the fact that there is so much similar shape and tonal value throughout the photo!. A beautiful landscape nonetheless!. Needs a point of focus!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i agree with the fact it needs a point of focus, i dont know where to look first in the picture, have you tried cropping off the top to see what it will look like!?

at the end of the day it's personal preference, so do what you think looks better !Www@QuestionHome@Com

Another way: Zoom out a bit, capture scene in a portrait orientation!. I am sure you will like it!. Try it on this one or any other river shots (by cropping)
(e!.g!. http://picasaweb!.google!.com/ajay0612/NEE!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Wow very nice, but I'd like to see the top of the mountain, if it's at all possible!.
I know, turn the camera sideways and do a panoramic shot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's rather nice as it is!.

You could crop a tiny bit a the top if you like, but not too much to emphasise more the river and make it more intimate!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Absolutely nothing sweetie, that pic is truely beautiful, its looks perfect the way it is, well done! *HUGS*
:)Www@QuestionHome@Com

I am not a professional photographer but your picture looks great to me!. Maybe professionals would be more critical, and if so, I hope they give you some helpful feedback!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Too indistinct!. Can't tell the trees from the mountain behind them!. A different vantage point, maybe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would keep it as is!. Great picture!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nice photo!. I'd crop the top to focus more on the river!. Try it in B&W with more contrast!.Www@QuestionHome@Com