The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Another image from last Saturday. The horse and rider didn’t seem to quite agree on the best thing to do here. They did make it over the jump and the rider’s expression changes from trepidation bordering on terror as she approached the jump to utter elation as it became clear they had made it was interesting.
Specific Feedback
The horse and rider were in shade and the background was very brightly lit foliage with strong highlights. I tried a myriad of approaches to tame the background, none of which was working. Finally, I put the horse and rider on one layer and took the base layer into SilverEfex to play with black and white. I ended up with a modified version of one of their antique presets and then reduced the opacity of the layer with the horse and rider a fair amount. Does it even come close to working? All suggestions are more than welcome as I have a lot of images with the same issue.
Technical Details
Sony A1, FE 200-600 @ 388 mm, monopod, f/6.3, 1/1600, iso 8000. Noise reduction with DxO PureRaw 5, processing in LR, PS, and Silver Efex 6. Cropped to 4544x3008.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
I meant to comment here but got busy and didn’t gat back. I’m surprised no one else has, as I like this a lot. You caught a decisive moment, and a pretty unique one. (And I’m glad they made it!) You found a very good solution to a common lighting problem. Pushing the image into the graphical realm works well here and the horse and rider are 3D. The lighter vignette works well too. No nits, or even bright ideas!
I saw your image and was hoping someone else would comment before me. Thank you Diane!
Dennis, you oculd not have picked a more difficult situation. I like the image as posted. You’ve caught the reluctant (or let-me-go!) pose of the horse and the not-so-sure rider. I like the lighter vignette but I’m on the fence with the colouring and treatment of the background.
Is there anyway you can get early to an event and pick a spot to wait ? I doubt whether you would be able to move around once the event started.
I’ve been working on a horse portrait that has taken most of the day with trial and error, starting over and just getting fed up. I know how frustrating this can be.
Hi Glennie. Actually, it’s fairly easy to move around during the events and lots of riders are walking the course all the time just staying to one side or another. Your comment made me realize that I probably should have crossed the course and shot into the sun with shaded trees in the background.
Jumpers are high strung horses and they are primed for action, Great poses captured by you. The processing is spot-on and you chose wisely to present this one as an antique preset–which I like very much. Awesome shot!..Jim
