Crop to minimize the OOF area. It’s feeling tight now. The stick got unattractive to the left and this is the bottom of the frame, but I could add canvas to the bottom.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I’ve been short of material lately – the birds are scarce, the flowers are just starting, and it has been raining a lot. So I went with the program and found this little scene. The light-colored strands are baby Lace Lichen; I don’t know what the yellow stuff is but maybe the same stuff that provides such nice yellow detail in bird perches when dried-up.
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
A focus stack. Minor shadow-highlight adjustments in LR; then Zerene Stacker DMap, then into PS for Topaz denoise. Nothing more except a slight crop for composition.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Diane: I love drop shots and this is a good one. Creates kind of a dreary winter mood and does it very well. My only suggestion would be to crop away the top of the limb that is OOF as its lack of sharpness is such a contrast to the rest of the image. I also like the BG and the refracted image inside the drop. Nice find and a fine presentation.>=))>
Neato as we used to say in the dark ages. Nice square crop and diagonal. So much to love in all that detail and color. The water drop seems HUGE compared to the structures in the lichens. BG is so nice and smooth. Agree with Bill about the OOF bit in the corner. It could go I think.
Diane, this was a nice find since the subjects for winter months are scarce. I’m having the same problem. There is some ice on the trees today, but it is colder than I want to be in, and I have fallen more than once on ice and snow, so I try to avoid it. I like @Bill_Fach suggestion about the OOF portion. That BG is really nice and just makes the limb and drop stand out nicely.
Thanks, @Bill_Fach, @Kris_Smith and @Shirley_Freeman! Sounds like the OOF area needs work. I let focus drop off there to keep the eye in the frame, but it sounds like that isn’t working. I’m thinking a crop will feel tight for the rest of the frame but I’ll have a look.
EDIT: RP now added above.
Shirley, do you know about the range of traction devices for shoes? Go to REI and search for traction devices. There are a range of them – be aware the cheaper ones can also slip off more easily but it you are walking carefully and on reasonable level ground they are very effective. The more rugged ones (crampons) are too much for something like a snowy sidewalk. Here is one example:
Thank you for the info, Diane. I hadn’t heard of that brand before. I knew there were traction devices out there and I probably should own some just in case, but I usually just don’t go out in the bad slippery stuff anymore. The last fall I had on ice 10 years ago I shatter my left wrist, so had to have surgery to put a plate and screws in.
