Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
Really curious on what your reactions and impressions are. What does this make you think of? The title is slightly ambiguous on purpose.
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Image Description
Another of many ICM’s I produced while on a photo trip to Sonora Pass, CA last summer. The area photographed was within the Donnell Fire of 2018.
Most ICM’s result in images that emphasize shapes, lines, colors, etc. and have little emotional value or response. But every once in a while, emotional responses can be achieved thru these random techniques. I have somewhat of an emotional reaction to this result - all be it, maybe because I was there behind the camera…?
Beyond the fairly obvious subject of trees and forest in a landscape with a mountain ridge and some sky, I see an alien landscape… or even worse, like the after effects of armegedeon… what the landscape might look like in the future on earth, or even life on another planet. Who knows?
Technical Details
Nikon Z7ii , 28-400mm @31mm f/22 1/4s @iso31.
2-exposure, ICM in camera. Vertical and horizontal motions
Specific Feedback
All reactions, comments and suggestions welcome. I’m especially interested to know if this invokes any emotional response, or is it simply another gimmicky ICM?
Thank you!
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
My first response was one of deep appreciation. This is beautiful art. I love the flowing look from side to side punctuated by the vertical structures.
i love love love it. That was my first response!
I love the composition, the colors, I love the title, too. I even like the green color and I usually don’t like green.
It makes me think of a reflection. Late winter trees, no leaves, blue hour, reflections in a body of water. It might not be that, it might be a multiple exposure that makes it look like that, but it doesn’t matter. I see reflection.
I like the color palette. It looks like brush strokes of paint. Wild that you are coming up with these in-camera.
After Reading Your Description:
I could see the ridge line and the verticals I could tell were trees. Did not realize it was in the burn scar. Since I could not tell where it was taken, I had no emotional response to it the way you had, since you are standing there viewing a burn scar which always brings an emotional response in me when I personally view a burn scar.
The horizontal motion layer makes me think of a peaceful estuary, Lon. The vertical lines look like a seismograph and that estuary is about to get hit by a tsunami.
Ok, maybe left field, but my initial reaction was schizophrenia because of the disjoint vertical and horizontal lines, some being curved, but despite the cool and calming colour palette.
My reaction is beauty in motion. Beautiful colors, contrasting lines, and flow. I’m not an abstract kind of guy usually, but when I do get tempted to the dark side it is with an image like this; that is exceptional Lon.
Thanks for the comments Youssef. Yeah, I’m thinking more now that this stems from, and related to that discussion from Tom, “Trends in Landscape Photography,” where I’ve done the broad landscapes, I’ve been doing the intimate nature portraits, and since I’m a creature of habit and visit the same places over and over again, I guess it’s just a progression to find new ways to see the same old scenes. Maybe that’s it. But I’m enjoying it for sure.
Thank you all. I’m glad this resonated with some of you. Interesting too because this was a capture that I didn’t even open to process until just a few days ago. In fact, the blue/green areas could almost be classified as an unexpected outcome with the dark blending mode in the multiple exposure mode of the camera. I’ve had several instances where these colors appear, that weren’t part of the original scene, including this one. Weird.
Anyway, I have gobs of these now so i’ll try and space them out.
Somehow I missed this one earlier – and glad I found it because I love it!! It evokes a reflection to me, and a very pleasant one even though a bit wonky. I’m not sure I would have identified the ridge line if you hadn’t pointed it out. I love the “stuff” happening in the center with calmer lines top and bottom. Quite wonderful! Keep 'em coming!
