The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
We drove through LA on the way back from a couple weeks in Arizona for the holidays. The smoke from all the fires was dense and stifling, the sky bright red, and we could see flames from the Palisades/Malibu fires in several places. We drove to the top of opposite hills and explored different vantage points, and were able to get some decent images.
I’ve been working on this all week. This is a total composite of bits of several images, hand-drawn stuff, some Gen fill for some of the smoke, and some of the trees borrowed from totally unrelated images. Thanks goes to the old Photo Art Moderator, Marc Ward, who taught me several tricks over the years.
The mass destruction and total losses of many, many thousands of people - many uninsured because of circumstances or being unwillingly dropped by the insurance companies - is incomprehensible to anyone not directly affected. 4 of our good friends in Palisades have lost absolutely everything.
Please consider donating what you can to the relief funds :
Specific Feedback
all thoughts and comments welcome
Technical Details
irrelevant
Critique Template
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A very effective image, Sandy. Technically, the only thing I’d change is to smother the sun in smoke. That’s the way it looks here when we get wildfire smoke-sullen red and able to look directly at it.
Thanks, Dennis. Since your comment, I’ve been pondering why I left the sun so exposed… subconsciously, I think maybe I was leaving room for a little hope. I may re-work it to add the stifling smoke over the sun, which was the way it WAS.
@SandyR-B , I cannot fathom what it looks like in person, especially with fires still burning. Back in 2021 when we had the Marshall fire here in Colorado, it was total devastation and could see flames from the hospital. My wife and I drove through Louisville month’s after that fire and I was just heartbroken for all those residents which included some of my staff and physicians.
This is a great image. With the decreased clarity to the image, it almost feels like a painting.
This is really an amazing image Sandy. Excellent art work here. It would make a great Smoky the Bear campaign poster. I like Dennis’ idea of keeping the sun a bit smokier(?). A lot of our not so near neighbors down here are going through hell these days after losing homes and family members and pets, etc. Incredible work from my perspective.
Maybe, a little smoke or make 2 maybe 3 images to set beside each other showing the little but GREAT differences of fire and smoke. Super shots and excellent artwork. You learned some pretty cool tricks.
I will continue to give help and support. I have 2 sisters and a brother that live there (all fine). I went to school in Burbank. The hills above where I used to live are gone. I try to get daily updates but it’s hard for them. Although their houses did not burn, ALL the people of LA have been affected one way or another. It’s gonna be years before it’s…
THANKS
Sandy, this is a very powerful image, would even be beautiful if not for the fact of all the lives and homes lost. Nicely presented and we did make a donation to Americares last week.
