The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
We often go to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia in the fall. We were a little past peak this time, but the contrast of the various leaf colors against the cliff face in this scene caught my eye.
Specific Feedback
I’ve played around with making the cliffs darker, and the image more contrasty, but overall I’ve preferred sticking closer to the scene as I saw it.
Technical Details
Taken with a Sony A7riv and a Tamron 28-75 zoom at 54 mm and f/9. Processed in Lightroom, mostly with global exposure and color adjustments, but with some local adjustments as well
This is lovely! I really like the distribution of colors tones as well as the nice balance/mix of trees and rock. Just a very pleasing comp that keeps me engaged and exploring all the details.
Although I wasn’t there, I’d say you’ve made a good choice in the processing.
The only minor suggestion I have would be to selectively moderate the color/saturation of the two trees in the LRC. Mind you, not because of the color/saturation as those are consistent across the frame. But I think because they are on top of each other and the density of all the leaves in just those two trees, makes them more prominent and thus pull the eye and weights the image to that side - slightly. Again, a pretty minor point, so take the observation with a grain of salt.
Although there are beautiful elements in your image I feel it’s too busy. I have a hard time where to look. The trees in the upper right corner seem to be main focus (or the lower right). A crop that includes 60% of the right seems to make sense.
This has a slight abstract quality to it. As @Igor_Doncov points out there is a risk of losing focus, but I find the wonderful mix of colors and texture to be pleasing.
@Lon_Overacker , I’ve taken your suggestion and tried lower the saturation of the trees in the lower right corner. I also darkened them a bit. Actually even in the first version I’d done something similar to a tree in the upper left corner. I’ve also slightly increased the saturation and brightness of the tree in the middle of the picture.
@Igor_Doncov , I tried a few cropping off some of the left of the photo, but it seemed to unbalance things. There is no perfect solution, but I hope the changes I have made help emphasize the center of the phot a bit better
@John_Williams It was the mixture of different colors and textures in the actual scene that first interested me.
Hi Will, Harper’s Ferry is one of our favorite places! Every time we’ve gone to Washington, we’ve gone by there.
I agree that the autumn colors in your image are lovely, but I also agree with Igor that it’s very busy and challenging to view in toto. My eye isn’t sure where to go. I understand your desire to stick closer to the scene as you saw it, but I’d like to suggest that you consider moving it from a documentary photograph to one that will pull in the viewer and keep them in the image. Working with the contrast and color (selectively) to minimize some of the trees and increase the presence of others, with the goal of creating a path through the image that the eye can follow, might make a big difference. The arc of trees in the foreground could become a focal point (by slightly desaturating the tree in the middle — I hope this makes sense…). You can use the masking tools in LR to make these edits. I hope this is helpful! But, if you’re happy with it, as is, that’s what’s important.
