Bamboo with White Wall + Reposts

Image Critiques Abstract Nature Critiques
1

Different Crop, Same Tonality

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untitled-2NPNWebLrg-NPNWebLrg 4.9mb-62400×1920 741 KB

Different Crop, More Wall Stains/Cracks

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Original

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untitled-2NPNWebLrg-NPNWebLrg 4.9mb-2.jpg2400×2400 1.06 MB

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

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

Does this image draw you in? make you curious?
Does it bring you calm while looking at it?

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

This is bamboo in front of the white wall as you enter Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden. I liked the simplicity and stark contrast in the field, and when I got home, I decided to accentuate that with a high contrast treatment while trying to maintain the ethereal quality of high key.

The wall does have some cracks, stains, etc, and I tried to minimize those with exposure adjustments rather than a removal too.

Technical Details

I was renting a mirrorless and lens to see if I wanted to make this shift, so this is:
Canon R6ii, 15-35mm L at 35mm
ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/30s

Interestingly (and more as an aside) the camera was set to a static white balance color temp of 3100. No idea why someone would do that unless they were reading off a card and trying to get a specific look. I shot all day before noticing it. I shifted wb to 4936 before doing the black and white conversion. As a side note, the color temp affects contrast in the black and white. I know this from using Nik SilverEfex too (kind of a blue v. red or yellow color has a different tone in black and white), but I never thought of color temp slider as offering that adjustment so simply in LR.

Specific Feedback

I’m always open to whatever feedback you are moved to offer. In particular, I’m curious about the following:

  1. Are the stains and cracks on the wall distracting?
  2. Does the bamboo leaving the frame on the right distract you or take you out of the image?
  3. The bamboo had some weathered edges, and I don’t know whether that looks like a problem in processing to those who look closely or whether it is clear that it’s bamboo in November.

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:

2

I like the effect, Marylynne. The white wall imperfections don’t bother me. You asked about the leaves exiting the right side. The larger leaves in the lower area don’t bother me a bit, but the base of the one at the top of the stem that leaves does seem to pull my eye out of the frame. Well seen and executed image.

Odd that the rental place didn’t reset the camera between renters. I think there’s a “return to default” function on every camera I’ve owned.

3

The Simplicity and Tone is really nice. A very delicate image and works great in B&W. I would like to see more of the stains. The weathered leaves are fine. Very natural to my way of thinking. Maybe a slight vignette. Well Done. !!!

4

Thanks for the feedback @Dennis_Plank. Feel free to share the vignette version, @Gill_Vanderlip. I have another crop that is horizontal, which has more space in the right. I’ll process it to reveal more wall flaws and see what folks think.
ML