The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
I feel this image is well balanced, and also has a nice amount of contrast between the sun, the light on the snow, and the ditch running through the frame. However, I feel I could have included something to make it more interesting perhaps.
Creative direction
With this image I wanted to convey a feeling of a peaceful cold. I also wanted to convey a feeling of stillness and space away from the noise of the world. I feel at the end of the day (at least for me) that there is a life to this image and also a feeling of desolation or lifelessness, hence why I called it ‘barren fertility’.
Specific Feedback
What are you r thoughts on the aesthetic, and the execution of the minimalistic style in this photo?
Technical Details
ISO 64, 25 mm, f11, 1/100 s Nikon Z7ii
Description
This image was a bit of a spur of the moment image. I was on a work trip in McCall Idaho when I woke up one morning to fog everywhere. I wanted to make a composition of some fog and trees, although I did not have time to search for a composition. However, when I drove by this field I knew I needed to make time to stop. I didn’t intentionally seek out the ditch but when I found it where it was I knew the composition I needed to make.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I like this photo very much. First I love the color gradient in the sky from the soft yellow near the sun to the soft blue on the opposite side. The low angle of light helped bring out the texture in the snow and the shadows are still lit by primarily blue sky light adding to the overall contrast. You choice of composition is also well done as the ditch leads the eye all through the frame. Strong graphic elements throughout, yet it invokes a sense of peace and tranquility.
Hi Bryant,
I am very much enjoying the minimalism of this snow covered landscape. I also like the lack of scale as it makes me study the image a bit more as I try to figure out exactly what I am viewing. The contrasting warm and cool tones also works beautifully here as well and the ditch makes a perfect leading line drawing the viewer into the scene… My only suggestion would be to clone out two dark specs on the right edge near the horizon line. Beautifully done and welcome to NPN. I hope to see more of your images as well as your critiques.
Welcome to NPN, Bryant. Looking forward to seeing more images from you and hopefully helping others out with your critiques. Looking at your website, I’m sure you have some great advice to give. I really love the simplicity of this image. When I viewed the thumbnail, I thought it might be the top of a cloud inversion. Colors and composition are great. THere’s certainly enough there to keep my interest. My only critique is two black specs in URC. They’re really eye catchers.
Great spur of the moment catch Bryant. This has a disorienting feel that works very well. I agree with @Jim_Erhardt about the lack of scale; the lack of a frame of reference adds to the mystique.
I’d be curious to see what a blend with a bracketed image to make the sun smaller would look like, but it’s certainly fine as is. I also agree about those spots that @Michael_Lowe noted; fortunately that’s an easy fix.
Marvellous image, Bryant. The subtle colour gradient, soft textures, and the wonderful curving line trailing off towards the horizon, give this image a hypnotic quality that is very compelling. The colour palette is superb with the yellow-orange in upper left being a perfect compliment to the blue-violet below. All in all, a beautifully meditative image. I do have the same nit to pick as @Michael_Lowe , namely the two black speck, which I assume are birds. Because they are too small to discern they do become distractions.
