Critique Style Requested: In-depth
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
Revisiting one from the vault. The trees, against the sky over distant fields combined with their reflection in the water below created a kind of “overwhelming verticality” that I found beautiful. More details under ‘creative direction’.
Creative direction
My goal at the time was simply to capture that overwhelmingly vertical feeling and my amazement at the complexity of the whole chaotic scene. I was also captivated by the trees as a kind of foreground screen with the distant background of empty winter farm fields. I don’t recall putting a lot of deep thought into composition other than to represent what I was feeling. I have variations with the horizon lower and higher, but this one seems to be ‘right’ for what I was trying to accomplish. Of course, it was originally shot in color on a Sony A7 using a Zeiss Loxia 35mm lens, but it seems better to me in monochrome.
Specific Feedback
Seven years later I’m still fascinated by this image and I’m curious if its “just me” or if it appeals at all to others. Any feedback would be great.
Technical Details
In retrospect, I would have used different camera settings and have other ideas how to do this better.
Description
Shot in 2016 while out for a gray winter day hike in a nearby swampy area called Bell Slough. The trail through this part of the forest is encased by tangles of vines and thousands of spindly trees growing in the water. It makes for chaotic forest scenes in every direction. I have more from this walk and subsequent visits. I shot black and white film for years and still love the B&W film look.
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Hi John, I see and feel the chaos in the photo and also feel that it is trying to convey a message of stillness and cold. I like the reflections and the b&w treatment. I’m not sure what you could do better if this is the message you were trying to share. Maybe crop in more? Or just show the reflections? I’m not the best at critiquing, so I’m sure you will get more feedback from the pros here. I was just getting ready to post a similar photo in color.
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Hi Roberta,
Thanks for taking the time to look and comment. I appreciate your thoughts about initial reactions.
Hello John, I really like the complexity of this image! The tension created by the different layers works, but I feel that it needs something to pull it together a bit more. Increasing the contrast might do that. That’s just a guess on my part. If you try it, I’d love to see what effect it has. Also, a levels adjustment layer to lighten the water in the foreground and slightly darken the mid-tones might make a difference. Thanks for sharing it!
John, this one immediately stopped me when I saw it earlier! I just love it! The order/chaos is fun to explore. I love the reflections at the bottom. The way you have treated the split tone of it is very interesting to me. Gives it a very vintage vibe. There is one out of focus twig in the far upper right corner that appears to be out of focus, I’d consider cloning it if that is your type of thing.
The one suggestion I had was to slightly darken the foreground. I used a lights luminosity mask to target the brighter tones without darkening the mid/dark tones. In my mind it gives it a more uniform feel and also increased the abstract nature of it. I had a play with flipping it which changes the image entirely but had a really cool effect as well.
Thanks for sharing!
I can see the attraction of this image. It has an almost hypnotic affect on the viewer. It does have a nice design to it. My overall sense is that it could be made a bit wider by cropping a bit off the top and bottom but haven’t tried it to see if that is true in reality. I do like @David_Wallace’s suggestion as well. It further takes you away from reality.
David… thanks for your comments and reflections (pun intended) on this image! I hadn’t thought of flipping it, will try that on some of the other images from this place. I was going for the vintage look and Nik Silver Efex seems quite good for that. I like the ‘more uniform’ approach of the modification you made. Will experiment more. When I first considered posting it, I wasn’t sure whether to put in as a “Landscape” or “Abstract”. Thanks again!
Susanna, I appreciate hearing your first impressions and suggestions. Its very interesting to hear specifics about what works or doesn’t work in a photo. Thanks!
Hi Igor… “Almost hypnotic” is what I felt when I was there. I’ll try your cropping suggestions. Thanks very much for your insights.
So many have already said some of the very things I would have, so I’m just going to say that I love this image overall!
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John,
If this doesn’t define the term “Order fron Chaos,” I don’t know what does.
I can only imagine what it was like - not only standing there… but getting there. Sure seems like a tangled mess… but certainly worth the effort. Congrats!
I re-read and picked up on your comment, “overwhelming verticality”. And so I’m not sure my edit will win you over. I certainly appreciate the vertical nature of the scene and how it would have been overwhelming in person.
From a chaotic point of view, I’m wondering if the shorter, fatter crop emphasizes that sense of order from chaos? Then again, now I think of jail bars… so not sure if this is a better interpretation. Also, the original appears like a sepia rendition? I went ahead and tried to see what neutralizing the tint would be like. Here’s my interpretation.
For sure, this is quite mezmerizing actually. Thanks for posting!
