The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
These are three perspectives of the same scene at Big Creek in the Smokies. Taken in April, when the dogwood was nearly past (you can see the tiny leaves that appear after flowering), I like the combination of flowers and leaf buds. I was going to hang this in a recent show but got behind on the printing, matting, and framing.
Specific Feedback
Does it work? Is it interesting?
Technical Details
Canon EOS 5DsR, 70-200 f/4 lens; ISO 640, f/22, 4 sec.
Susanna, what an interesting triptych you presented here. I like looking at the photos and delving into the different perspectives you used to obtain each photo. I especially liked one and three. In my head, I am envisioning flipping one of those images (1 and 3) and bringing 2 more centered eliminating some of its lower space. You created a nice combination indeed.
I’m enjoying the ambiguity of the background. Cirrus clouds in the sky? Ripples in the water? Does it matter? (No it does not!)
I also like the negative space in the second image. We often think of plants as static and passive, but on their own time scale they strive and explore as much as we animals do. The second image feels like the dogwood is reaching into the center of the frame.
This definitely works! The B/W is lovely and the BGs add balance and interest. I love how the two bookends point to the center image. I wonder if the water could be made a bit lighter in the right panel and darkened a bit in the left, to balance them more. And maybe a bit lighter in the lower left area of the center piece, to balance the blooms just a bit.
I love dogwood when the leaves are just coming out!
Another artistic work Susanna. I love the background in all the three photos, your delicate elegant and light touch, the creative compositions. I photographed flowers for many years focusing manly to colors but you make my think that I have lost a lot of opportunities.
Thanks, Egidio! I will take a look at your suggestions, especially flipping one of the end images. Not sure if I have enough of the middle one to shift it as you suggest. I’ll take a look at the original to see if there is any room to do that. Cheers!
Thanks, Dan! The ambiguity is something that appeals to me, also. Your comment about plants striving to explore as we do is so true. I saw a really interesting time-lapse video of tulips (I think—it was several years ago, pre-covid) that was taken over several days. It showed how the flowers (in a vase) moved here and there over that time. Fascinating!
Diane, thanks! Great ideas. I’ll work on those suggestions. And I just got a message telling me to reply in one post. Sorry about the multiples! I’m still getting used to the protocols.
Absolutely! Wonderful job and great idea and execution on the triptych.
I’m glad you mentioned this because being the nitpicky analytic that I am I started noticing this was the same set of dogwood leaves, only in different orientations and comps… And what that does for me is make this triptych even more impressive!
Agree with Diane on the “bookend” with the more open comp in the middle - of course I don’t think any other arrangment of the 3 would work. So another great call!
No other suggestions really other than I wish I had a larger view!
Absolutely! Wonderful job and great idea and execution on the triptych.
Susanna Euston:
These are three perspectives of the same scene at Big Creek in the Smokies.
I’m glad you mentioned this because being the nitpicky analytic that I am I started noticing this was the same set of dogwood leaves, only in different orientations and comps… And what that does for me is make this triptych even more impressive!
Agree with Diane on the “bookend” with the more open comp in the middle - of course I don’t think any other arrangment of the 3 would work. So another great call!
No other suggestions really other than I wish I had a larger view!
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Susanna Euston: