The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Photographed on a November morning after a fine sunrise at Tunnel View. I wanted to invoke the stillness and calm of the morning as the sun just began to burn off the fog.
Specific Feedback
Is it too flat? Could I possibly glow up the leaves a bit? If so, how? I don’t want to take away from the feeling by shouting in church.
Technical Details
Nikon D800, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8
Critique Template
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Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
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Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
Very nice, and atmospheric image, Robert. The oak looks just fine to me since I like the somewhat muted color. The rising mist is wonderful, but there is one spot just right of the tree that is a little hot. The subdued background forest lets the tree and meadow standout.
I’ve seen the valley when it’s like this. It’s always special. And I think you’ve captured the essence of it beautifully. My only question is, is that bottom layer necessary? As it stands now I think it detracts from the image for me. I would either crop it off or I would lighten up the darker elements in that grass because the brighter warmer tones in the grass work fine. That may be challenging to do.
This is nice, Robert. Personally I think the processing is fine. No extra glow needed. I really like the rays in the mist on the right. My only nit is the same as @Igor_Doncov. I am a total amateur @ Post processing so realize any of my attempts at fixing an image could surely be bettered by everyone else on this forum. My techniques are antique. I selected the FG with the lasso tool and dodged the dark grasses to lessen their distraction a little.
I know these two trees. You have captured them in some wonderful atmosphere and light. I like the high key and must agree with @Igor_Doncov about the dark grasses on the bottom. @Michael_Lowe has the right idea about mitigating the distraction. I am amazed at how large those pine trees on the left have gotten since the time I made a photo of them.
Robert: Marvelous scene with the FG grass issue the only tiny problem. I like @Michael_Lowe’s adjustment and I took a crack at it with a linear gradient along the bottom with the shadows opened up 100% and a small exposure boost. I certainly envy you the experience and the image. >=))>
I love oak in the fog, so this is right up my alley. You captured a wonderfully moody and mysterious scene well.
Personal taste is huge when it comes to saturation, but one effect of increasing it for a scene like this is that the yellows pop a bit more. For me, I like that added contrast in the lighting. I think you’ve room to bring that up a little here, without shaking up the faithful too much.
I also agree with the others that the border is narrow enough to feel slightly out of place. I have no ide if you had more to include, or could have raised the tripod so more showed, but I’d love to see more of the meadow on the bottom edge to better balance the main show behind.
Here’s a version with both those thoughts. I added along the bottom border using Generative Fill, (which added a couple of awkward green areas toward the left that I didn’t take the time to remove) just to see how different it “felt.” I also increase the saturation a bit. (That’s highly personal, so take or leave that as you see fit.)
@John_Williams , I really appreciate the time you spent on my image and your feedback. I agree that there is so much subjectivity when it comes to saturation or color treatment; there is no correct answer. But I do like what you have done, particularly with the FG. I had not considered using content aware fill, but he expanded FG does provide better balance to the overall image. I’d much prefer to “get it right in camera”, so another lesson learned. Many thanks.
Wonderful, atmospheric images, Robert! I don’t really have any nitpicks here. Yes, you could give the leaves a little extra glow but I think I prefer the original version. Just enough glow, IMHO. The colors, composition and your processing are all spot on. Thanks so much for sharing!
I just got back from Yosemite, Robert and you’ve come away with a very moody and satisfying image here. I too noticed that the foreground plants stuck up into everything I shot and as I think you did here, you try and eliminate most of it. But I do like what @John_Williams did by adding more and subduing the blacks a bit. I even like the little bit of green in it.
The shafts of light poking in from the right side are awesome. As far as adding a little more Pop and brightness to the yellow leaves, I quite like it as is. When I was there, they were doing controlled burns all through the valley of the park which added atmosphere to many of my images that looked a lot like fog.
More thanks to @Bret_Edge and @David_Haynes for their thoughtful comments. It’s nice to see various creative visions expressed and that my own is also shared.
