The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I am working on an ongoing series of Great Salt Lake images. I completed a project last year, and I’m not sure yet what form or how the current work will fall into a project (or not, maybe it’s just a few small collections…)
This image did make me think about putting together a collection of blue themed GSL images, which does seem to be a feature of winter photography out there. Therefore, the title…
This is brand new work.
Specific Feedback
Even though it’s this way in the raw file, I’m wondering if the foreground corners (in particular) have gotten too dark. (There were uneven breaks in the sky, I was in shadow while the island in front was being lit.) I did try to balance by bringing down the sky a little.
I only cloned out seagull poop, and some foam that would have looked like seagull poop, so if there are other sticks or twigs that are unsightly or distracting, please let me know.
Other things I am interested in hearing about is composition and/or feel. I love this place, and I want to show others that they should care about it, too.
Technical Details
Nikon Z8+24-120,+ 3 stop ND filter
Lightroom+PS
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi @JulieEdwardsViola - great to see you here.
My first impression on this image is that I really love it. It has a wonderful flow to it from bottom to top. I do think the bottom corners are burned a bit much. I love the idea of a GSL project too.
I wouldn’t try to get rid of any other aspects of the frame, they all fit just fine and I think trying to remove too many small distractions isn’t worth it for this great composition, plus it might quite fall within our rules! =)
This is exquisite, @JulieEdwardsViola. The overall cool tones with just a hint of warm light on the distant mountain peak, your striking composition. This has a wonderful feeling of serenity. I don’t think the bottom corners are too dark. I don’t usually like such heavy vignetting but it’s definitely working here. Outstanding image!
I love that light hitting the background mountain peaks. Sweet! That swirling sand bar just leads the eye magically through the scene to those spot lit mountains like it was meant to be. Terrific composition. This feels perfectly balanced with the exception of it needing just a little bit of clockwise rotation. The bottom right tip of the sandbar is the same distance away from the right edge of the frame as the Mid section of the sandbar on the left edge of the frame creating a very balanced feeling.
When I look at this large I don’t notice the dark foreground as much as I do when I’m looking at the thumbnail but I do feel that the bottom is too dark, however a subtle dodging would work here as it doesn’t need much. The only other thing that immediately gets my attention is that ULC. The dark blue against the whites of those clouds pulls my eye immediately. I would dodge the dark blue area so the transition is not so abrupt.
What a great idea to do a series on the GSL. If the rest of your images are anything like this one, it will be a portfolio project!
Thank you, @Matt_Payne , @Bret_Edge, @David_Haynes for the feedback!
I made the suggested changes: lightened the bottom, straightened the horizon, (I am crooked so it looked totally normal to me!) and brought down the highest highlights in the ULH corner sky.
I think these were all very good suggestions, and I thank you so much for the feedback!
Hi Julie, I can’t disagree with what has been said so far. This would definitely be a candidate to go far in the competition because of it’s graphic composition, wonderful tones, interesting sky and stunning mountains caught with a hint of light across them. There really isn’t much to dislike but I’ll try anyway! OK, dislike is a bit harsh. I agree with the corners being a little heavy but more because of the intense saturation the underexposing has brought. My only suggestion beyond this is to burn in that hole in the sky a little to push the attenion downward towards the main attraction! Here’s what I mean. There’s the potential to lose a tiny bit of the top of the image so I’ve tried that - I think that’s just a taste thing though - it doesn’t really make it ‘better’. Excellent work!
Thank you so much, @Tim_Parkin! I agree about the saturation. I had adjusted it, but will take it a bit further. Also I sort of like that color, but just because I like it doesn’t mean the image needs THAT MUCH of it.
And I will try your crop suggestion, it does eliminate the problem altogether, so perhaps it’s the best solution.
All the best,
Julie
Julie, this is such a wonderful image! I love everything about it. I love that center sand bank (I think that is what it is) leading you to the mountains and how it is almost a monotone image with a lot of impact. Very nice
Julie - I didn’t read any of the other feedback in advance, hopefully you find this useful:
Composition
I really like the simplicity of this composition! Very calming feeling and yes the blue tones work! You clearly spent some time on this comp and waited for the right light. I often wonder if people are consciously aware of what they’re feeling and experiencing when creating images or what they took into the landscape (mentally/emotionally) that influenced their decision making process. I’m wondering if you’d care to share any of that if you were.
Other Details
I think the image could benefit from less shadow in the bottom corners. Also, the thing that immediately caught my eye was the top left corner of the image. Then my eye worked across the remainder of the sky. This is more a personal preference than anything but the tonal range of the sky is distracting. I’m wondering if you could bring some additional simplification to the image by reducing the contrast and tonally balance that part of the image.
Either way this is a beautiful image and I look forward to seeing what you come up with in the future out in the lake.
Hi George!
Thank you so much for your thoughts, I do need to re-edit this one, just haven’t gotten to it yet, but your suggestions are exactly what I’ll work on.
I wish I could tell you that I did spend a lot of time on the comp…haha. I saw it happening from a ways away and sloshed far out in the water, hoping it wouldn’t get deeper than my muck boots! It went over the top just a tiny bit so I didn’t get too wet. Plus you don’t get too long on a tripod either, it starts to settle in the mud and of course there is a bit of current, so you don’t have too long to get the shot before it’s blurry and the tripod is crooked from sinking.
OK, dislike is a bit harsh. I agree with the corners being a little heavy but more because of the intense saturation the underexposing has brought. My only suggestion beyond this is to burn in that hole in the sky a little to push the attenion downward towards the main attraction! Here’s what I mean. There’s the potential to lose a tiny bit of the top of the image so I’ve tried that - I think that’s just a taste thing though - it doesn’t really make it ‘better’. Excellent work!
