# Blue Skies over the Marsh **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, landscape\ **Created:** [April 8, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749 "2020-04-08T23:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/1 "2020-04-08T23:46:12Z")
I shot this scene many times over a period of about three years or so until I finally got the conditions I wanted. Shot this back in 2006 but wasn’t real happy with it, so I re-processed it today, and would appreciate your thoughts, suggestions, and critiques. This shot was taken Santa Rosa Island, just right down the road from Pensacola Beach, FL. ### What technical feedback would you like if any? Any and all ### What artistic feedback would you like if any? Any and all ### Pertinent technical details or techniques: Single frame ###### If you would like your image to be eligible for a feature on the NPN Instagram (@NaturePhotoNet), add the tag ‘ig’ and leave your Instagram username below. simplynatureart ![Lb100a - Blues Skies over Marsh - C1 - 1600](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/1/911c6030a9ebefb49cc1ba65b9178398d85292e0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/2 "2020-04-09T01:04:56Z")
I really like this version of it. The color palette has been simplified it seems to me and that makes the composition strong. It’s funny, but when I look at this I’m transferred to Madagascar or some exotic place like that. That tree on the right is amazing. And the others seem to follow. This is a really fine image, Bill. Even without the water it’s an excellent image. See the light area to the left of the shadow in the llc? I thought it might be good to crop from the left to remove it. In the end I decided that the complexity of that shadow and even the tree reflection at the bottom all contribute to the image. I can’t think of a thing to change… here’s what I had in mind. ![Lb100a - Blues Skies over Marsh - C1 - 1600 copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/f/8/f820af245cdd58c83ac6d2e2de0a274d08a43714.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/3 "2020-04-09T01:21:11Z")
@Igor_Doncov, I like your crop from the left, but I agree the upper tree reflections are important to the image. I’m sure I will crop a bit off the left before printing. Thanks for your thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Haynes](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@David\_Haynes](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Haynes)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/4 "2020-04-09T01:54:46Z")
WOW Bill. The gold tones are stunning. The light is captivating. Whatever kind of trees those are they are amazing looking particularly the larger tree on the right. It balances the rest of the image side to side and top to bottom. I think you need the reflections along the bottom as it anchors and balances the image and all of the other trees have their reflection in the water and it feels lopsided without it. If this was my image, I’d print this big and hang it. This is one of the best and most unique posts I’ve seen in awhile. Just beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/5 "2020-04-09T06:20:57Z")
Bill, What a wonderful landscape image! Love this. Those clouds seem to mimick the tree tops. Very, very, cool. I love this as presented. I would agree however to somehow mitigate those brighter grasses in the LLC. Not a huge deal,but one of those finer points if you decide to print this one. Lon ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Cameron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ian_cameron/32/583_2.png) [@Ian\_Cameron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ian_Cameron)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 11:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/6 "2020-04-09T11:34:48Z")
Same thoughts as Igor, Madagascar. That dappled blue/white cloud pattern against the golden grasses couldn’t be more perfect. I do like Igors crop I don’t think the reflection of the tree is that important to the image as it stands easily on its own without the darkness of the reflected tree which could be viewed as a distracting element. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/7 "2020-04-09T16:18:29Z")
@David_Haynes, @Lon_Overacker, @Ian_Cameron - Thank you all for your comments, I truly appreciate them. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_McGuirk](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ed_mcguirk/32/30542_2.png) [@Ed\_McGuirk](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_McGuirk)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/8 "2020-04-09T18:11:02Z")
Bill, I absolutely love this image, awesome clouds and awesome trees, this can’t be beat. I love the warm colors that you have in the trees and especially the grass, the light is really nice. This is such a nice image, I almost hate to offer any suggestions, but one of my personal “things” is having left to right flow in compositions. And I think a stronger vignette would help too. Here is a rework reflecting my comments. Sorry I did not attempt to flip your watermark… ![Lb100a - Blues Skies over Marsh - C1 - 1600_copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/5/15fbba5feb18ed6b0949428e3eb8940dd61c1a70.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/9 "2020-04-10T16:16:10Z")
Bill, the colors and especially the tree shapes are wonderful. I also really like the triangle comp. with the river and trees coming to a vanishing point on the left. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Schertzberg](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael_schertzberg/32/7731_2.png) [@Michael\_Schertzberg](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Michael_Schertzberg)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/10 "2020-04-10T18:24:45Z")
I like the way the shapes of the tree tops match the shapes of the clouds. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/11 "2020-04-10T21:06:25Z")
@Ed_McGuirk, thank you for your comments and your suggestion. @Mark_Seaver and @Michael_Schertzberg, thank you both as well for your comments. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_McDermott](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/eva_mcdermott/32/240_2.png) [@Eva\_McDermott](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Eva_McDermott)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/12 "2020-04-14T12:00:52Z")
This is simply stunning Bill. No nits from me. The blue and gold nicely compliment each other. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/blue-skies-over-the-marsh/12749/13 "2020-04-16T21:33:37Z")
@Eva_McDermott, Thanks so much. Hope you are safe and healthy in this current lockdown mess.