# Burnt But Beautiful **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape\ **Created:** [October 22, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126 "2022-10-22T03:34:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/1 "2022-10-22T03:34:58Z")
![Burnt But Beautiful](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/5/c/5c0542cad2ed75a85f0570b91480db7aa3ef8957.jpeg) Black and white ![image](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/1/712bbdb687f5e96f35cefe52b9c1f0b4ce4bfa29.jpeg) I like this hillside covered with these trees that were obviously in a fire. I love the shapes and the grasses around them. ### Specific Feedback Requested I also did it in black and white. Which do you prefer? Anything else. ### Technical Details Nikon D3400, ISO 100, 183mm, f6.3, 1/640 ---
**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:** [October 22, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/2 "2022-10-22T19:29:01Z")
Hi Vanessa, This is quite excellent. I think the composition and how you framed and included things is working very well. The contrast of the burnt bushes against the golden summer grasses is the main reason I much prefer the color version. Actually upon second view, I also really like the b&w version as the graphic nature of the scene is enhanced with much more stark contrast. hmmmm… tough call. No nits or suggestions. Not a big deal, but I don’t see this as very abstract. But that’s not so important, it’s a terrific image. Lon ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Payne](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/matt_payne/32/76789_2.png) [@Matt\_Payne](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Matt_Payne)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/3 "2022-10-22T23:20:28Z")
It’s a nice find for sure - I think I would like to see it in lower light though as there’s not enough in contrast here to give my eye anywhere to rest. The black and white I would like to see much stronger blacks. The lower 1/5 of the image has a lot of unnecessary distractions as well, so perhaps a crop could work. ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/4 "2022-10-22T23:21:16Z")
Hi Lon! Thank you for your comments! Yes, I think you’re right about it not really being abstract. I changed it to just landscape. I think everytime I’ve ridden past this scene it looks abstract to me but in a picture not so much! ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/5 "2022-10-22T23:25:23Z")
Thank you, Matt for those suggestions. I was trying to keep the grasses soft in the b&w so that made it not as strong of blacks, I’ll have to try again. I too was thinking I needed to crop off the bottom but I didn’t want to lose that little yellow flower bush towards the bottom either! ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Payne](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/matt_payne/32/76789_2.png) [@Matt\_Payne](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Matt_Payne)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/6 "2022-10-22T23:26:14Z")
The real hero is the trees, so I don’t think the flowers add much if I’m being honest. =) ---
**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:** [October 22, 2022, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/7 "2022-10-22T23:27:52Z")
> [@Vanessa\_Hill](#): > > Yes, I think you’re right about it not really being abstract. I changed it to just landscape. I think everytime I’ve ridden past this scene it looks abstract to me but in a picture not so much! No worries Vanessa! I get your point about seeing this as an abstract; at least I think from a figurative perspective; from a literal perspective, we know what we’re looking at. But again, not a issue at all. But what you said makes me think of those “drive by” situations - where a scene looks really cool (like driving by vineyards), where things come across as abstract - but when you stop to photograph them… they look different. ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/8 "2022-10-22T23:31:14Z")
> [@Matt\_Payne](#): > > The real hero is the trees, so I don’t think the flowers add much if I’m being honest. =) Haha! You’re probably right @Matt_Payne! I think I’m just taken with everything about this new scenery that I’m in and want to capture it all! Even the flowers! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/9 "2022-10-22T23:32:36Z")
> [@Lon\_Overacker](#): > > …nt about seeing this as an abstract; at least I think from a figurative perspective; from a literal perspective, we know what we’re looking at. But again, not a issue at all. But what you said makes me think of those “drive by” situations - where a scene looks really cool (like driving by vineyards), where things come across as abstract - but when you stop to photograph them… they look different. So true @Lon_Overacker and then you can’t always get the exact angle you want either or at least what your eyes are zeroing in on! Appreciate your feedback and comments as always! ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/10 "2022-10-26T22:53:48Z")
Ah, that’s a common scene around here. I, too, love soft grasses around the burnt trees. The contrast of the soft grass texture and the gnarled dark branches is striking. I really like the color version better. The b&w version feels flat, which makes sense because you’re trying to keep the soft texture of the grasses. And I just like that golden brown/black color combo. I could see brightening the grasses a bit, as it might soften them even more. I gave it a whirl, lightening the grasses and darkening the trees. To my eye, it also brought out the yellow flowered shrubs a bit more. I also agree with Matt P. about the stuff poking up from the bottom left and right sides. So, I cropped a bit off those edges. See what you think. Anyway, nicely seen. ![2B6C35C6-4EDB-43A0-8BFC-25AD6F29D4BA-sharpened](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/b/5/b5589b0c6d7bc65f8065f5b1a0e94bb9a751d3af.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/11 "2022-10-27T00:10:13Z")
Well seen, Vanessa. I like what @Bonnie_Lampley has done here, especially lightening the grasses. The added contrast between grasses and trees makes it more abstract too. I find it a very relaxing shot. ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/12 "2022-10-28T12:46:56Z")
> [@Bonnie\_Lampley](#): > > …olor combo. I could see brightening the grasses a bit, as it might soften them even more. I gave it a whirl, lightening the grasses and darkening the trees. To my eye, it also brought out the yellow flowered shrubs a bit more. I also agree with Matt P. about the stuff poking up from the bottom left and right sides. So, I cropped a bit off those edges. See what you think. Anyway, nicely seen. Hi @Bonnie_Lampley! Thank you for your feedback! Even though I miss the golden brown grasses, I do like how what you did brings out the trees and the yellow flowers more, as that’s what is so interesting about the scene anyway! Also I do see what you and @Matt_Payne are saying about the bottom. I see that even with the crop and your adjustments there still are plenty of those flowers around without taking away from the trees. Thanks for showing me! ---
**Author:** ![Vanessa\_Hill](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/vanessa_hill/32/32524_2.png) [@Vanessa\_Hill](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Vanessa_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/burnt-but-beautiful/31126/13 "2022-10-28T12:48:19Z")
> [@Mike\_Friel](#): > > Well seen, Vanessa. I like what has done here, especially lightening the grasses. The added contrast between grasses and trees makes it more abstract too. I find it a very relaxing shot. Thank you @Mike_Friel , I’m glad you like it and find it relaxing! Yes, I too like the improvements @Bonnie_Lampley has made to it.