Hi @Diane_Miller, @Mark_Seaver, @Igor_Doncov, @John_Williams, as always, thanks for your feedback! I’ve toned down the foreground in this image and added a vignette. Does it work? PS I believe that I’ve finally figured out how to post the edited image at the top!
Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This image was taken from the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, NC. Its location is one of my favorite sunset locations. I love how the white tree trunks dance through the leafed trees and wildflowers (in front). It was a difficult decision for me to leave this in color, but I am still not satisfied with my B&W conversion, so I’m presenting the scene in color!
Specific Feedback
Does it work? It’s a chaotic scene, and I tried to make the white tree trunks stand out from the colors, creating a “nest” for them, a supportive background.
Technical Details
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Nice work Susan! My instinct tells me that the bushes in the front are too bright and drawing attention away from the trees. But that would be the accepted way of looking at it. I’m trying to ignore that and see it as you meant us to see it. I still see the bright bushes as stealing the show.
Thanks, Igor! I was wondering about that row of bright bushes. I think I will tone it down.
A lovely scene – it’s busy but not over-saturated and the trees do have a subdued BG to stand out against. They have lovely shapes. I agree with @Igor_Doncov about toning down the FG. I wonder about a little more on top, maybe with any needed burning if there are brighter areas. You have lovely areas where bunches of leaves form nice shapes, especially in the right half. In fact, for me, the right maybe 60% would make a lovely image, with the bare trunks cradled in those groups of leaves! The color variation looks like it could give you a lovely B/W – hope I get to see it when you get it worked out!
I don’t do much landscape but one trick I like to try when things get a little busy is Nik CEP Glamour Glow.
I didn’t think of it myself, but once I read @Igor_Doncov’s thought about the brightness of the foreground I agree. The star for me are those tree trunks, and toning down the foreground would let the eye flow there better.
I like this idea to Susanna, because it trims those two brighter green foreground elements on the bottom left, and that empty upper left corner.
Susanna, I really like the the spacing of the white tree trunks and how they stand out against the trees behind. Yes, the bright shrubbery along the bottom gets too much attention. You should be able to adjust that with a saturation layer applied locally. Part of me would like a bit more space at the top, but those trees in the background look like they would quickly become a distraction so I’m thinking that your framing decision was good.
I like the bare bones of the trees here Susanna. I also like what you did to darken the bushes on the bottom, just enough, by the way without losing their character.
Thanks, @Ed_Williams! I’m happier with it, too.
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