Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction
Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
Can you immediately see the tree and therefore grasp the idea of the image?
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Image Description
This was actually a by-product of scouting and waiting for the actual shoot. Anyway, I started to like it quite a lot. I like the different layers showing depth and I even left the haze, as it is real. Anyway, I am not sure about the visibility of the tree. I guess, the image won’t work if the viewer doesn’t see the tree immediately.
Technical Details
2 Likes
I like this!
This picture makes me feel like Iam climbing to Heaven.
I like the overlapping hills with the Grand peak centered.
1 Like
I love the layers with their abstract shapes, and the range of coloration from the cool FG to the warm BG. It adds some intrigue in that we normally see cooler BGs and warmer FGs.
I do see the tree immediately, and notice how its shape mimics the BG peak. Well seen and photographed!
1 Like
“Oh my gosh, I’m never going to reach the top!”
OK, maybe that says more about me than you - ha. But really, this is super. That little tree is so dwarfed by the landscape. It’s standing in the shadows, striving to reach the top, but it’s got soooo far to go!
…off to read your comment…
Oh, that little tree is absolutely visible. Sure, my eye was drawn to the beautiful glow-y mountain first, but then I saw the tree and I immediately saw a story. 
1 Like
Reaching for enlightenment. It’s interesting how even though many layers are diagonal there are centered folds that go all the way and help give structure. You could remove part of bottom to create a square image that’s tonally more consistent.
1 Like
I think this one is terrific. The others have said everything I would say.
1 Like
This is really great with all of the repeating layers and the awesome light and atmosphere. The little tree is a nice touch and despite it’s small size really adds a lotto the image!
1 Like
Hi Markus, I do see the tree, but it is SO small. I really like the layers and hazy central peak in the background, but the tiny tree does not work for me. If it was only a little bit larger… I realize I’m in a minority here, which wouldn’t be the first time. 
1 Like
Hi Markus! This photo really caught my eye as I was scrolling through the photos here on NPN. I love the layers, color and tones, but I’m joining Patrick in the minority beacuse while it did caught my eye, it was one of the last things that caught my eye. It is a bit tiny, but I think it might pop a bit more if there was a bigger tonal difference between the tree and the mountain behind would help (by lighten up the middle layers while keeping the foreground and sky the same)?
If I can make another suggestion? Experiment with reducing the detail in the sky? The clouds isn’t that interesting and they are a bit distracting. This is just nitpicking and entirely personal opinion.
I really like this, Markus!
1 Like
Hi @Patrick_Campbell, hi @Julie_Gunstensen (and all others),
yes, the tree is tiny (that’s what I feared). But at the same time I think the tree’s job is to show scale and proportions. I fear that by enlarging the tree, I will reduce the impact of the image. Reducing the detail in the sky could be a good idea, though. Let my try! …
1 Like
