The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Ed and I decided to head out to Blackwater Falls, WV, with the expectation of shooting snowy trees and ice patterns in Blackwater Falls. 60 " of snow had fallen in WV in January and the forecast was for cloudy skies. Hopes were dashed with bright sunshine on the falls and no snow in the trees. So we were reduced to trying to shoot grasses in the snow. Ed parked the truck and I walked down the center of the road machine gunning as I call it. It was windy and cold, so I just shot quickly every grass and twig I saw without any notion of artistic intent, just hoping that I got one or two shots that turned out.
I got a couple that I think are ok. This is one of them. Does it do anything for anybody or am I just being desperate to keep the trip from being a total waste?
Specific Feedback
Any and all critiques are welcome.
Composition and subject matter visually appealing?
Should I whiten snow?
Technical Details
135mm, 1/1250 @ f/11, iso 200, handheld
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi Mike,
IMO you have at least one keeper from that bummer of a trip. I haven’t even looked at mine yet. The snow looks just fine to me as is; there are nice textures and details along with some specular highlights to engage the eye. The positioning of the tree works as well. I also like the way you composed this with the diagonal of roughly half shadow and half sunlight. I like this one! I hope I get one this nice.
Mike, I too think this is a keeper. It speaks to a fine winter day with the isolated shrub on the left and the tree shadows towards the right. It’s somewhat minimal, as is winter, especially when there’s snow.
Michael, I especially appreciate the balance between the delicate twigs and the shadows at the right. Exposure is spot on to my eye. Your image makes me feel like standing in the middle of the scene, breathing the fresh air. Thanks for sharing.
You’ve got me laughing at your write up Mike. I think we’ve all had plenty of those days for sure. While I wouldn’t say this is one of your better images I definitely would say it’s a keeper. The snow is glistening, the shadows on the right are mimicking the to some extent the branches on that small little tree and you’ve composed this nicely allowing the eye to wander through the scene and down that little gully. I even like the the pigtail shadows from the little tree dropping out of the bottom of the frame. I love your drop shadow as well. It’s a classic intimate winter scene.
I’m pretty much with everyone else. This one is a keeper for sure, but maybe not one of your best shots. It does evoke strong feelings of stillness and space which I very much appreciate. Nice job retouching too!
I’m not sure what “a keeper” means exactly. My mentor, David duChemin has always said to me, when you’re going through your downloads, if you don’t love it, if it doesn’t excite you, if it doesn’t keep you coming back - move on. I no longer use “stars” when going through my images for that reason. For me, if it isn’t in my mind unequivocally four stars, I do my very best to write it off as a “sketch”, let it go and save my efforts for the one’s that excite me and stir my imagination.
That being said, there is nothing I could say about this image in terms of critiquing it - everything is “right”. You might add a little blue to the shadows and a little yellow to the brighter areas to give it “more interest”, but do you care enough about this one to take the time and make the effort? I don’t mean to sound over critical, Michael, but these are the questions I find I’m asking myself more and more and so, I guess, I’m just thinking out loud.
