The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
My brother Mike and I always try to time a trip to Blackwater Falls SP, WV during a rain event to try and catch scenes like this. This particular location has some wonderful intersecting diagonals and more often than not, has mist/fog rising upward from the Blackwater Canyon. I have several from the springtime that I like, but this is the first one from the autumn season.
Specific Feedback
Overall I am happy with the image, but I was wondering about trying to tweak the color of the fog a little more. What do you think? Please feel free to leave any other C&C that you notice as it is always appreciated.
Technical Details
Nikon Z7, Nikon 24-200 @ 200 mm, f 11 @ 1/13 sec, ISO 100, Kase magnetic CPL, cable release & tripod.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Ed, this is a well-executed photograph that successfully captures the peaceful beauty of autumn. The mist, colors, and composition work together to create a compelling scene. Minor adjustments in clarity and framing could take it to the next level.
Clarity and Focus: While the mist enhances the mood, adding a bit of contrast or sharpness to the foreground trees could make the image pop more and provide depth. This can help direct focus to certain parts of the landscape.
Vignette or Cropping: If possible, cropping a bit from the left side might help to balance the image more evenly and bring focus to the central colors and foggy valley. Alternatively, a subtle vignette could add focus toward the middle of the frame.
Enhancing the Mist Effect: Emphasizing the mist with selective dodging and burning could create a stronger layering effect, giving the mist more dimension and accentuating the separation between foreground and background.
Beautiful Fall colors Ed. I love the fog, and the vague holes in the fog that hint at more amazing colors beyond. I love the nice V shaped gorge that is starting to zig zag into the fog. I like the misty feeling overall and don’t think it needs any further clarity. The only thing I would experiment with is seeing if you could reduce the reds and yellows selectively in the fog in the upper left corner and increase the blues just a bit.
Thanks everyone @Don_Peters, @Pieter_Opperman and @Ed_Williams for your thoughts; always appreciated. @Don_Peters: I had been tweaking the color of the mist for a while and was hoping to get a fresh perspective. Thanks; I was hoping I had it this time. @Pieter_Opperman: Thanks for your thoughts. I will play around with your suggestions and see what I come up with. @Ed_Williams: Overall I am happy with the clarity; forget what I set the dehaze slider to. I will play around the the reds aand yellows in that area and see what I come up with.
Gorgeous!! The color of the mist is perfect, for me. I can never resist trying to bring out detail with Nik CEP’s Detail Extractor, but would want to mask it to the mist and not mess with the trees. I would be tempted to try some more saturation on the trees, but I’m greedy. Or maybe a slight curve tweak would do it for both contrast and a bit of color boost. Lots of leeway in an image this wonderful!! Just had to have a play.
What a gorgeous scene. I’m always wowed by your fall-color photos - so different from my neck of the woods. It would be cool to see a series from this vantage point showing all the seasons!
Since you asked about the fog/mist, it looks to me to have a magenta cast. Perhaps that’s from all the fall color? I’m wondering about cooling it a bit, to bring out more color contrast with the hills. Here’s my idea (pretty easy edit - chose the sky in ACR and then cooled it a few points):
Many thanks @Diane_Miller and @Bonnie_Lampley for your thoughtful C&C. @Diane_Miller : The rework looks great. I always enjoy seeing your vision for an image. @Bonnie_Lampley : I am actually working on that series; now if it will only snow! Your rework also looks great BTW.
Your rework also looks great BTW.