# Driven to a standstill 

**URL:** <https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/driven-to-a-standstill/37323>\
**Category:** Image Critiques\
**Tags:** non-nature\
**Created:** [October 2, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/driven-to-a-standstill/37323 "2023-10-02T17:36:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/driven-to-a-standstill/37323/1 "2023-10-02T17:36:30Z")

</div>

![Kristen_SmithSeptember 23, 2023_1173709-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/6/5/65cf5faf61e0cdb174035b6310430d719c071bf0.jpeg)

> **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_
> 
> The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

### Description

Given what we were driving, dirt roads were out of the question when we were in northern Minnesota, so when something gorgeous appeared on the main paved roads, I had to stop. This barn was too much to pass by. I’m not sure it’s 100% abandoned since there was a house up the driveway that is out of frame to the right. But it looked pretty lonely and of course the fall color supports the scene so well.

### Specific Feedback

Processing ideas welcome. Can’t go back and reshoot it!

### Technical Details

Handheld w/highlight weighted metering

 ![image](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/a/9a580b9f769cfbfaa4ea5a9d6e6d28eb1f3e18a4.png)

Lr for the crop to 16:10 and some work to enhance the color and improve white balance. Added some texture and sharpening. Photoshop to do a little remove tool magic and add a subtle Orton effect in the highlights.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/driven-to-a-standstill/37323/2 "2023-10-03T13:44:08Z")

</div>

Wonderful old barn in a lovely setting. Were you able to get any without the fence? For me, if it weren’t there I think I would get a stronger sense of abandonment and mystery. The building looks like it has stories to tell. I wonder if there is more tonal detail in the sky – for me that would suggest more mystery, as well.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/driven-to-a-standstill/37323/3 "2023-10-03T15:04:19Z")

</div>

Thanks @Diane_Miller - no, I don’t have any without the fence. There’s a deepish ditch directly in front of my that I didn’t want to wade into. I could make the fence disappear with the magic of Photoshop and might do it as an experiment, but I kind of like the fence for framing and underscoring the shape of the hill.

I was VERY careful with the sky since I didn’t want it to look over processed, but maybe I could crank the contrast a bit there. It was spitting rain off and on all day so definitely had a thick cloud deck up there.