The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
Believe it or not, this is the aftermath of a bluegill sunfish that snatched an insect from the surface of the pond. Unfortunately, I was too slow to actually catch the fish in the act, but instead captured the disturbance with reflected sky and clouds. Overall, the image looked like a hurricane signature from a satellite image.
Feedback Requested
The surface of the water collects everything, from pollen, leaves, and insects and hope that the floating particles do not distract from the disturbed portion of the pond and sky. What do you feel about this? I also created a black and white layer and reduced the opacity down to reveal more details in the rippled areas of the scene. Do you think that did the trick or is more contrast needed.
Jim: While your timing may have been off by a millisecond the result is really nice. The hurricane is even swirling in the right direction. A simple comp but effective and enjoyable.>=))>
Just kinda echoing Bill’s comment about timing… What do they say? Well, “timing is everything…” But NOT always! And actually, the timing of this I think was perfect, planned or not.
I can certainly see and understand the “eye of a hurricane” reference, but for me, my actually first impression was that of a crocodile submerged in the water with just his snout surfacing… await to prey on some creature unaware of his presence.
Good job with the b&w layer to bring out more detail. That does explain why this appears a little flat - but not in a detrimental way given the subject matter. The debris, yeah, well it helps tell the story of being a pond and not much to be done - way too much stuff to try and clean up - plus, that would change the story anyway.
Wondering if you still managed some insect photos at the pond?
Thank you @Lon_Overacker, @Mark_Seaver , @John_Williams and @Bill_Fach . The Duck Pond is known for its hungry fish, turtles, and frogs. There could be a submerged croc, but we do have a fairly large snapping turtle that could pose as a croc. It is a flat looking image, but it seems to capture the syrupy like texture of warm pond water. Most of the insect photos that I post originate from around the pond…Jim
Jim, the wildly rippled area where the fish struck is pretty amazing. There is a fun storminess sense in the rest of the view. I’m always impressed with how long fluids (both water and air) can show their disturbances, as illustrated here by the swirling and bubbling in the water..
There’s almost a menacing aspect to this at first viewing; not knowing what caused the disturbance adds to that. Your information provides the explanation, but it was fun to wonder about for a moment.
The floaters don’t bug me much. They are such a large part of the image that they fit in fine. (If there were only a couple, they might be more distracting.)
