Dune in A# minor with Repost

Image Critiques
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1

Repost 1: more dune at bottom, slightly higher key with darker black

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IMG5DMarkIV_0408NPN3MB-51500Ă—844 494 KB

Repost 2: 4x6 aspect ratio and slightly less high key

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IMG5DMarkIV_0408NPN3MB-41500Ă—1000 652 KB

Original

IMG5DMarkIV_0408NPN3MB-NPN3MB-3.jpg
IMG5DMarkIV_0408NPN3MB-NPN3MB-3.jpg1500Ă—844 474 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I stayed at the Kelso Sand Dunes one night last week, hoping to explore the valleys and find more intimate compositions, but they were fairly grassy, so I found myself drawn to tele abstracts of the main dune. This also allowed me to avoid the peak (lots of people during the day and footprints at night fall). The high drifting clouds seem to kind of mirror the drifting dune, so I was thinking dune thoughts and high key thoughts (hence the title). This is one of several interpretations of this dune. My aim was to capture a sense of mystery, the snake-like textures, and the high key effect of a desert sun.

I had planned to ascend the dune the next morning, before the heat and the crowds, but ended up playing with shadows from the left side instead (I’ll share in a few days), so I’ll have to go back to climb or explore the other end or other side, where I hear there are rolling dune fields, more like Mesquite Dunes in DV. I always feel like dunes are more interesting in their valleys and from below than above (like waterfalls), but I have seen really interesting images taken on the final ascent. Next time, I guess.

Specific Feedback

I’m always interested in any feedback you have, including “where’s the rest of the picture” or what the heck were you thinking, or yeah, dunes…next.

In particular though, I’m wondering the following:

  1. Does the extraction from a larger scene feel like a meaningful chunk? I didn’t want the group at the top or their footprints off to the right, etc. I didn’t want the grassiness below or in the lower dunes to the left. And I did want to create a meaninful set of lines and balance of sand and sky. Did it work?
  2. Is it high key enough? would you go lighter? higher contrast or lower contrast?
  3. There is a little more canvas all around, with some cloning, if you think that would help.

Technical Details

Canon 5D4 with 10-400mmL at 200mm
ISO 200, f/9, 1/800sec

2

I think this is quite nice. And I was already thinking some more canvas along the bottom would move the bottom of that rill a little farther from the edge.

1 Like
3

Thanks @Ronald_Murphy. I posted a couple of alternatives: more at the bottom, but same aspect ratio and the original 4x6 aspect ratio, both at top for comparison.
ML

4

What Ronald said. I love the high key look.

5

If someone told me this was a painting, I wouldn’t have thought twice. Very nice. I prefer your 4x6. The blend of soft color and flowing lines is beautiful.

6

I completely agree @John_Williams! That was my first thought. It’s the softness that makes this so painterly. Usually with sand dunes there is lots of texture and ripples but the high key effect takes this in a whole new and unusual direction. A great direction I’d say. My favorite is the middle image, the 4x6. I like the extra sand along the bottom and the sky covering the complete top of the frame. This is so well processed. I might print this one just to see what it looks like and if it fits with the colors of your home on a wall. Beautiful imag, Marylynne!

7

Thanks everyone.

David: I’m toying with offering prints to the owners of the house I’m renting for a month in Palm Springs in exchange for a break in next year’s rent. Basically, big prints (would look great on their walls) in exchange for a 5k reduction in rent. Their art work kind of sucks and this dune image and my agave images would look perfect here! I have to think through how to present the offer and not just make it an even trade where I spend a lot of time.

ML

8

I bet that would fit in nicely in Palm Springs. Same with agave. Good luck on your trade. What a great idea.

9

@David and @John,
I think the painterly effect is a result of the distance to subject. It’s is 200mm, but it’s still from a bit away, and it’s a significant crop (maybe 1/2 of original frame) so the details are lost in that, but that’s okay. The details I wanted were to the curves on the side of the dunes. I’ll have to see what’s there for printing large. The Canon 5DIV has big files, but this one might be limited to 24" on the long side or something given how big the crop was.
ML