Early spring at the south coast of Iceland

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
1

Leo_Catana.jpg
Leo_Catana.jpg1500×937 445 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

What caught my attention on the location was the immensity and dynamics of the landscape and the smallness of the human habitation, i.e. the house in the lower right corner. There are strong horizontal elements in the image, but also a subtle balance (I hope) between the house on the right side of the plain and the small piles of earth on the left side. I have processed the image in a manner that invites the eye to move from the bottom of the image and upwards, where the eye gets lost in the interplay of snow patches, bare earth and clouds.

Specific Feedback

I am in doubt: Should I highlight the house by using a mask enhancing it? And should I crop this image? On the one hand, I am fascinated by its many details and transitions of luminosities that invites my eyes to move around in the image, that is, the deliberate lack of a focal point, apart from the vanishing small house. On the other hand, one might object that there is no clear focus in the image, and that a strong crop (e.g. focusing on the house in the lower right corner), would provide a focus. What are your thoughts on this and other matters?

Technical Details

Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: Sigma 85 mm
Capture: 1/250 sec. at f10, ISO 250

Critique Template

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Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
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2

Cool Image Leo !!! I love the Mountains and the Largeness you have presented. Maybe crop the sky a little and bring more attention to the hills and the house. Great tone !!!

3

Hi Leo,
This is a lovely B&W landscape with a nice range of tones. The horizontal format suits this scene quite well. I particularly like the patterns of snow adorning the mountain and I do like the inclusion of the house as it helps add a sense a scale to the landscape. My only suggestion would be to lighten the house a little so it does not get lost in the overall scene. If you were so inclined I could also see a vertical crop ,working as well. Not necessarily better just another option. I hope you do not mind, but here is a crop with what I was thinking. Very nicely done.

Leo_Catana
Leo_Catana537×856 165 KB

4

For me, that is what makes the image work Leo and I would not do any significant cropping. That leaves the focus as the whole, which has a wonderful grandiosity to it. In that spirit, I would maybe even mask the house and minimize it even more so the eye doesn’t catch there.

I really enjoy all the layers and how they add up, especially the shadows dancing on the snow. If you did crop, the only thing I would remove would be that tiny hint of cloud along the top edge toward the left.

5

@Gill_Vanderlip , @John_Williams , thank you so much for your comments! Best, Leo