Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
While walking the Eastfork trail in Sedona, I was there for the red rocks this caught my eye.
Tonal quality and cropping.
Lumix G9
I’m really enjoying the B&W treatment you made on this image. With all the beautiful colors that Sedona has, the choice to go B&W seems unusual but I love it. It’s so good I don’t even want to see the color version. You have very nice balance and framing. The v shaped trees in the center are clearly what catches the eye and draws you in while the right edge and the left edge are beautifully framed with those dark tree trunks. I like the tonal qualities and love the deep dark blacks of the edge trees and high key whites. Not sure I would change anything. As for a crop, I can’t really see a portrait crop working because of the smaller trunked trees outside of the main trees in the center as it would cut those trunks off. I suppose you could try a square crop but really, I love it as is. I think the vignette works really well to keep the viewers eye in the center of the scene. Yep, no changes for me. Really well done, Steve.
Just as @David_Haynes said, the V shapes really caught my attention here, very powerful composition. The only adjustment I’d consider is a slight adjustement of the high level to get the background a fraction brighter, but the tonality of the trees is really pleasant.
The cropping is perfect just the way it is. I think you need the dark tree trunks on the edges to frame the subject and keep the viewers’ eyes from wandering out of the frame. Think of them as curtains on a stage that have just been pulled back to reveal the scene behind a lacy veil of leaves. The tonal values are very good. There is lots of good detail here to keep the viewer engaged. You did an excellent job of creating some order out of chaos as well as capturing the mood of the scene.
