The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
One of my favorite photographers on the old NPN was Anil Rao who found many beautiful tafoni formations and turned them into exquisite images. One of my favorite places on the Oregon coast is Shore Acres State Park, mostly known for the incredible surf shows with high stormy tides but when conditions are calmer and the tide is low there are a number of formations like this to explore. This is one of my better finds. >=))>
Specific Feedback
There is very little color enhancement although I did boost the contrast from the original RAW. Just right, too saturated, what were you thinking!?
Technical Details
Sony A77II
Sony 70-400 G @ 230mm, CPL
ISO 200, 1/40 @ f8
Oh MY!! I think I would still be there, searching the possibilities! This feels very dimensional, with the shapes suggesting flat terrain in the lower left reaching toward a tidal zone in the upper left, with a cliff showing ancient strata from tectonic upheaval. Wonderfully seen and presented!
Wow - my first reaction was, Primordial! I then I had what I think is a similar reaction that Diane had (although maybe not exactly.) I too see a “flat dimension” mostly on the left/UL, but then the right half has a vertical plane as if you’re looking straight across to this, as opposed to looking down the flat area. All together this has a wonderful, almost 3D look to it; if not this has depth and dimension.
Colors/saturation - Perfect IMHO. The warm colors have more leeway for interpretation in my view, but yellow/greens are easily overdone… but not here, the little patches of moss is spot on.
No nits or suggestions - well, maybe a slight vignette? But that’s always a personal choice.
Absolutely irresistible subject Bill. Really like this – I have a lot of similar compositions from minus tides at the Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. For me, the chaos can make the whole image. But as long as we’re offering critiques, I will offer that my eye wanders because I can find no single point of interest. Is it possible other frames can be cropped to pull the eye to a key spot? Or maybe one of the iron “rules” of landscape photography doesn’t apply here.
Hi Bill. Ditto from me. It is a wonderful image, one that crosses back and forth between reality and abstract. It held my attention for quite a long time while I assembled the shapes, colours, and various strata within the frame. I then stepped back in my mind and saw it as purely an abstract both in colour and in form.
I think the strong saturation is needed here to create that abstract feeling. Cheers.
Bill, definitely a tribute to Anil, wow. A great collection of colors and shapes. I really like how strongly 3D it feels. The bits of green add a fine change of color to all the gold and warm brown tones. Depending on what outside the frame, I could also see the possibility of a vertical with only the warm tones and those great angled lines.
Sometimes you come across a photograph like this and have no idea what you’re looking at. There’s no clear sense of scale or orientation, whether you’re looking down at something or seeing it at eye level. I can’t fully articulate why, but images that create this kind of ambiguity fascinate me. There’s something deeply captivating about them. Bravo!
