Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction
Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
How do you like the colors? Do they look harmonic to you?
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Image Description
I took this image in the Dolomites end of April. My vision was to feature some spring flowers with a preferably dramatic mountain scenery. Well, the sky wasn’t too dramatic, but I still like the image.
Technical Details
This is a time stack of two images with different exposure times.
Specific Feedback
I’m particularly interested in how you like the color management. Also, I would like to know if you find the fog in the mid ground overprocessed or unnatural. Thank you!
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
- Vision and Purpose:
- Conceptual:
- Emotional Impact and Mood:
- Composition:
- Balance and Visual Weight:
- Depth and Dimension:
- Color:
- Lighting:
- Processing:
- Technical:
1 Like
I love this image Markus. My initial impression is how much I miss seeing more of these near/far grand landscapes on NPN; they used to be more common. I love the way an almost macro foreground can anchor a stunning vista in the distance. It’s the sort of photo that makes wish I’d been there, enjoying the sway of the dandelions while sitting in the cool grass as the calm of evening slips into the valley below.
Those are the Dolomites in the distance? I’ve never been there, but it looks like pictures I have seen. Coincidentally, my friend texted me this week and he proposed we rent a car and drive there next month. (On our bike ride on the Via Claudia, we plan a rest day in Bolzano and would be driving from there.)
I do like the colors; the pink tinge is a nice magenta-ish contrast to the dominance of the green, and that theme is strengthened by the red tones in the trees.
The dandelions are wonderful. They are so common, but we really should utilize them more as photography subjects. They have such delicate detail. I love how much the imperfect one at the bottom left adds; I don’t think the photo would be as good if it was as perfect as its soulmate on the right.
Your vanishing point must have been pretty low; that’s some strong divergence of the vertical lines. You could/could have lessened that by transforming the image or changing the camera position, but it would minimize the distant peaks to do that. (Those darn trade offs we have to wrestle with.)
It’s a nit on a really grand photo, but I do wish the very bottom of the foreground dandelion was as sharp as the rest.
You may have wanted the misty haze/glow in the distance, but if it wasn’t an artistic choice it might be worth playing with just a touch of local contrast enhancement.
Dear John,
thanks a lot for your critique! I used the new Laowa 10mm AF on my Sony A7r iii for this one. It’s a great lense, but shooting without automatic focus stacking (and no tripod) is a challenge! Apparently I should have set another focus point on the lower, darker front of the dandelion. So much for shooting with f16 at a close distance …The misty/atmospheric background is indeed part of my approach. I am trying to strengthen the image depth, mostly by adding more haze.
I think it’s always worth visiting the Dolomites! If I can give you any tips concerning the locations, don’t hesitate to pm me! I am in the Dolomites at least three times a year.
Thanks again, have a great day
Markus
This is an absolute stunner, Markus. Your composition, the extreme near/far perspective - which almost literally sucks me into and through the frame! - the colors, atmosphere. It’s got everything going for it. I understand John’s thought process on his re-work and I do like it, but I’m partial to the more misty/hazy original version. Outstanding work!
1 Like
Your elevation of the lowly dandelion to star of the show is lovely. I haven’t much to add in the way of critique. I do like your misty original vs. John’s suggestion to increase the mid-ground contrast. I think the misty look in the mid- to background works because it mimics the softness of the dandelions.
1 Like
A fine photo, certainly worthy of the Editor’s pick. But since I’ve never seen a perfect photo, I’ll suggest a few things. I really like the near/far composition. It was a huge component of my favorite photographer’s work, David Muench. Mark Adamus has also perfected this technique. I like the processing. I do find the wide angle effect on the left side a little strong with the leaning trees. The OOF dandelion in the FG is a little distracting. And on the left side edge along the tree line there is a thin dark sliver, maybe a tree creeping in. That said great image.
1 Like
Good work, Markus. I had to download it and see it on a framed grey background to appreciate the composition. It does look like a David Muench image. I particularly like the distant mountains, sky, and the illumination back there. I do agree that the leaning tree on the left looks a bit odd.
Oh, my initial reaction? I get the sense of an ideal world. A world of happiness where there is no strife and everyone gets along. A make believe world.
1 Like
Thank you all!
@Michael_Lowe : You’re absolutely right with your points. There is something creeping in on the left side, I didn’t see it!
The softness of the dark part of the first dandelion is due to my negligence of the focus. Although I shot at f16 it seems that at this distance (ca. 12 cm) it is necessary to set multiple focus points.
My A7r iii doesn’t have automatic focus bracketing, and since I am shooting without a tripod it’s tricky to set the right points via touch on the screen. I should rather rely on a manual 1/4 turn of the focus ring maybe …
Thanks again!
The colors look great, but man, the depth of field and range of elements front to back makes this really incredible. Congrats.
I don’t have much to add from what has already been said but I had to throw my hat in the ring if for no other reason than to say I find this stunning. I love the soft, dreamy look and feel to this image and the softer contrast works really well here. I also love the warm and slightly magenta glow of light coming in from the top left corner hitting those jagged peaks in the background.
I can’t believe this is a single image. You did well to get almost everything in focus and the closer dandelion being slightly soft doesn’t bother me although I have to say it would be better to have that in sharp focus as well. Not a deal breaker by any means, just nit picking here. The sharply leaning trees are also quite an eye magnet but hey, that’s what you get when shoot at 10mm.
Admirable and beautiful image and worthy of the Editor pick.
My initial reaction: we’re entering a fairy tale world. A beautiful “macro-landscape”.
