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
I’m interested in your initial impressions of this experimental abstract image. The processing is not final, I could spend more time to refine it but I’m not sure it’s worth it.
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
This image was made by intentionally underexposing a group of very small trees in harsh sunlight, I have then rotated it 90 degrees to further abstract it
Technical Details
I don’t think these are relevant in this case.
Specific Feedback
Is this something you find compelling or is it ‘too abstract’?.. if that’s possible! Is it worth me spending any more time on it to refine?
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:
I have to admit it made me curious. After viewing enlarged, I assume it is bare branches. What if you rotated it a quarter turn to the left? Might make it more ambiguous. Could even make it a square crop down from the top of it’s current orientation to take out some of the blank black space on the right. Just random thoughts that popped into my head.
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I find it an interesting tangle of branches, Dom, and I like the layered feel to it. I think it might have more impact if it were angled as @Chris_Baird mentioned, though I’m not sure 45 degrees would be needed. One thing that popped out at me is there is one “something” in an absolutely straight line toward the bottom left that just doesn’t fit the pattern. Whether you want to leave it in as an anomaly, which can sometimes work, or remove it is an artistic choice to me, but it certainly attracted my attention.
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thanks both @Chris_Baird @Dennis_Plank - I’ll have a bit more of a play with it and see if I can refine it a bit.
This evokes a bit of unease in me - the creeping tendrils in the darkness are trying to entangle me. If that’s what you’re going for, it works.
Reading what you did, I think you might be interested in the work of Grant Simon Rogers, if you don’t already know of it. He’s been doing the underexposing method for quite a while, although he also uses a flash to illuminate his subjects.
2 Likes
Hi @Bonnie_Lampley - thanks for commenting. No, I wasn’t aware of him. I’ve had a Quick Look at his website and his work looks fascinating, I look forward to delving deeper. Thank you for sharing.
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