Fading away

[Ronja_Linssen]

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

This is a close up picture of a melting glacier leading into a waterfall running down the rocks below the edge of the glacier. I wanted to highlight the contrast between the ice of the glacier and the rocks, which are no longer covered in ice. By including the streams of water I tried to put emphasis on the fact, that the glacier is melting and slowly retreating. By enhancing a warm and cool color contrast I tried to strengthen the contrast between the glacial ice and the rocks. Maybe the color work would need to be improved further. Unfortunately it was not possible to include more of the water stream as it was not possible to get another angle. I hope the composition works anyways. Maybe the harsh transition between the ice and the combination of water and rocks even adds to the contrast between the two different stages of the glacier.
I was going back and forth between a 1:1 and a 4:5 crop, which would include more of the glacier. In the end I decided on a 1:1 crop for a more intimate feeling and calmer picture, concentrating on the key elements of the picture.
I deliberately went with a very short shutter speed to freeze the movement of the water in order to enhance the dynamic and speed of the stream.

Creative direction

Standing in front of a massive glacier is a humbling sight. With this picture I wanted to highlight the fact that due to the consequences of climate change these frozen giants are slowly melting away and will change nature significantly. Where once was thick blue ice, soon will be rocks, which have been carved out by water and ice over many years. I wanted to convey the feeling, of transition, change and loss.

Specific Feedback

I would be very grateful to receive aesthetic and technical feedback, especially in regard to the overall visual appeal, color work as well as the crop (I will try to include also the 4:5 crop version) and composition. Furthermore I would be happy to hear, if the story of the melting glacier that I tried to tell comes across in the image.

Technical Details

Camera: Sony A7 IV
Camera settings: 1/800 sec at f/11 ISO 100
Lens: Tamron 28-200 at 270mm
processed in adobe Lr and Ps

Description

While traveling through Norway for 9 weeks with my family we did many hikes to different glaciers. Even though my son who was just a couple of months old at the time will not remember it, I instantly hope that my 5 year old daughter will remember and appreciate the impressive sight of massive ice fields and colorful textures in the glacial ice. While still keeping a safe distance we were lucky enough to get moderately close to the glacier to appreciate the sight also without a long lens and were even able to listen to the sounds of the “active” glacier. At the start of this hike I saw a picture of the glacier a few years ago and it was shocking just how much ice has melted away in just a few short years. We had to climb a good bit further up the mountain to reach the edge of the glacier. This motivated me even more to try and take a picture that depicts this unstoppable process.

---

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:

[Ronja_Linssen]

Sorry I did not know how to include the 4:5 crop in my post, so I will post it here for comparison

[Matt_Payne]

Hi @Ronja_Linssen - great to see you back on NPN! =)
I greatly prefer the 4x5 crop as it places more emphasis on the more interesting bits of the glacier, and yes, I do believe you’ve conveyed the idea quite nicely!
My only thought would be to have you get a bit closer to the flowing water and point your camera down towards it to give the running water more visual interest while still including the nice iceberg features, perhaps at a slightly wider angle. Otherwise, I think this is a quite successful image - I quite enjoy the nice contrast between the rock and ice!

[Ronja_Linssen]

Thank you @Matt_Payne, I really appreciate your thoughts and feedback on my picture! thank you for helping me deciding on a crop, that’s very helpful! Yes, I wish I could have gotten closer to the water, unfortunately that area was restricted as it would have been too dangerous ;-(
Thank you, and I hope to be back here again more often - as much as the kids allow

[Lon_Overacker]

Ronja,

Wow, this is fantastic! I love the juxtaposition of the rock and glacier - and including the melting water. This is very effective in your message and what you’re trying to convey.

I do prefer the 4:5 crop. The added presence of the glacier I think emphasizes your story even more.

The other nice visual feature is the warm/cool contrast. Processing, color/sat looks great too.

Well done and kudos!

[Igor_Doncov]

This is one of those images that works due to incongruency. The snow and land are shown together but the relationship seems weak or absent. This makes the viewer look more slowly and think. That’s how I see this.

[Ronja_Linssen]

Thank you @Lon_Overacker and @Igor_Doncov for your kind feedback! I really appreciate it and it helps me greatly in my decision process regarding the crop!

[Tim_Parkin]

This image works really, really well and hits your goals perfectly. The comparison of the imposing glacier and the warm rock is very clear. I like how the water flows in the foreground are almost cradled by the surrounding rock.

My criticisms are short and easily solved. The single bright patch of white in the glacier is really distracting because it has no form or texture. This can be surpressed easily and I’ve done this and put a cool colour cast on it to try to prevent it looking grey and to blend it well with the surrounding.

The other criticism is the lack of white highlights in the water. I think the drops of water and the whites in the flow should sparkle a bit, especially with the glacier being so bright. I’ve brushed in highlights with a fine brush. I’ve also just added a bit of a soft spotlight over the bottom middle of the image to bring it’s white values up but without being obvious (consider it creating a subtle vignette but by brightening the key area slightly rather than darkening everywhere else). (p.s. I’ll disagree with Matt and say I like the square for balance!)

[Ronja_Linssen]

Thank you so much @Tim_Parkin for your detailed pointers on my picture. I highly appreciate it and will make sure to work these things into my image. Amazing how I never saw that bright patch in the ice! Once seen it cannot be unseen Also the dodging in the water streams and the slight brightening of the bottom middle section makes all the difference! Thank you so much for pointing this out and taking the time to demonstrate it in the picture!