Finding a way

Image Critiques Nightscape & Astro Critiques
1

Monument Vally April 2025-8095-Pano.jpg
Monument Vally April 2025-8095-Pano.jpg1500×486 256 KB

Monument Valley April 2025-8043-HDR-2.jpg
Monument Valley April 2025-8043-HDR-2.jpg1000×1500 448 KB

Full moon over the Merrick Butte in Monument Valley.

Monument Valley April 2025-8005-HDR-2.jpg
Monument Valley April 2025-8005-HDR-2.jpg1500×1000 436 KB

Sunset over the Mittens

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

I am learning post processing, these images had mostly local adjustments done only. For B&W image I want to see initial reaction and any areas of improvment in post processing, Next two images I want to know if foreground looks too busy and distracting.

Creative direction

The Monument Valley’s famous Mittens have been photographed so many times. I wanted to create an image with different perspective to the valley, which gives viewer an idea of what the landscape is actually like. B&W image captures the essence of how the stars guided our ancestors in finding a way.

Specific Feedback

Sky in the first image and foreground in the next two images.

Technical Details

Image 1: Pano - two rows, 7 images each, 14mm, ISO 4000, f/2.8, 8.0 sec
Image 2: 85mm, ISO 160,f/20, 0.4 sec
Image 3: 32 mm, ISO 200, f/9.0, 1/200 sec

Description

I wanted to take full moon rising behind the the well known buttes/mittens in the foreground, but just as moon was rising the sky was cloudy just above horizon, but cleared up above in an hour or so. I thought of trying to take Milky Way arch with the Mittens/Buttes in the foreground but it was a full moon night and the hotel and cabin had all outside lights on at night, further reducing visibility of milky way.

Critique Template

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  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
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2

For a full moon night you did manage to capture a hint of the MW. I don’t know if you could lower the exposure on the sky a little without it looking forced, but maybe worth a try. That was quite a tour de force of panorama stitching.

The FGs on the other two look fine to me. I would be inclined to take a little off the bottom on the middle one and play with a bit more saturation. The Mittens image is wonderful but the FG feels like it could use just a bit more punch and the mittens just a little less.

3

Thank you Diane for your critique, it is helpful.

4

Hi Sanjiv,

Thanks for submitting those images and apologies for my late response!

A really nice trio that work well together to tell a lovely story of the The Monument Valley Mittens. Have been enjoying going through the submissions today as I’ve not visited the States – nice to live vicariously through you all.

Well done for successfully creating a milky way arch in the first image, it’s hard to achieve and also to visualise a pleasing composition with such a large field of view. Whilst the full moon makes bringing out the foreground much easier, you’re right in that it washes out the milky way a little. It looks like you’ve still got a good amount of detail though and with a bit of careful sky processing – namely increasing the contrast a little you should be able to bring it out a bit more. As Diane says the challenge will be keeping it looking natural. I’d be interested to see the colour version as I think that will look nice as well.

For the 2nd image I’d be tempted to boost the whites a little to give it a bit more punch (though not on the moon as you’ll loose the nice detail), whilst the 3rd image would benefit from taking the saturation down a little on the sky as that’s drawing the eye a bit much.

With regards the foregrounds I think the key is to spend some time creating a pleasing composition with the main foreground elements of interest – for example the scattered rocks in that middle image. If possible try and avoid cropping through the edge of a rock as it looks a little untidy at the edge of the frame. You could either crop that bottom rock or clone it out. Try and avoid half of anything at the edges of a frame. Broadly speaking those foregrounds work well though and tell a good story of life in the desert. If you’re looking for a really clean image it would be a case of searching for an isolated tuft / patch of vegetation – I’m not sure how easy they would be to find though!

A lovely set though, I enjoyed those.

5

James:

It is never too late. I appreciate you taking time and providing detailed critique, which is very helpful. I will work on your suggestions and may be send you revised images. Not sure if this is the right email to send you the images though.

Sanjiv

1 Like
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JamesRushforth@Outlook.com or just pop them in here :slight_smile: .