First Ice

Image Critiques
1

First Ice.jpg
First Ice.jpg2000Ă—1334 825 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Got the first ice of the season on my pond Saturday morning. Since it was only a partial freeze and there are still lots of lily pads, getting an ice only view was a challenge. I did manage to find a couple of interesting locations, like this one with a mix of strong lines and rumpled ridges. This is in full shade, but the polarizer lets subtle colors from below show through by blocking the sky’s reflection.

Specific Feedback

I’m content with this, but expect to find more as the season progresses and I put in more time.

Technical Details

R5, 100-500 @ 500, 1/10 s, f/10, iso 1600, tripod, polarizer and 2 s timer. A 20 shot stack for full frame sharpness.

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
2

Vision and Purpose:

Conceptual:

Emotional Impact and Mood:

I find this image to be extremely visually pleasing. To me it is quite unique.

Composition:
The compositional elements of lines, triangles and blues with yellows really make the image stand out.

Balance and Visual Weight: I think the placement of the line on the peak in the middle really helps the images balance.

Depth and Dimension:
Color: The yellows and blues are very nice

Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:The lighting, processing all seem very good to me. I don’t have any suggestions.

3

You may find better as the winter progresses, Mark, but this one is very good. I like the lines formed by the ice and having the more “rumpled” area above almost gives this the feel of a landscape with ridges below and clouds above.

4

Mark, an excellent start to your pond freeze over scenes. Surely a fit for the Abstract Category as well. The yellow and blue colors from plants, water and sky add to helping outline the puzzle view here… :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

5

Mark, I always enjoy your ice shots, and this is no exception. I like how the lines are below and rumples at the top, just a nice separation of the two types of shapes. The yellows are nicely placed in the image. Very nicely done and looking forward to many more although I know the only way we get to enjoy them is for us to have cold weather for you to shoot ice pictures! I’m not a fan of cold weather in case you didn’t guess that.

6

Mark: This reminds me of the emerging strategy in baseball where the leadoff hitter is an immediate power and run producing threat. Great start to your season and you’ve set a high standard for yourself. Top notch shot. >=))>

7

Very nice, Mark. I want to try my hand at this in the coming months. I’ll be scouting places outside of Portland with some promise.

What I really about this is the color palette ( kind of a steely purple and gold) and the combination of geometric lines and Free form blobby shapes,

The distribution of colors and shapes is compelling too, Looking forward to seeing more but I’m loving this as is.
ML

8

Mark,

A very cool abstract photo (pun intended). I find the shapes fascinating and that they are all on the same plane but so different in shape. Is the blue from the sky?

9

Youssef, yes, the blue is sky reflection, partially tamed via my polarizer angle choice. As calm water freezes the ice does lots of interesting things, like the lines and the lumps.