Forest sunset

[John_Carroll]

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’ve been away for a year and I’m glad to be back here.

I had a specific goal when taking this photo. I don’t know how successful I was.

Any thoughts about initial reactions will be much appreciated.

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’m very interested in trying to capture forest scenes “as they are”, with all of their associated complexity and chaos. I’m also drawn to backlit forest scenes, particularly this time of day, when the sun is about to set and the sun’s rays are almost horizontal, with that red/golden color illuminating and backlighting leaves, grass, etc. My goal is usually quiet photos, not spectacular.

Basically, I was there hiking, the sun was brilliantly illuminating the forest for a few minutes and the colors and the whole scene were amazing. I guess my goal was to capture that stunning moment (which didn’t last long). Although it was stunning, its not “spectacular” or “extraordinary”, its an everyday occurrence in the woods here. I always feel grateful for these moments when they arise.

One concern I have is that the image may appear over-saturated. However, on my calibrated monitor, the colors and illumination in this photo look (to me) how the scene actually looked when I was there. It was a clear day and the setting sun was very bright.

Thanks!!!

Technical Details

Camera: Sony a7RV, 1/200, ISO 160
Lens: Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm f/4.5 (don’t recall manual lens settings)
Processed in Photoshop with lens correction filter, typical adjustment of levels, etc. Tonal contrast in Nik Color Efex.

Specific Feedback

I’m most interested in visual appeal and whether is resonates or is boring or whatever the feedback is. I don’t know if viewers of this image “get”, from the image, any of what I was feeling when I was there. I hope that makes sense.

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• Vision and Purpose:
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[james13 (James Shoemaker)]

Technically every thing looks great to me exposure etc top notch, I am not sure what i should focus on from a composition perspective, There are too many trees, I struggle a lot with Forest / Trees. To me there is not intrest in the photo or subject But i wish i could figure out good comistions in the woods - I hope that helps

[Youssef_Ismail]

John,

The exposure is perfect and my initial reaction is that is some very clear air. The trees are numerous and and seem to be blocking the view, but the view of what exactly? It seems like the trees are the view.

[John_Carroll]

Thanks for commenting James. Your comment ‘not sure what I should focus on’ is very helpful. I spend a lot time in the forest, taking photos of the whole forest scene before my eyes, not necessarily with a specific subject in mind. The full view of the forest scene usually is the subject. In this case, I thought the brilliant sunset light and the way it was illuminating the forest, grasses, etc. was beautiful, so really the whole scene and how it was lit, was the aim of the photo. It helps me to know that some viewers look at a photo like this and wonder ‘what is the subject here’. Thanks again!

[John_Carroll]

Thanks Youssef for your feedback. On the day of this photo, the wind was blowing strong across the lake and it was a very clear, bright day. Your comment that the numerous trees seem to be blocking the view is very helpful. Your absolutely right that the trees, the whole forest scene… was the view. As I mentioned to James, I was mostly fascinated by the way the scene was lit, with the sunset rays almost horizontal, brightly illumining the forest and backlighting some of the leaves. I also wanted to include the sun but needed those larger trees to partially shield it. Thanks again!

[John_Williams]

I’m a bit embarrassed (because when critiquing such a beauty as this I’m not sure “Squirrel!” is appropriate), but my Initial Reaction is “Double-sun Star!” I can’t remember seeing that before; it’s really cool! It’s a completely different image of course, but a severe crop that focuses on that area is kind of fun to play with.

A less distracted initial impression is “What beautiful light.” Interestingly though, for me there are maybe two images here. While attractive in both, the light is different . I really enjoy both, but wonder if they would be stronger as separate images. Here are crude stabs with that in mind.

[John_Carroll]

Thanks John. I like the crop suggestions, that hadn’t occurred to me. Especially the vertical crop. I’m a fan of wide-angle, in general, but it can be a challenge in the forest. This was shot with the Voigtlander 15/4.5 III, which has less distortion issues than some extreme wide lenses, but still has some, and it has that startburst pattern when pointed at the sun. I thought it was a plus. The little starburst below it wasn’t intentional; I didn’t notice it until later. BTW, there were many squirrels running around out there, but if I caught one in the photo, it wasn’t the goal. Thanks again.

[Diane_Miller]

I’m rarely a wide-angle shooter but I appreciate this one for the balance between the larger trees on the right and the increasing tree density on the left. @John_Williams’ crop is wonderful, giving prominence to the most interesting individual trees and the amazing double sunstar. The colors are pure and the contrast strong but not overwhelming. Very nice work!

[John_Williams]

Pixel peeping, there’s actually more partial stars in there. Six?!, that’s really .

[John_Carroll]

Thanks Diane! Your comments on specific aspects are greatly appreciated.