Forests of the Pacific Northwest

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
1

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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

What do you see or feel when viewing this image? What do you like or dislike about this image and why? What would you like to see or what would you do differently? Are the edges too dark for your tastes?

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

While I typically look for compositions that avoid man-made objects as much as possible in forest scenes, the inclusion of the bridge and path seems to encourage exploration of the forest. Forest scenes are sometimes dark and moody, I tried capture that emotion here. I darken the edges of the frame to draw the eye to the central elements of the image, the bridge, path, and the tree in the center. I also desaturated the colors somewhat to add to the mood I was trying to convey.

Technical Details

Camera settings: 34mm, f11, 2.5 sec, ISO 64. Post process in Adobe LR and PS.

Specific Feedback

Are you drawn to this image or does it not hold your interest? What do you like or dislike about this image and why? Does it convey atmosphere and a sense of mood? Would you compose it differently and how? Would you post process it differently?

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:
2

First impression is to enjoy the visual trip over the bridge and into the dark forest on the other side. The cedar branches and left rail sweep my eyes across the bridge. The dark left side emphasizes that the story is to the other side; I like its effect. But once across the bridge, the trail/leading line/story sorta stops. If the trunks or ferns has a bit of highlight, the story would continue for me.

Having read your comments, I would add that the desaturation works pretty well to convey the quiet moodiness of the forest. Also, the maple trunk on the left is a “stopper” and keeps my eye in the scene.

3

I like how those branches hang down like that. They seem alive and animated. The darkness of the forest appeals to me in that it exudes mystery. What looks odd to me is that one rail of the bridge is bright and the other so dark. If that’s due to burning then I would back off somewhat and let just the trees behind the bridge be that dark. Overall, I like the mood you have captured here.

4

Steven, I like the deep dark forest mood of this image. It feels kind of foreboding and I like your processing to desaturate the colors a bit. To me it says be careful or you could easily get lost in the woods with the bridge going off to the right leading out of the frame. It makes me stop and think about why this image is grabbing my attention so much.

5

@Igor_Doncov @Ed_Williams @Dick_Knudson , Thank you for comments and suggestions.

6

I really love the mood you created here and the light on the tree and the fence is really nice and helps bring out their textures. The edges are maybe a tad too dark (for my tastes) but other than that this is a fantastic image. Nice work!

7

Thank you Tom.