The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
This puffball (Scleroderma citrinum) was in such an awkward location it was hard to shoot without sinking into a bit of swamp, but I could pull off a short stack. Not sure anyone else would have noticed it or been attracted to it if they had. It’s definitely odd and was in some pretty dim light. I love the otherworldly aspect of this - like a scene from Dr. Seuss or Away Team Hell.
Feedback Requested
I deliberately left some odd elements in place to enhance the strangeness of the scene. Does it work? I’ve had some other folks tell me it’s unsettling, but they aren’t nature photographers, so who knows.
Filters: polarizer
Technique: auto bracketing 0/-/+ method for 11 images
Conditions:
Processing software: Lr for raw process to even out the tonalities, leaning toward the darker side.
Major adjustments: Reprocessed resulting TIF with a preset, but I forget which one, also some masking. Square crop and some distraction removal.
Blending/stacking: Zerene DMap w/PMax details - 11 shots
Other notes:
Kris: Oh this is fine and you are one who has learned to spot these little micro-scenes and make something special from them. A humble subject perhaps but a superb rendition and image.>=))>
How cool! There is a very authentic feeling to this, with all the slightly jumbled environment, but it feels like the other elements are not at all distracting, but adding a nice context. Yes, a little mysterious comes through. No nits – well seen and presented!!
This is a pretty cool image in my opinion. Even though I know what it is it looks intriguing in an alien sort of way. It’s a bright mysterious object among all that darkness. I also think all those dark twisted forms all around add to the feel of the image. The bottom is out of focus but I have the same issue with my latest so can’t criticize someone for doing the same as I did. But really, this is a fine image from my point of view. Those twisted lines in combination with an almost perfect sphere just works so well.
The textures presented in this image are excellent with sharp details and subtle lighting. The branches frame the subject perfectly. Comp is fine as presented and the OOF foreground does not bother me that much. I like this one as presented…Jim
Thanks @Bill_Fach , @Diane_Miller , @Igor_Doncov & @Jim_Zablotny - if anyone would get it, it would be the NPN crowd. Oddball stuff like this knocks me out sometimes and so I’m glad I put in the effort even though I was anxious to get to part 2 of my day which was kayaking.
I’m glad the surroundings add to rather than detract from the overall atmosphere. I’ve been feeling more and more conflicted about altering my photos with Gen remove and Gen fill and so try to set things up to be closer to the idea of a finished photo. I did take a stack without that little twig on the left, but decided to leave it as it felt unbalanced without it. Plus it would be a little less weird and who wants that?
If I’d taken more shots in the bracketing session, the fg would be clearer, but I don’t know that it would have supported the photo as a whole…maybe I should have tried just to see how it would look.
Kris, this looks very good. Your focus on the puffball and it’s brightness work well. The sharp stick and the twissty roots do add very interesting, somewhat disturbing element that fit into the darkness. The puffball look a bit distorted, rather than nicely round, which also fits with the moodiness. The oof foreground doesn’t bother me in the least.
Thanks @Huw_Thomas & @Mark_Seaver - there was so much depth to this scene that I really needed multiple images to show it in all its strangeness. The puffer was a bit elliptical and someone else said it felt like a watching eye, something that is also unsettling. Glad it’s come across that way as that’s how it struck me when I noticed it.
