The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I went to bed with the plan to get up at 5 and hope for a clear morning. I saw stars when I looked looked out the window so I got up and went out hoping to find fog along the rivers. It was -25ºf and had been like this for several days with highs in the low single digits, so I had trouble finding open water with rising fog. As it got lighter, I found myself down a snow packed dirt road out in potato farm country on some higher hills. I got a few good shots away from the sun and before the sun crested the distant mountains, but I liked the way the sun highlighted the fog here.
Specific Feedback
My big concern with this image is that bright ball of sun. It’s totally blown out and pretty much makes you want to squint just looking at the image! Between the near fog and the distant high clouds, I found it difficult to properly expose for the sun and maintain the look of the sub-zero air! I tried a number of different shutter speeds, but even the faster speeds had blown out highlights and I dont think HDR would have worked well…just too much disparity between the sky and the foreground. How else might you have captured or processed this? I do have a version cutting off the sky, but I don’t like it as well.
Technical Details
Nikon D850
Nikon 70-300 f/4.5-5.6
ISO 64, f/14, 1/100th, 220mm
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
What a lovely image with a beautifully serene mood, Paul!
I can relate to the difficulty of shooting into the sun resulting in a blown out area in the image. I’ve had some luck with blending in a layer of pale color (matched to what is around the blown out sun). I’m still experimenting though.
Gorgeous!! This looks similar to the sort of ground fog situation I always hope for at a local laguna that floods after a heavy rain. It is ephemeral but you came very close here and got a lovely image.
As to the blown out sun, have you ever tried to look at the sun? I hope not, and your camera has the same response. There is no way to “expose properly” for it without a solar filter or maybe welder’s glasses. But then you can’t fit that exposure into the rest of the scene. So just go with how it looks to us – really, really bright. (Heavy smoke or fog works as a nice filter if you can find it.)
The thing that makes it a good exposure is that the brightness fades off smoothly, with no sharp edge. That would indicate horribly blown out.
I think the image is wonderful with the bold light; however, you could shoot for the highlights and take a second shot of the shadows and blend them in Ps.
I love this picture. It takes getting up very early and since I have not got to do this any more because of work, it is getting surprisingly more difficult :D. So, congrats for pulling this one off.
Knowing myself, I would have tried to zoom in on the trees, cutting the sky off. But you mentioned it does not work as well. Certainly, this is the best picture then.
Xavier
When people speak of atmosphere in a photo, I’m pretty sure this is what they’re referencing. Gorgeous! For me, this has a calming mood. Soft colors, no hard textures, it’s very peaceful. Love it!
Everything this image says, says it softly. Even the trees with their rough leafless texture is enveloped in the softness of the ground fog. What I find really interesting is the many layers of horizontal fog and ridges. The light is obviously exquisite and the colors are just as good as the light. The only thing sharp in the whole image are those peaks in the distance on the right edge of the frame. And even they are relatively soft. The colors covey coolness and warmth at the same time but you certainly know it’s Winter. Just a gorgeous image, Paul.
