The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
When I first arrived at the coast last month, the tide was out and there was a nice layer of fog at Seal Rocks. Playing with different compositions this was my favorite, even though I was shooting straight into the sun.
Specific Feedback
I don’t have specific questions about this image, but would love some feedback on all its components. (Composition, black and white, processing, toning, etc.) Any thoughts are helpful and appreciated.
There is a slight bit of banding here on NPN, and the sun is harder to see, so you can download it and view it in Photoshop if you want to see the original.
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 27 mm
1/80, 1/250, and 1/4000 sec. at f/11 and ISO 64
Blend of three images for both DOF and dynamic range
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:
Great composition and tone. I can feel the quiet vibe in your image. Very Cool. !!! B&W works perfect. I am a huge fan of B&W photography. Always the Tone and Soul is exposed in my opinion. You captured that in your image Well Done !!!
Beautiful composition. My eye just wanders throughout and it holds my interest. The B&W treatment is perfect so is the toning you chose. I particularly love the bubble patterns in the FG tidepool. The light areas provided by the sun lead the eye to the BG nicely and the fog adds the perfect amount of fade that brings mystery into the scene. Really well done!
I honestly don’t think you can improve upon this, John. The composition is perfect, b&w conversion is spot on, tones are gorgeous. I don’t mind the bright spot in the sky at all as it breaks up the even tonality of the sky and really gives a sense of light, which is sometimes hard to do in b&w. Nice work!
I’m late and can only applaud the praise above – I think this is absolutely marvelous – at least an 11/10! I love the curving path of the nearest water and the way it is echoed by the exposed sand above it. The bubbles are icing on an already-great cake, and the atmospheric perspective of the fog is gorgeous! You have a perfect diagonal from the sun through the mid-ground sand to the bubbles.
Hi John,
I am a little late to the party, but I have to say that this seascape is dripping with so much mystery and mood! This has so much depth to it starting with those wonderful FG bubbles and ending with those seastacks that gracefully fade away into the fog. The processing with the B&W conversion and toning looks great. My only suggestion; just my personal preference; would be to slightly lighten the vignette in the ULC. This is a fascinating image.
I notice there is a crescendo in your Oregon coast images. Each is better than the previous one. There is also a crescendo of sorts in this image come to think of it. It starts from the well defined and detailed front and fades into the distance. In that sense it was like your previous image. It’s just that the foreground is much more arresting here. I like this image very much. Aside from that fascinating foam it’s the central shape that I find so interesting (and suggestive). And then you realize it’s being echoed over and over as you go farther. I really don’t have much to say on how to improve this image. You had some great light for this image, light that gives life to those bubbles.
Thank you all for the feedback on this one! It was my favorite of the trip (you are correct @Igor_Doncov that I’ve been posting them somewhat in order of my thoughts on them), and I’m happy to know it resonates with others and not just me.
Very appropriate title. Now that’s what I call a great FG. Excellent example of the near/far technique. I love how the patterns and bubbles in the sand from the receding water pull your eye towards that awesome pool. No nits from me.
Hey john,
Just getting back in town and into the swing of things and I pop into NPN and BAM, I get hit square in the face with this awesome image.
First off I have to say that the composition is just perfect…and well seen. Not an easy thing to see when you have so much going on in the sand.
Second, those foam bubbles in the foreground make this image soooo much more interesting and captivating. They provide some needed texture in the foreground and are just delicious!!!
Third, the fog in the background gives this image such mood and atmosphere. I just love how everything quickly fades into the abyss.
Lastly, the B&W treatment you put to this image is the perfect choice. I don’t even want to see this one in color. There is likely very little to no color anyway, and what little there might be would be distracting and hard to process anyway. And the mood this imparts just speaks in black and white with all of the textures in the foreground and almost a complete lack of texture in the background.
Just spectacular John. The sad thing is, I probably could have come and met you at the beach. It would have been a stretch to get out to Mount Hood but the beach was only about 35 minutes away. Glad you were able to make a quick trip for the three days we were supposed to spend together.
Sadly, that’s a good point. I had originally planned on backpacking to Mitchell Point on Mt. Hood those days, but for several reasons ended up heading for the coast instead. I completely didn’t think about how far west of Portland you were. I was so focused on the Gorge that it didn’t cross my mind that the coast was actually closer for you. Sorry about that! Ah well, next time!
