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
No need to say much here, This was a day where the purpose of the trip was totally befuddled. Read on.
Other Information
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Image Description
The Geminids meteor shower can be quite spectacular with meteors that shine a brilliant blue light. This is not a picture of the Geminids. I had high hopes of catching a night of Geminids when I left my house. The weather was looking good, clearing skies behind a storm. The drive to my location was looking really good with blue skies. Then 10 miles from our destination, clouds. Clouds below the mountain peaks, not good. So instead of Geminids, I walked along the Lemhi River where Lewis and Clark walked. Where Sacagawea quite possibly grew up as a child. After taking a few shots of the ice on the river, I decided to see what some ICM might give me. So here is a shot of trees, quite likely trees that are grandchildren or great grandchildren of trees that Sacagawea played under as a child. The image somewhat conveys the feeling of the day. No wind, no sun, quiet, and the whispers of long ago when the Agaidika walked along this river collecting Salmon to eat. Sometimes you get what you are after, sometimes you turn to ICM and see what might be.
Technical Details
Nikon Z8
Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 S at 70mm
f/20
ISO 500
Shutter 1.6 Sec hand held
Specific Feedback
How far off have you been from what you planned to what you got?
A wonderful second prize!! The distribution of the trees is very interesting and I love the subtle effect of the water reflections! I can never resist a distort to make trees completely vertical, but that’s certainly artist’s choice.
Paul, the image brings to mind some trees by the water’s edge. I like the soft tones, particularly that light yellow band toward the bottom. That looks like soft flowing grass. Although normally the light on the left side of the frame would distract me in a different setting, I find it part of a gradual color change: from darks on the right to lights on the left. The only thing that is distracting me in this composition is the reflection of those branches on the right of the frame. I don’t know what cloning them out or lowering their saturation would do or improve the scene. It is all part of your artistic vision. The fact the trees are leaning indicates to me that this could be an area where the wind was strong and caused the trees not to appear vertical. I find the image very calming.
Thank you all for the feedback. I do ICM off and on on my photo outings (more off than on). On this day more than half the images I took were ICM as the lighting and subjects just weren’t letting themselves be seen by me. The yellow grass did add quite a bit to the scenes along the mile plus walk I did that day.
Feels like trees in snow to me, Paul. I like the transition from relatively thin sparse trees on the left to denser larger trees on the right. I also like the high key feel of the image.
This one has an appealing mood and is simple in the right ways. I get a sense of depth from the larger trees in the foreground and the smaller trees in back.
The trees on the left are leaning and unless you have some creative reason for doing that, I’d suggest straightening them.
I had a distinct first impression that included of course a winter forest scene. Someone mentioned near the lakeshore, the higher-key presentation. Well, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the movie “Fargo.” A Cult classic for me, but this would be the wooded area by the lake where Jerry’s wife Jean was held hostage… among other things. Disregard if you don’t know movie… lol.
No nitpicks or suggestions really. There is a smaller, forward twigs/branches, and fortunately enough blur that they’re not a problem.
A great scene for an ICM. Great job with this one.
I like this! I do like ICM abstracts, and I think this wintery scene lent itself well. It gives the feeling of being lost in time (I suspect your title added to that impression) and of a bit of mystery. I chose not to read the other comments until I’d posted this so I don’t know if anyone commented about the branch or downed sapling in the lower right. At first, I couldn’t decide if it worked or was a distraction. But the more I look at the scene, the more I’m glad it’s there because it adds just a touch of realism (actual forest, not something from a fantasy) - something I would have to step over or around in real life. Excellent!
