The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was my first visit to this often photographed location. This was photographed in late October so I while the fall color is still vibrant, the leaves had started to fall. The colors are enhanced by the overnight rain which contributes to the rolling waters of the creek through the frame.
Specific Feedback
I like the image but believe my framing could have been better by moving to the left and shooting back at the Grist Mill at angle which would help eliminate the upper left part of the frame where the trees have lost mostly all of their leaves.
Technical Details
Camera: Nikon Z7ii
Lens: Nikkor Z 14-14 @ 21mm
Exposure: 1/4 of a second @ f/8
ISO: 250
Lovely scene John. The image feels very cozy and warm. I think the colors and tones are really nice, but I do agree that the framing is a bit off. It’s kind of like my eyes don’t quite know where to looks, the rock on the right or the mill on the left. I’m sure a revisit to this location would solve your questions/problems.
John, the fall colors look great (and since those vary a lot from year to year while revisiting is fun, each view will be different). The white water in the lower right makes a nice lead into the view, while the rocks and flowing water add interest in the lower third. Without knowing what was possible, I think that moving a bit left could work by creating more separation between the rock and the mill. Alternatively, zooming in just a bit would aslo move your two main elements further apart.
Beautiful image. Wonderful New England autumn scene with the classic grist mill. A calendar image for sure.
Looks like you caught this at peak, or near past peak color; love the wide range and diversity of all the color, all nicely balanced and distributed.
I’ve not been there so I don’t know what your options were - possibly a bit limited? I like the composition as presented. I do agree with Mark in that the water in the LR actually works as a lead-in to the scene. On the other hand, it could be viewed as an eye magnet pulling the eye away from the main subject(s). I’m wondering if more of a pano crop, say cropping just above your signature would work as an alternate presentation. Not sure, but a thought.
Processing including colors, sat, contrast all look good. The one exception for me - I would suggest selectively turning down the saturation on the lone green plant that is right in the center and point that joins the mill, the rock and the water. My eye definitely goes there. Minor thought.
I went here last October as well. I think it was the 18th could be off by a day either way. But I have the nearly exact same image! I thought it actually was mine at first! it had been a bucket list location to visit for over a decade. I was completely taken by surprise at what the surrounding area looks like here! Since the water was running a bit low, and the foliage a bit thin upstream. I chose not to shoot it from the typical downstream spot. I think this was a good choice for composition. Everything in the frame looks good to me. Agree about toning down the spit of green a bit.
The ravine on the backside of this park while heading out was possibly the most intense display of fall color I have ever seen! No place to park and now time to stop resulted in no imagery. Had to get down to Pigeon Forge!
I think there’s much to love here John. I agree with Lon - I totally love your composition as presented. It’s well divided, showing the viewer just the right amount of everything. The autumn colors are amazing. The mill is beautiful. The color combination gives the warm feeling of a beautiful scene, mixed with the coldness of the river… Finally, I really like the analogy between the wooden texture of the mill, and the texture of the rocks on the right.
One thing I might have tried (in addition, not instead…) - is to use a slower shutter speed. It might smoothen the water, and reveal some interesting patterns of the flow. That’s not to say the exposure time you chose isn’t good - on the contrary. In my opinion, it works very well as it is.
A really beautiful image!
Thank you all for your feedback. That really yellow/green shrub just below the Mill stuck out to me as well. With respect to framing as luck would have it, as you might imagine, I didn’t have the place to myself and I believe there was another photographer to my left. Nevertheless, I got a little stuck on getting it all in the frame and getting blur in the water. Instead of hanging a little and moving left, I moved downstream for different vertical composition. In any event, I’ll return for another run at it one day. Again, thank you all for the positive feedback. John
The variety of colors here are so wonderful. Vibrant, but not over the top. The mill adds tremendous interest and gives me a sense of place. It may not have been possible, but I wonder if composing this such that the creek ran more diagonally through the frame, and perhaps from a lower perspective, might have also been interesting. Not taking anything away from this composition as I love it as-is. Fantastic work!
it had been a bucket list location to visit for over a decade. I was completely taken by surprise at what the surrounding area looks like here! Since the water was running a bit low, and the foliage a bit thin upstream. I chose not to shoot it from the typical downstream spot. I think this was a good choice for composition. Everything in the frame looks good to me. Agree about toning down the spit of green a bit.