Re-post, Thanks Kerry & David. I think the re-post is a lot more cohesive. Crop is square, but the flow is vertical … and a monochrome version - just playing
Critique Style Requested: In-depth
The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
The challenge in this scene was to convey the quiet flow of the mysterious moss and to not let the hundreds of forest details distract too heavily. I cropped top and bottom and burned a lot of forest. Still, some say the miscellaneous branches and ferns are distracting. (They sure were distracting when I tried to put a tripod up for this shot!!)
It did not occur to me until this morning to see if the BG could get a high-key treatment like Don Peters has shown us the last 2 days.
A few folks say that I could crop out the left 1/3. But then it would be a photo OF something, and I wanted it to be ABOUT something.
Creative direction
see above …
Specific Feedback
Does it have a feeling of flow?
Are forest elements too distracting?
Technical Details
Canon R5 RF28-70
Description
please see above
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I certainly admire the mood you are trying to convey with this photograph. I don’t feel the general chaos of the forest is distracting, it is, after all the context of and, therefore, essential to the image. You have some very strong elements in the bright luminous greens of the moss laden branches, which you have chosen as points of focus and I think that could work. I have, I’d say, three problems with the image if flow is the sense you are trying to achieve. First, is the aspect ratio. There is so much vertical activity in this picture - it is, after all, a forest and while I don’t think it needs to be done in a portrait mode, I find the pano mode you’re using is fighting with the verticals rather working with them to generate flow. Second, is the dark bottom of the picture that runs from left to right across the frame and which, again for me, impedes a sense of flow. It feels like it is blocking my way, which based on your intention, doesn’t feel like what you’re trying to do. Finally, there is a problem that you’ve already noted (i.e., the need for a crop) but I disagree with where that crop should be. You’ve got that luminous branch coming in from the left and sharply curving up while the next luminous branch over is taking a sharp curve to the right. That’s not flow, that’s a gap and that’s where my eye goes because, essentially you’ve created a little frame there. If I were working with this image, based on your intention, I’d consider cropping out the right third of the frame, not the left. Because you’ve got a pretty interesting, cohesive picture by eliminating the right third. You’ve got those two vertical saplings plus the two curving, luminous, moss laden branches all working together to create a frame. For me, that’s where the picture is, that’s where my eye is being called to go (though it keeps getting dragged to the right). Not only do you have the two aforementioned saplings but also potentially that grouping of saplings at the right third mark. In a addition you have those lovely illuminated ferns moving across the bottom (I’d lighten up the shadows there) that serve as an additional frame. So, now the focus of the picture is what’s going on between those two luminous curved branches. You could, I suppose, achieve something similar by cropping the left third and using the sapling and group of saplings as the central framing element. But then there would be a lot of those luminous branches on the right directing the eye out of the frame. The right third of the image is very busy whereas the other two thirds are balanced. I hope you find this helpful. Obviously, it’s just one man’s view.
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Thanks Kerry for the thoughtful analysis ans nudges. You have given me a lot to work with.
I have to say that I agree with @Kerry_Gordon on almost everything he’s stated. I very much like the saturated mossy greens and the vision you had to make something out of these elements. I’m very taken by the left most and center branches with the green moss on them. One is curving up out out of the frame and the other is curving the opposite direction, one is thin and one is rather hefty. But then my eye hits the green vertical branches on the right of the image and what flow there was is instantly stopped. The right side of the image is both darker and brighter and very vertical. Lot’s of contrast and maybe even mood. That right third of the image could be a whole other image unto itself but it doesn’t convey the flow that I think you are hoping for with the left portion of the image.
If this was my image, I would probably crop off just right of center where the moss covered claw is reaching into the vertical bush. I’m not really seeing this image as flow but of luminosity and color contrast. Because of the business of the forest I also don’t really find it quiet either.
I’d be really interested to see what you actually cropped out of this image to make the pano. I love the intention that you had for this image but I’m not sure it’s come together cohesively in one image but I think you may have 2 separate images here.
Here are 2 different crops:
Center right
Center Left
This probably is not your intention for this image but this is what I see in this image.
Thanks David. I am looking forward to taking a fresh look and getting 2 photographs. The skill of.stepping back a bit and considering is elusive for me.
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Thanks Kerry & David. I think the re-post is a lot more cohesive. Crop is square, but the flow is vertical … and a monochrome version - just playing
1 Like
