The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This small branch drew my attention as I walked by on a trail. I thought to myself “is this really worth the effort of setting up the tripod?”. The answer was no. So I went on. But the thought kept nagging at me. Had my decision been right. When I walked by again the same feelings came back. This time I went for it.
I processed it and rather liked it but the same thought and doubts arose when I thought of making it public on NPN. Is it worth showing it? After all it’s just a shrub that many see. The answer was no, it’s not worthy of showcasing it. But today the answer is yes for reasons I don’t even know.
Specific Feedback
The feedback is the answer to my question. Is there anything worthwhile in this image to look at?
YES! Absolutely! You captured a lovely gesture with very interesting moss and the calm light of a deep forest. And I love the ferns in the corner waving to their mightier companion. The trunk looks like an old Redwood but I don’t recognize the leaves, which adds some mystery for me.
Hi Igor,
Definitely yes! I am glad that you heeded that inner voice that was telling you to stop and capture this lovely intimate scene. Like @Diane_Miller I quite like those two ferns in the LLC as they seem to be pointing the viewer to the moss covered branch up above. I am also loving those green hues on the bark in the LRC of the what I assume is a redwood. My only suggestion; just my personal preference; would be a little crop from the top to clean it up just a tad. Beautifully done!
Igor, the moss covered branch is very attractive. It’s brightness sets it off well from the background. I do wonder about a modest crop from the bottom and left to put more attention on the branch.
I am on the fence with this one, Igor. I can see what you were aiming for, but the bits of branches at the top and the fern compete with the major elements of the image. I do like the way you handled the color and processing, here.
-P
This is the question that I’m constantly faced with…Should I take members time to comment and critique this image or not. For me, I’m not really sure what makes a great and captivating image worthy of showcasing. I too have the same issues when one day the answer is yes and the next day it’s no. What changed??? I don’t know. I feel for you on this because it’s my biggest issue with my images. I’ll edit 30 images from a trip, pick my top 10 favorites and then ask my wife to pick her top ten favorites and they are mostly different. We all see things differently and for most people, they make their judgement in the first second or two. It either works for them or it doesn’t and they can feel it or see it. Ask them why and they probably couldn’t tell you. That’s me. UGH!
As for your image, I don’t think this is one of your knock it out of the park images but I think it has merit. The mossy covered branch is clearly the star of the show here for me and I do like the contrasting green ferns behind it. The little ferns coming out of the lower left frame edge make the image real to me and provide balance on the left side of the frame but it’s the little bit of messiness along the top of the frame that distract. bit. It’s not a deal breaker but it takes it a notch down from some of your masterpieces.
I dislike grabbing onto other people’s coattails, but I agree with every single thing @David_Haynes said. And he said it better than I ever could. That said, I still feel it’s better than 99% of my images.
I can clearly see why this little scene caught your attention. I think you were right in photographing this. The question on whether it’s worthy of posting or not - of course is up to you or the photographer. Actually makes me think and re-think why I might post an image and now realizing we’re supposedly posting to have images critiqued and not just for atta-boy comments (and I’ve been guilty of the latter.) So yes, if one truly wants feedback, there’s no reason not to post and share.
The moss-covered, sharply angled twig is certainly worthy. As others have commented on, I immediately questioned the inclusion of the fern tips in the LLC, and to a lesser extent the added vegetation and greens up top. I don’t really know if you posted as captured and framed it this way, or cropped it to this result. Doesn’t matter which, only that it’s clear you intended to include. You can predict what I’ll say next… is that IMO, this fits right in to the category of “if you’re going to include something, do it on purpose”. I’m just wishing the ferns stuck in a little more, or not at all.
And so to that, I played with a crop. Immediately, the image/scene changed. Now the largess of the trunk on the left became empty space and the scene as a whole, became static. Cropping/removing the ferns LLC and shaving the greens off the top, DID NOT make this better.
In the end, not only were you correct in coming back to photograph this intimate scene, your choice of framing was brilliant as well.
I actually played with this idea in the field. I thought the image without that fern wasn’t all that interesting. The question was - was it interesting enough with the fern. This may sound conceited but I have been fascinated for many years by this composition of MichaelAngelo’s. Specifically, the two hands almost touching but not. There is a flow between them and yet a tension because they’re not touching. That’s the idea behind this image. I don’t know if I was thinking of the painting at the time but the idea was certainly there. There is a flow (or at least in my mind) between the hanging plant and fern that jumps over the space. I don’t know how successful this was because I’ve tried it before and was unhappy with the results.
P.S. I also like the bark of redwoods as background. I’ve made numerous images of just the bark itself, and I’ll probably make more.
Great explanation and illustration. I get it! And I see it. Makes me reflect on the concept in photography, “rules were meant to be broken,” and they apply equally to Lon’s axioms…
I think what is intriguing about this photograph (and photographs like this one) is trying to figure out what the photographer (you) was trying to convey. It becomes an enigma. The various elements from the contorted moss covered branch, to the two fern fronds poking in from the LLC to the scraggly mesh of twigs along the top edge to the strands of green foliage behind the contorted branch, to the redwood bark of the two trees serving as the backdrop, are just that - a collection of apparently random elements that somehow keep you guessing about what this photo is all about. Any crop at all, eliminates the randomness and the enigma vanishes as well. I have made photos like this in the past, and I still after decades am still trying to figure out the enigma that I produced and have not shared them because I still have no idea why I made them.
I love the hanging branch and I really love the background on the right side of the photo, but I’m not a big fan of the left side.
I think the fetus in the LLC and all the greenery in the ULC distract a lot from the central parts of the photo.
Even the texture of the tree on the left disrupts the composition a bit.
Is this interesting? Yes. It has a feel of tragic longing to me. The top branch is reaching down to the little ferns but is turned back by the large tree. I can’t tell if that branch is touching the large tree, but the angle of the photo makes it look that way. That was my first reaction. Now that I’ve read your explanation, I’d say you succeeded.
