# Heart of Darkness **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, abstract, plant-life\ **Created:** [September 18, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295 "2026-09-18T09:17:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/1 "2026-09-18T09:17:05Z")
![Original - Heart-of-Darkness.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/1/71df51b7aba8af16b01cf5e60a9a8a37415c9759.jpeg) **Critique Style:** Initial Reaction Please share your first response before reading the hidden notes below. The photographer is looking for an unbiased initial impression. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic + Technical ### Questions for Viewers For you, what emotions does this evoke? ### About This Image For me, the word “rainforest” evokes enjoyment of a wonderful natural complex of plant and animal life which I can explore for hours on end, only scratching the surface of its possibilities. But the word “jungle” portends something much darker, a place from where, if you get lost, you may well never reemerge. This picture makes me feel that I am lost in the jungle, a terrifying experience. It is an ICM taken in the cactus garden of our local arboretum in Korea, where I never get lost! ### Technical Details Camera: OM-1 Focal length: 60mm Shutter speed: 1/8s Aperture: f/14 ISO: 200 Single ICM (rotating) shot enhanced by Nik Color Efex Pro (Dark Contrast) - and by tonal adjustments in PS. ### Feedback Requested Does it hold together as an abstract? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/2 "2026-09-18T14:01:36Z")
The bright curved lines resemble a tangled set of large tubes or pipes that lead to the center. The image has a lot of depth to it and creates a maze-like scenario. I like this one as presented…Jim ---
**Author:** ![Marylynne\_Diggs](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/marylynne_diggs/32/87403_2.png) [@Marylynne\_Diggs](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Marylynne_Diggs)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/3 "2026-09-18T14:53:47Z")
For me, it creates some curiosity and a bit of dread. It’s a network, and while it is green and natural, it also feels like a conduit to digital darkness, a rabbit hole I could fall into for hours. Of course, I’m projecting my own digital exhaustion onto it. Looking forward to seeing what others think. ML ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/4 "2026-09-18T17:00:51Z")
A lovely abstract, Mike. My first impression that it’s an ICM or very long exposure of a bed of ferns. In either case, I like it. And I just read the description. Cactus garden is the last thing I would have guessed. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/5 "2026-09-18T21:10:36Z")
My first thought was water plants. Very well done , very pleasing to look at. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Gavin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jim\_Gavin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Gavin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/6 "2026-09-18T22:38:52Z")
First impression: A lot of green Slinkeys. Never would have guessed cactus garden. Holds up great as an abstract. Just fine as is. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/7 "2026-09-18T23:39:45Z")
Thanks @Don_Peters @Jim_Gavin @Dennis_Plank @Marylynne_Diggs @Jim_Zablotny. Interesting to see that one of you had the same emotional response to this that I had. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:24am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/8 "2026-09-19T11:24:27Z")
Mike, the repeated arches of green give a feeling of dancing. The bright greens add a sense of joy. Without reading your description, I’m guessing that this is a multiple incamera exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Wilson](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/doug_wilson/32/89609_2.png) [@Doug\_Wilson](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Doug_Wilson)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/9 "2026-09-19T11:37:53Z")
i like this very much, Mike. I initially responded to the beautiful colours and the evenly balanced composition. My eyes initially scanned across the whole image but settled on the area of lighter tone in the centre left. But I love the repetitive patterns and colour. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/10 "2026-09-19T15:14:25Z")
Mike: A truly unique shot and one that I would not expect to come out of a cactus garden. Your sense of foreboding does come across as this could be an impenetrable maze despite the inviting color. Nicely conceived, captured and presented. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/11 "2026-09-19T19:34:32Z")
Mike, Love this! First impression? What came to my mind actually was “The Twighlight Zone.” Not really a visual comparison to the intro images to the TV series… that is, until I converted to b&W. Regardless color or b&w, the repeating patterns and frame-filling arrangement is pretty mesmerizing. No nits or suggestions. Oh, for fun here’s a b&w rendition. Processing example based on the original image: ![processing example](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/f/8/f85bd6e6e1699fb114fdac39514b0ecd6e407d97.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/12 "2026-09-19T23:30:11Z")
Thank you @Mark_Seaver @Lon_Overacker @Bill_Fach @Doug_Wilson : it’s interesting how an abstract can throw up a wide variety of responses. Lon, I like your B and W version very much - so suitable for the Twilight Zone. I originally had a much darker version, which was less cheery, but I think I’ll stick to this one here. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/13 "2026-09-20T12:46:16Z")
---
**Author:** ![tom.marin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tom.marin/32/72972_2.png) [@tom.marin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/tom.marin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/14 "2026-09-20T14:56:02Z")
Hi Mike— For me this image has technology written all over it. The uniform curves and waves evoke a digital measurement and assessment that might be plumbing the depths of an area. I find this a very pleasant image and wonder what it would like blown up to poster size, 6 feet wide and 4 feet tall! ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/15 "2026-09-20T23:00:10Z")
Thank you very much for the EP! ---
**Author:** ![joaoquintela](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/joaoquintela/32/20552_2.png) [@joaoquintela](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/joaoquintela)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 9:06am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/heart-of-darkness/52295/16 "2026-09-22T09:06:01Z")
Very good—a creative and very interesting result.