# Hot Water Caligraphy **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape, intimate, weekly-challenge\ **Created:** [September 24, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360 "2026-09-24T21:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**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 24, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/1 "2026-09-24T21:08:52Z")
![Original - Hot Water Caligraphy.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/8/c/8c6f7c2ab6a4dd23e170bc1060d9e2a4567cf7fb.jpeg) ### Weekly Challenge Natural Calligraphy 9/20/26 - 9/26/26 **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic / Expressive ### About This Image The area around Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowtone has many opportunities to find interesting shapes that could be calle nature’s caligraphy. While I tried several of the numerous trees that have been killed by the hot water, I ended up liking this look a a couple of clean lines in the flow from Mound Spring. (BTW over the last few years Mound Spring has been the most colorful and interesting of the springs at Mammoth.) ### Feedback Requested I’m quite happy with this view as the terraces catch early morning light. I enjoy the nicely winding terraces with only the two main terraces, the strong reflection of the left terrace, and the fine mix of colors across the frame. The rippled water running in at the top and the reflection up there add some complexity. ### Technical Details Camera: Canon EOS R5 Lens: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Focal length: 106mm Shutter speed: 1/200s Aperture: f/16 ISO: 800 tripod ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/2 "2026-09-24T21:16:27Z")
Lovely colours Mark Love the gradient from dark orange in LRC up to the ULC The ripples in the URC are added complexity which is unexplained/unresolved You might play with other rotations , particularly 90 deg CW Really interesting image. No real suggestions or nits Huw ---
**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 25, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/3 "2026-09-25T00:21:38Z")
A very “hot” take on the challenge, Mark. Some of the highlights on the walls seem a touch hot visually to me, but they could well be within the limits. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/4 "2026-09-25T00:59:29Z")
Gorgeous light and I really like the colors and how they work together. I also like that you didn’t crop off the top as many would have been tempted to do. The upper right A1 draws the eye due to brightnesd ## Visual Notes ![visual notes](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/b/cb520ac7e84502e114607bcd773e8a5fe5e2b7da.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@Ed\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/5 "2026-09-25T01:34:31Z")
Hi Mark, The gradient of warm colors on the terraces are quite lovely in the early morning light. You also have some nice triangles with those two leading lines as they take the viewer to into this intimate scene. The ripples in the water and the reflection also work very nicely here as well. My only tiny suggestion would be to remove that section of white in the very URC as it does catch my eye a little. I hope you have some more from this location as the area looks to have numerous interesting compositions. Beautifully done! ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 3:15am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/6 "2026-09-28T03:15:36Z")
I’m behind again but have to say how much I love this! I don’t remember ever seeing this view, and the shapes and colors are stunning!! The rippled water adds a lovely complexity! Very well done!!! ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/7 "2026-09-28T12:38:46Z")
Mark: Really cool 🙄. Well, maybe not literally but a very neat view. I immediately was drawn to the ripples; what a fine touch. Nicely seen and superbly captured and presented. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Nevesely](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/tom_nevesely/32/75980_2.png) [@Tom\_Nevesely](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Tom_Nevesely)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/8 "2026-09-28T18:23:18Z")
Nice one, Mark! Those bright snaking lines that run through the image are spectacular but almost as important (to me) are the thin curving lines of the ripples.The analogous colours also work really nicely together. No nits from me! ---
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hot-water-caligraphy/52360/9 "2026-10-01T22:16:51Z")
Love this - beautifully exposed - minor RUC distraction - very