In their own world + repost

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Repost: 8x10, based on Ed’s crop below, with some additional removal of ferns foliage for room at the bottom. I couldn’t find a standard aspect that removed more off the top, but if anyone knows of one, I’m always open. I tried square, but it definitely felt tight.

Originals Below

5x7 Aspect (first image was 4x6)

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I went to the Japanese Garden mid-day last week partly because they were having a Japanese Food pop-up, but I took my camera and tripod just in case. The conditions were not bad…got a little rain, but then thin clouds. The azaleas were beaming white, which made contrast tricky, but I was mostly interested in returning to the pond, rock, lantern, fish theme I explored last Fall.

I decided I wanted to use a slow shutter to capture as many fish as possible and get them to streak a bit. I have a few others I’ll share tomorrow or next day that show longer streaks, but this was one of my favorites.

I liked the reflection of the trees and the way the background foliage almost looked like a partly cloudy sky in the reflection. Somehow, rock, water, fish, and trees created a complete world of sorts.

Specific Feedback

I’m always open to any and all feedback, including “ain’t nothing new here,” but in particular, I’m curious about the following:

1. Does the scene feel like its own little world? That was my sense while photographing it. I wanted it to feel isolated and kind of idyllic. Fish with no fear of sharks or hooks or propellers, in a garden of their own.
2. I initially felt like the image works best in the taller crop, but I’m not sure. And they are "virtual copies of each other, but I think there is more saturation in the 5x7. Which do you like better? If you like the 5x7, how would you shift the frame? Is it too saturated? Feel free to crop and share.
3. Does it have lasting interest? Or does it feel like another shot of a Japanese garden with koi? (not that there’s anything wrong with that)
4. Does the koi entering from the bottom screw things up? Or is it like a character entering a scene from the camera operators position (a who’s this guy gonna be? kind of thing).

Technical Details

Canon 5DIV with 24-105mm at 28m

ISO 125, F/14, half a sec

[Mark_Seaver]

Marylynne, I’m thoroughly enjoying the peacefulness and meditative feeling here. While I like the taller view, the 5x7 focuses on more on the fish and the rock lantern. The distribution of the fish is great, did you “train” them???

[Ed_Lowe]

Hi Marylynne,
This image has a serene peaceful vibe that I find very inviting. I could see myself sitting there and enjoying the moment. Like @Mark_Seaver I think the 5x7 places more of an emphasis on the fish, and the rock lantern while still retainning all of the lovely green surroundings. In that same vein I could also see a crop from the bottom making this more of a square. Not necessarily better, just another option. I hope you do not mind, but here is a rework with what I was thinking. Just my opinion of course. I seem to remember a couple of lovely images of yours from this area a little while back. Beautifully done.

[Lon_Overacker]

Marylynne,

A very peaceful and contemplative scene. For me and without your description of the experience, the fish don’t tell me much other than they’re part of the pond and garden setting, but I don’t derive any meaning of or for them. I think certainly a case of “being there” makes all the difference.

I too prefer the 5x7 format. To carry that further I’m really enjoying Ed’s crop because interestingly, the fish all of a sudden mean more and have more presence. Maybe it’s the fern in the orignal that’s taking away? I’m not sure.

Also, the added bonus is that now the reflection of the main tree also enters the scene more visibly; I didn’t notice it before in the originals, but with the bigger crop, it’s right there with the fishies! The only reservation with the bigger crop is that it also results in more of a 50-50 comp, not always ideal.

For sure, I get a real sense of peace and quietness - and yes, the fish enjoying a sense of freedom and safety!

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Thanks Mark, Ed, and Lon. I like Ed’s crop too. I was leaning that way but liked the sense of a wall of foliage behind. Of course, that sense still exists in his crop.

@Mark_Seaver : I didn’t train the fish, but I did wait until they were converging, though the silver one in the bottom of the cropped version was “nudged” to that spot. I can see a funky discoloration on the right where the removal or heal tool didn’t do a great job (the tool, not me, of course).

@Ed: Thanks for this crop, and I’m thinking some removal of fern. Part of me like the orange fish, but that was mostly because I thought he would swim further into the frame. I told myself he was like a character entering a scene to wreak havoc on the narrative, but that doesn’t really work, does it?

I appreciate the feedback and the crop demo (always!) I’ll post another if I dial it in more carefully.

ML