The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was driving down this road in Montana and a wet autumn day when I crested a hill and came upon this view. I loved the low , dramatic clouds with the cool blueish sky along with the vivid, warm yellows of the larches. Fortunately there was very little traffic so I could stand in the middle of the road with my camera. Even though I would have heard any traffic approaching, standing in the middle of a road with my eye glued to the viewfinder always really unnerves me.
Specific Feedback
I’m grateful for any and all feedback but one specific thing I wonder about is whether the sky works for you as is. Or, should I have made it a bit more contrasty?
Technical Details
Canon RP with the 24-105mm lens at 70mm
1/60th second at f/16, ISO400
handheld
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I have stood in my share of roads, and felt the same way. I very much like the gray and yellow in the road echoed in the gray and yellow of the trees and sky. Good choice on the focal length. I think too much of a wide angle here would have taken away from the trees all stacked together like this. The crop feels balanced. As far as the sky, I can see go more dramatic if you want, and burn down some of the dark areas more. But that would only be if that’s the tone/mood you want to go for. For fun, maybe add some bigger contrast to the clouds and really lighten the yellows in the trees. Just a thought. Nice job stopping in the road.
Hi Tom,
I love the way the road adds so much depth and draws me into this lovely scene. The layering with the evergreens followed by the larches and topped off with those clouds also works well here. The sky works beautifully for me as is and looks very natural. I hear you on keeping an eye on the traffic. Fortunately my brother is usually with me as four eyes and ears are better than two. Great image!
Great composition! I love how the road spans the entire bottom edge from corner to corner and leads the eye straight in. You also managed to get the tree line on the sides to terminate in each corner on top, again giving leading lines that pull the eye straight in to that wonderful sky and vivid trees. You nalied this one!
This really is a wonderful composition, Tom, so, good on you for literally putting your life on the line by standing in the middle of the road to make it. I absolutely love the fiery tips of the trees and the way they form such a powerful downward arc that serves as a frame for the sky. As for the sky itself? I don’t know, it kind of depends on what mood you want convey. I could see going with a little more texture and/or a touch of dehaze? and maybe a bit more vibrance to complement the vibrance in the tree tips. That being said, I wouldn’t want to go overboard to where the sky is competing rather than complimenting. Speaking of which, you might play with the blue in the sky taking it more to a purer blue or blue/violet which would be more of a compliment to the orange-yellow, golden orange in the tree tips. I might also consider playing with the yellow tone of the highway lines a bit more towards golden yellow/orange yellow. The yellow tone on the highway and the orange tone on the tree tips sit right beside each other on the colour wheel, which can often feel like a clash.
Thanks @Kerry_Gordon . You have a really good point with the yellow line and the yellow larches and with the colour balance in general. I think I’ll have a play with this again and see what I come up with.
