Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Joshua Tree National Park
Took a side trip to the NP while at a wedding in CA. Did not have my normal equipment but a good Sony Compact 20-200 zoom.
Specific Feedback
Wondering about composition but all feedback welcome
Technical Details
iso 100 f/5.6 40 mm
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
1 Like
I like this photo a lot. The composition is unusual but totally works for me. And the light is fabulous. Well done!
Mario,
The light in this photograph is magical and defies logic as I cannot figure out where it is coming from. The way it lights the Joshua tree is amazing. The color palette is interesting and works well. My only question is what is going on in the sky, are those clouds? And why do they look like they have been intentionally blurred? Don’t get me wrong, its not bad, just intriguing as to how the effect was produced and/or captured.
I do think the composition works. It’s somewhat unusual, and I like that, and it does a nice job of putting emphasis on the tree.
I echo @Youssef_Ismail’s comments on the sky. Is this the original, or a composite?
Thanks John for comments.
ICM of sky then replaced in PS
2 Likes
Hi Mario… The colors are really nice. The sky and the color green on the Joshua Tree. However, I feel that there are too many subjects in the photograph that are not “whole”. Meaning the rocks are the left are cut off, there is creep of a Joshua Tree sneaking from the bottom on the left and I really want to see the rest of the tree. Try cropping to a portrait with the focus on the tree in balance with the the frame of the portrait. Further, next time you make it out to Joshua Tree, capture and isolate the entire tree in portrait mode. I think that would make a nice photograph - especially with the colors.
Welcome back Mario. It’s been a while. I like this image very much. Your vision at Joshua is different than what we normally see and fairly unique. By cutting off the bottom of the tree I feel you’re emphasizing shapes and composition instead of reality. It’s a more artsy expression of Joshua and that’s a good think in my book. The light is amazing as well. I thought only long exposures produced such skies. Really good work. Maybe get rid of that small blue patch at the bottom next to the tree trunk.
Thank you for your comments @stephen_rauch . I actually like the comp and feel it is balanced. I have gotten away from taking traditional landscape images as I find many have no creativity and simply are representational. See Igors comments below. Again thanks for your time to review.
1 Like
Thanks @Igor_Doncov for your comments. They are insightful as usual. I am glad you appreciate my vision and that it is not a typical landscape comp. BTW I did use my creative license and made an ICM of the sky and put that version of the sky in via PS.
Thanks for your comments @Youssef_Ismail . See below re: sky ICM.
Hi Mario,
I think this is my favorite of your Joshua Tree images. I love the simplicity of it and the way it captures a single, perfect specimen of all that makes JTNP such a magical place.
ML
Oooh, this caught my eye right away. I love the graphic-ness of it. I feel there is a relationship between the tree and the large boulder, the way their shapes could fit into each other. I was thinking maybe a bit of a crop to emphasize that? Not sure, though. It’s a great composition, IMO.
