Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
Goal of this photo was to capture and convey the morning light on the mountain and the reflection in the lake.
Does the image successfully meet the goal?
Is the sky too bright drawing the eye away from the mountain and the reflection?
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Technical Details
The photo was taken with an iPhone held upside down and balanced on the lakeshore. The sun had just cleared the mountains east of the location.
Specific Feedback
Are there any technical aspects of the image that you think could be improved in post processing?
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
A lovely image! I do think you’ve captured the light and reflections very well and while the sky on the LHS is bright, that looks to be where the light is coming from so all good.
The mid-ground may be a little dark and could do with some work to tease out some detail.
I especially like the detail where the shore meets the mountain reflection.
My initial reaction is “how bold.” I love the dominate and centered composition, and I think you achieved your goal nicely; the light really adds to that “bold” feel. In the spirit of every pixel should count, I really like the texture of the lake bottom too. It is an attractive contrast that provides perspective to the rest of the image.
I do wish there was more detail in the extreme highlights and shadows; those areas tend to suck the eye away from the centered theme.
Gorgeous reflection Peggy. Great details in so many places. If you could tone down the bright light in the ULC just a bit I think it would help. Love that huge centered mountain and the colors throughout. Great image.
Powerful, heroic, sublime, dramatic. These ideas come to mind when I look at this. Part of it is due to the light and much has to do with the nature of the rock and the reflections.
It would be nice if you could tame the blown out highlights somehow. I agree with that. But that’s the only blemish on what is basically a perfect image.
Peggy, this is a nicely dramatic look at this mountain and it’s reflection. I too would like to see the brightest bits in the sky and it’s reflection toned down slightly and bit more detail in the dark along the shoreline. The detail in the darks does start to show in the largest view. I also thoroughly enjoy seeing the lake bottom cobbles along the bottom.
Thank you everyone for your comments. I am definitely taking your feedback on the highlight and shadows and going to see if I can tone them down or brighten them a little.
Peggy, Goal accomplished. The mountain surely makes a strong statement. While I think you have done an excellent job with this, I would have included more of the environmental surround to bring out the early morning feeling more. I used generative expand on it, but you may have other shots that might work better.
My comment is just a thought - the images works well as it is. Expanded Sunrise.tif (22.9 MB)
The light and reflection are fabulous. I do wish the tonality of the sky was a bit more balanced, with the left side more in line with the right. I believe you could darken that area a touch without it becoming obvious. That said, it isn’t a deal breaker for me. Overall it’s a lovely image that conveys that beautiful morning light quite nicely.
