The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
A late summer evening in Northern Scandinavia. The sun was low and created a voluminous luminance in the nearest low hanging clouds, which in turn caused intricate relationships between these clouds and the ridge to the left, the mountainside behind it, and the scattered clouds in the sky.
Specific Feedback
Feedback on the composition and the tonalities in the darker areas is particularly welcome.
Technical Details
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: Sigma 135 mm
Capture: 1/40 sec. at f11, ISO 64
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi @Leo_Catana, What a powerful mountain image you have shared with us.The B&W processing choices you have made are working beautifully. The detail in the deep deep shadow areas on the mountain side gives the eye plenty to explore. And the band of low cloud add a lovely touch of mystery. Really well seen and processed!
I agree. All those deep blacks give us much drama. I like the clouds. I’m always looking for those type of clouds. And I’m glad that the sky isn’t really dark as is popular. I thought more sky would be good but that would make the mountain less dominant. Maybe emphasize the tonal gradient in the sky somehow?
I really like this. It’s funny how people see things differently. While @guy likes the detail seen in the mountainside, I much prefer it to go full silhouette except for that great diagonal ridgeline. I guess neither of us are right. They’re just opinions. I do see some banding artifacts in the lower clouds.
Hi Leo,
The conversion to B&W has created an image that is dripping with mood. This has a nice range of tones and I love the luminosity of that lower cloud! I also think the clouds in the sky seem to mimic the one along the bottom of the frame. I could see bringing out a touch more detail in that dark area along the shoulder of the mountain. Very nicely done.
Michael, you are right about banding, which is new to me. I have checked the original file, which was sized down at its longest side from ca. 7500 to 1500 before submitting it to NPN, and this original file is without banding. I have also checked the version which you can download from NPN, and this too is without banding. It seems as if the banding was introduced when I uploaded my downsized file to NPN and it was integrated into NPN’s webpage. I have done so before without encountering banding, so I wonder why it happens now? Any suggestions?
I too like the black and deep shadow, but for me the sky and lower clouds compete for my eye. I really like a panoramic crop that focuses on the dramatic lighting below.
(I see the banding when I open it in Photoshop, but it is much less noticeable. I tried converting it to sRGB to see if that was the issue, but it still seems to be more pronounced here.)
