Late Afternoon, Mesquite Dunes

[paul_porter]

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

This is my first submission to NPN and am open to the impressions and critique y’all might offer. I need to grow as an artist and hoping NPN might be the right kind of community.

On a mildly hot day in May 2024, I planned an afternoon to wander in Death Valley and chose the easy destinations of Mesquite Dunes and Dante’s View. Entering the Park, I was excited about the light and conditions because there were multiple thunderheads surrounding the area, which I thought would lead to some interesting creative play. Arriving at Mesquite Dunes, I had no idea what to expect and as I wandered out into the sands, I tried to keep an open mind to the opportunities, but found myself somewhat frustrated with the lighting conditions; conditions I was excited about earlier.

So I found myself in a situation I’ve often found myself in; opening up to opportunities outside of my expectations… and decided to experiment with some compositions I felt were outside of my comfort zone. As I came across this scene, dunes enveloped in late afternoon shadow with a mixture of warm and cool hues and this curious stick deposited here by the winds, adding a anchoring element to the expanse of sand. I thought of a number ways to shoot it and chose this because I liked the contrast between the shadowed sands, displaying soft, low contrast flow and the distant peaks topped by some very unstable and picturesque clouds.y

Despite how I talk about myself in my NPN profile, creative vision and process are a bit of a slippery concept. I think the only thing I can say with certainty is that I feel somewhat of an outsider because while so many photographers I know seem to have a clear creative vision and process, I feel like I haven’t established that level of personal insight. I’m driven to continue to follow the drive to express myself creatively, but I keep wondering when I’ll reach that point. Or is that target continually evolving for artists as they grow and create?

Specific Feedback

Is there there too much sand between the stick and the mountains?
Is there a good balance between foreground and background?
Is is mostly flat and uninteresting or is there a sense of distance anchored by the stick?

Technical Details

Nikon Z7II, 1/60 sec at f/13, ISO 320
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8G
No Special techniques
Processed in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
Basic light and color adjustments in LR using some masking techniques, followed by luminosity masked adjustments and sharpening in PS.
I found managing the color and tonality of the shadowed sand most challenging to reflect what I wanted to convey without adding too much unrealistic contrast.

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Critique Template

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• Vision and Purpose:
• Conceptual:
• Emotional Impact and Mood:
• Composition:
• Balance and Visual Weight:
• Depth and Dimension:
• Color:
• Lighting:
• Processing:
• Technical:

[Bonnie_Lampley]

This is a fine image of the Mesquite Dunes. That sky is rather impressive. You asked if there was too much sand between stick and mountain. I don’t think there’s too much, but perhaps a bit more contrast to bring out the interesting textures & patterns in the sand would be nice. Because I’m with you on not wanting screaming contrast in a scene like this, my go-to for accentuating textures to dodge and burn w/lum. masks vs. using a levels or curve adjustment.

You said you did some lum. masking, but not where. I would try a bit on just the sand. I gave it a whirl, dodging with lights1 & 2 masks (using the TK9 panel) and burning with a darks1 mask. I may have taken it too far for your taste, but you get the idea. I like that the dodging brought out that v-shape below the stick to mirror the v-shape of that thunderhead at the top. I suspect some folks may feel that there’s 2 images here (stick and sand vs. sky-mts.-sand), but I find these kinds of compositions interesting, where my eye can move back and forth.

@paul_porter

I think the only thing I can say with certainty is that I feel somewhat of an outsider because while so many photographers I know seem to have a clear creative vision and process, I feel like I haven’t established that level of personal insight. I’m driven to continue to follow the drive to express myself creatively, but I keep wondering when I’ll reach that point. Or is that target continually evolving for artists as they grow and create?

I think our creative vision and process does continually evolve. If it didn’t, we’d stagnate and keep creating the same images over and over. Boring. As far as what that vision is for you, do you need to know? Would it help you in your creativity? Change how you do things? Your work is gorgeous, BTW (I checked out your website - WOW!) and you clearly are in touch with the natural world.

My philosophy is “do what you want” (art-wise, that is and assuming you aren’t trying to make a living at it) and don’t worry about what other’s are doing or whether they have a certain “creative vision”.

[Bret_Edge]

Welcome to NPN, @paul_porter! I’ve been here for well over 20 years and have found it to be a wonderful place to “hang out” with like-minded photographers. My own thoughts echo those of @Bonnie_Lampley, for the most part. That sky is simply stunning! I don’t think there’s too much sand but I would be interested to see a version with a little less sand and more of the sky. At first glance I wasn’t sold on the stick but after studying the image for a bit, I’ve changed my mind. I think what gave me pause is the distance from the bottom of the frame to the little branch popping up out of the sand. It feels a bit too close for comfort, and I think allowing a little more breathing room would make it less tense. Great work. I look forward to seeing more from you!

[Michael_Lowe]

Welcome Paul. This is a fine first image. I think the composition has a good balance. I thought it needed some different processing, but couldn’t put my finger on it till I saw @Bonnie_Lampley rework. Her dodging of the sand really nails it I feel. I think I see one dust speck smack dab in the middle along the top of the frame.
I too feel, my creative vision is not where I wish it to be. But I keep trying. For now pretty pictures will just have to suffice for me.

[Igor_Doncov]

Welcome to NPN. You can certainly learn a lot here but people often don’t agree in their critique and therefore you will have to decide when to listen. One thing I’ve noticed with myself and others is that if you have doubts about certain aspects of your issues you are often right. Not always but people have a sense about their issues.

@paul_porter

Is there there too much sand between the stick and the mountains?

yes

@paul_porter

Is there a good balance between foreground and background?

No.

The points of focus are at the very top due to the saturated colors and the very bottom because the stick is the only object on the sandy expanse. The stick is too close to the bottom of the frame but even if it weren’t it doesn’t have enough presence to counteract the colors and intensity at the top. The top and bottom feel separate and not connected in some way.

Regarding vision - it comes by itself. Everyone has vision. It just takes time to express it. Vision is basically expressing who you are. If you shoot long enough and you are honest (don’t imitate) that will come forth.

[David_Haynes]

First of all, Welcome to NPN. As others have said, you’ve joined a community of photographers ranging from beginners to professionals and if you ask the questions you want answered regarding your images posted, you’ll likely get it. There may be wildly differing viewpoints and suggestions on how to make an image better or different and you get to hear about all of them. So, pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable in the process.
Now, regarding your image, I’m immediately drawn to the sky which is beautiful but I wish there was more of it. It’s super colorful and immediately pulls the eye to the top of the frame. I love the processing of it and wouldn’t change a thing.
You asked if there is too much sand between the stick and the mountains and for me, I’d say that there is but just barely. For me, there is not enough interest in the midground of the image to anchor the foreground and the background. It feels just a little empty. Not a lot but just a little. I think if you had the camera just a little bit lower you could have compressed some of that mid ground and closed the gap. I also find the foreground stick to be just a little too close to the bottom of the frame (again, just a smidgen) but I love the character of it and the ditch it’s coming out of. So I would have gotten a little lower, moved back a little bit from the stick and then taken the image.
As @Igor_Doncov said, you have the two most interesting portions of the image at the very top and the very bottom of the image without enough interest in the middle. It’s not bottom heavy or top heavy, it’s center heavy.
Is it mostly flat and uninteresting or is there a sense of distance anchored by the stick? I think @Bonnie_Lampley did a great job of bringing out some contrast to help reduce the feeling of it being flat and her redo also makes the center of the image much more compelling so I think being flat is no longer an issue.
The dunes can be frustrating to photograph as you’ve mentioned. You walked far enough out to avoid getting footprints in your image and I love the idea you had for this. I just wish there was more to tie the top and the bottom together. I do like the leading line coming out of the top portion of the image right in the middle but it stops well short of reaching the lower portion of the dunes. Again, if you had gotten just a smidgen lower you could have reduce the midground and maybe even connected that leading line into the bottom section.
Now, I have to say that your image is pretty darn good as is but you asked very specific questions so I thought I’d be as honest as I can.
Lastly, you ask about clear creative vision. For me, that vision has always wandered a bit. It’s always changing…maybe not a lot but it’s always changing. I’m not sure my vision will ever be 20/20 vision. If it was, I would probably stop shooting. I actually like that it changes and my creative side ebbs and flows depending on what niche I’m shooting. I guess maybe we work towards that clarity of vision but I’m not sure if it ever really comes clear or not. Everything in life evolves and so too will your vision and therefore your photography. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. It’s just a term and I’m not sure it means that much if anything (maybe just a catch phrase). Just make images that you love and don’t necessarily worry about what others think. When you are shooting for you and not the acceptance of others then maybe you’ve attained clarity for yourself, whatever that means. Again, great to have you here in the community, Paul! Looking forward to seeing more of your work. This is a great start.

[Ed_Lowe]

Hi Paul,
Welcome to NPN! This is a wonderful first post. I think you will find NPN to be a welcoming group of like minded photographers helping each other grow as artists. I don’t think I can add much as you already have some wonderful suggestions on different directions to take this image. I hope to see more of your work as well as your critiques of other photographer’s images. Don’t be shy, as that is how we improve our craft.