The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I shot this one my first (and still only ) trip to Death Valley. I was up at sunrise, hiked Mosaic Canyon with my family, and came back to Golden Canyon late in the day. Tired after a long day, I came out onto the Zabriskie Badlands, and was blown away by the colors, textures, and soft glow of the light.
Specific Feedback
This is my first image critique post, so all feedback helpful.
My goal with the image was to emphasize the soft glow of the badlands in the light.
Technical Details
Camera Settings: 1/250, f/9.0, ISO 200
Lens: Fujifilm XF 10-24 F4 at 24 mm (1.6x crop factor)
Processing: Fujifilm Velvia RAW profile; darkened sky in upper left, added clarity to the badlands, increased whites along the tops of the badlands with a color range mask
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:
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Technical:
Rich: Welcome to NPN and thanks for a fine first post. I’ve been in this exact place myself only once and found it compelling and beautiful. My first initial impression was that there is too much foreground and I think I’m still leaning that way. It takes up about 50% of the frame and if you’re looking for the layering effect I think cropping about 1/3 of it from the bottom would help. Since it is also the lightest part of the image my eye kind of gets stuck there and I don’t notice the middle ground hills and the background mountains and sky which, by the way, I think you’ve rendered very nicely. Hope this helps. It’s great to have you aboard and looking forward to more of your work. >=))>
Welcome to NPN, Rich. This is a great first post. I too have been to this spot in Death Valley and you’re right, the colors are sensational and hard to believe during sunrise and to a lesser degree at sunset. I like the light hitting those small ridges in the foreground which lead your eye back to the mid-ground hills and of course the mountains in the background. I’m not sure if the mountains angle down right to left like this or not but I might think about a clockwise rotation to straighten those background mountains even if that is not level. The only other thing I might suggest is to try and get either higher or lower next time so that mid-ground peak isn’t fighting with the top of the mountain. I find there is a lot of tension there. Lastly, I might consider reducing the warmth in the clouds in the ULC just a smidgen.
Great to have you here and we are looking forward to more of your participation.
Welcome to NPN, Rich. Hope to see some more posts from you and look forward to your participation in critiqueing others images. That’s what makes this forum work. This is a fine first post. I really like the color palette here and the rifts and valleys in the FG. My only small suggestion is to crop a little off the FG for a more balanced image.
Hi Rich,
First off welcome to NPN. I think you will find this a great place to interact with like minded individuals. This is a wonderful first post and quite the view. I am enjoying the layering in this scene as well as the color palette. I have never been to Death Valley, but the scene looks as though it could use a little CW rotation. I am also wondering about a little crorp from the FG to emphasize the layering a little more. I hope you do not mind, but I did a little rework with my thoughts. Just my opinion of course. I look forward to more of your posts as well as your critiques. Very nicely done!
I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about reducing the foreground since I wanted that yellow glow to be the focus of the photo. Michael’s crop makes a pretty good case. I don’t think reducing the foreground takes the focus off of it at all, and if anything it puts more emphasis on the bright ridge tops. I think I’m going to print out both, put them on the wall side-by-side, and see which one wins over time. This is exactly what I’m looking for from an NPN critique- it helps get me out of my head and hear an opinion unbiased by my preconceived notions.
The rotation of the mountains- oof, embarrassing. Completely agree.
I’m going to try out reducing the warmth as well.
I’ve added a few critiques already and will keep doing so. I’m fighting off the imposter syndrome, but I’m guessing that’s a normal part of starting to critique images.
) trip to Death Valley. I was up at sunrise, hiked Mosaic Canyon with my family, and came back to Golden Canyon late in the day. Tired after a long day, I came out onto the Zabriskie Badlands, and was blown away by the colors, textures, and soft glow of the light.
