The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was taken 2 days ago when I was over at one of my favorite beaches on the Oregon Coast. Along part of the beach is a wall where the soil/rock has eroded due to wave action. It’s like a geology lesson of how the area formed. I find it very interesting and can never resist photographing the wonderful patterns and textures.
Chris, I’m taken by the sense of a city skyline in the lighter part of the top half. You’ve also got a good mix of colors with the brightness changes adding some upward eye movement. Taking this more as an abstract, I wonder about adding some contrast in the lower portion where the yellow and white tones are. (Of course, that could detract from the vertical eye movement…) Here’s a try adding a modest amount of local contrast (clarity in Adobe software) and doing some mid-tone burning in the brighter lower section.
Chris, this one really drew me in. The top made me think of cliff dwellings in the Southwest. The texture, shapes and colors are all terrific.
I like Mark’s revision but I’m not sure the bottom quarter of the image is really adding much. You might consider a crop along these lines if it isn’t inconsistent with your intent.
Ah, the Principle of Superposition at work: each layer going from bottom to top is younger strata. I like what @Mark_Seaver did, but the very bottom looks a tad dark. I wonder if a slight mid-tone contrast boost would give this a little more punch. While @Don_Peters crop works, it takes too much of lowest layer. So, something in between?
You know you are a long-time, respected NPN member when people immediately pile on with new crops . I guess it means we know that’s what you are here for: more ideas, possibilities.
I decided to join the fray. Here’s something in between the other options. Just cropping, nothing else, so anything else is incidental in terms of tonality.
Dear Chris Baird,
I fully understand your fascination with this eroded rock — the colours and textures give the eye lots of things to explore. The light is soft and even, levelling out the small variations of depth in the erosion. I wonder how the eroded rock would look in a different light, where the light came from the side and enhanced these variations? Perhaps the rock is worth a revisit early in the morning or late in the evening? Also, I have never been to this coast and have no idea what it looks like and feels like, so your image makes me wonder about the scale of the rock and its context. Perhaps this image could be used in a series about the place?
Very nicely observed. I second the point about side light, if you have a chance to go there again. The textures are the key here, and side light would really enhance them. For what it’s worth, I think the crop is fine!
. I guess it means we know that’s what you are here for: more ideas, possibilities.