The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was in the Zumwalt Prairie in Eastern Oregon a few days ago and noticed how nicely lichen covered the rocks used to help prop fence posts were. This one was relatively flat and by leaning over the fence and stopping down I was able to get most of the frame in focus. After conventional processing, it didn’t really have the pop I was hoping to get out of it, so I went back into PS and played with it some more.
Specific Feedback
I was trying for a 3-d sort of look, initially thinking of the lichen colonies as geographic features on a flat earth. I don’t know if it worked, so I’m looking for feedback on that or suggestions of other ways to go with it.
Technical Details
Sony A7Riv, 28-70 f/2.8 @ 70mm, hand held, f/22, 1/125, iso 1000. Processed in LR & PS CC. After initial processing, I went back and used the “find edges” and “oil Paint” filters both of which I essentially amplified with the old Topaz Details plug-in. I combined the two layers in multiply mode, went back to LR and increased exposure, contrast, saturation, vibrance, dehaze and probably a couple others that I don’t recall until I got the 3-d look I was trying for.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I think this is an interesting abstract, and your processing technique does bring out a 3d look.
The image does feel a bit unbalanced to me with the left side being stronger in contrast and saturation than the left. Its not a big thing, but since your doing a lot of processing to the image anyway, you might want to see what a bit more contrast on the right would look like
Cool find and image here Dennis. I like the distribution of yellow colored lichen and the darker areas balanced with the lighter ones. The coral like color of the sandstone helps unifiy the colors. To me the image could use more luminosity. I didn’t the histogram but it feels a bit under exposed especially the right side.
Nice work with the 3D effect. A bit more dodging and burning of the lichen could amplify the effect.
This is really beautiful. I really enjoy the patterns that lichens on rocks often form. To me, the composition feels well balanced but I might be tempted to play around with increasing the contrast a little bit. Not too much though…
Really interesting image, Dennis. I love the lichens and their textures and color variations. I think the luminosity comment above is right on.
To me, the center of the image (the area of least lichen) grabs too much attention. I’m not sure what size file this is and whether you could crop heavily, but this could be one of those images where finding the framing in camera is really hard, but now you have several different images to make from this one frame. A square crop of the bottom left might work. Or a really flat pano of the bottom.
As presented, I like it fine as well. There is something really global about this. I feel like it’s a flattened map of the world with continents and oceans. I think it’s worth playing with further.
