The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
On a glorious morning at Porcelain Basin in Yellowstone, we were all entranced by the mist above the basin and the many steaming vents. Thinking of that admonition to “always look behind you”, I turned away from the basin to the surrounding area. I was struck by the beautiful mist and light on the scraggly trees.
Specific Feedback
I’m pretty happy with this. There’s still some stray bits coming in from the sides, especially towards the upper left, but I didn’t want to clone them out as they didn’t bother me (too much). What do you think. I did clone out one small odd, bright branch, so I don’t know why I’m hesitant to do the edges.
Did some minor targeted exposure and color temperature adjustments.
Technical Details
No polarizer and I may actually have been on a tripod.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
HI Bonnie,
You need to take me on a photo outing - I learn so much just looking at your unique moodful images. Those “bits” on the left and elsewhere balance well with the leaves or “bits” on the more foreground tree. They enhance the image. Magnificent image.
This is simply jaw dropping, Bonnie. The mood and atmosphere in this image is so captivating that I can’t stop looking at it. There is so much chaos in all of the bare branches and yet everything feels so well put together or choreographed if you will. I don’t mind the little bits on the left of the image because they add to the overall chaos of the image and without them it would/could feel too sterile or too styled. For a while I used to clean up every little distraction in my images but I’ve dialed that back lately to keep a bit of the imperfection in the image.
Wonderfully cool! (Mixed in with some warm steam…) The detail and colors are gorgeous – gold and gray is hard to beat! And I love the way the ghost trees march off into the mist.
The bits on the left edge don’t bother me because they are repeated just to the right. I’d be more likely to want to lighten the 2 darkish horizontal branches pushing out of both sides. I might darken and reduce contrast of the top part of the white tree leaving the frame at the top. Just blow a little more fog on it.
Gorgeous, ethereal image! Seems to me to need a tiny bit of CW rotation? (judging from the rear, closest vertical tree, not the dark primary one)
Possibly lighten up the dark grasses to the right of the lower horizontal branch - but just an exceptional image!
Beautiful image, Bonnie! To me it almost looks like there’s snow on the ground in the background. I’m guessing that wasn’t the case, but it makes for a very nice contrast with the warm light on the foreground grasses. I would echo Tom’s comments – there is a lot of chaos in the scene, but you’ve found order in it. I also agree with what others have said about the branches on the left side of the image–I don’t find them distracting and I don’t see a need to remove them. I can’t say that I have any suggestions for you. The image is fantastic as is!
Bonnie,To me a very very different forest image ! It gives me a feeling of a battle field after a big fire. Everything is lost. A more than great, telling image about a situation I never want to be in.
Perfectly inperfect! Perfect for creating an image of great atmosphere, deep emotion, feeling of mistery. A splendid natural image of the beauty of the Nature.
Yup! There’s a happy medium between total perfection and including too many distracting bits. The trick is to find that happy medium.
Thought about that, but figured they balanced each other out. Will check it out.
What an interesting take, Ben. It’s interesting that you see that. The experience of the scene wasn’t grim at all. Your interpretation is a good example of how someone else sees one’s work vs. the actual experience of being there. It was quite cheery (but cold) that morning.
If you’re ever in far northern California, give me a shout! It’d be fun to meet another NPN-er.
Bonnie, I just love the warm and cool tones, and the detail in this image. This is stunning! I agree with others, you’ve made what could be a chaotic woodland image very balanced and pleasing to the eye. Nicely done! You make me want to go to Yellowstone now!
Great light and atmosphere generated by the mist. I would fade out the ‘protractor’ on the left a bit more. The remaining branches untruding from the left don’t bother me at all.
This is messy and chaotic and I love absolutely everything about it! The light, the mist, the atmosphere, the grungy tree…it all works in harmony. So happy you turned around and had the creative inspiration to see an image here. Bravo!
I like this image a lot. Somehow you’ve managed to make a fairly busy, chaotic scene look peaceful. Your processing in tone and saturation levels is lovely. Very, very compelling image!
Bonnie, absolutely beautiful; I love the technical qualities of the image but just as much, there is an underlying message here that the image makes so compelling … “the past is always an element of the present”. You have captured a beautiful scene. If I had one suggestion: you might consider a slight vignette to draw the eye into the image itself. Well done, Bonnie!
