The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I shot this scene early in our Oregon Coast trip last summer. I’d attempted it the evening before but it was breezy - and without fog - and I was unable to render everything sharp as the wind seemed to always be rustling something. The following morning I awoke to thick fog and a complete calm. I was thrilled and ran down to the beach to find this lovely scene. I haven’t been able to identify the tree species but if anyone knows, please inform me!
Specific Feedback
All thoughts and comments are welcome.
Technical Details
Sony A7IV
Sony 24-105mm lens @ 92mm
ISO 100
0.4s @ f/16
Processed in Adobe Lightroom
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi @Bret_Edge, Good for you to being persistent and waiting for the conditions you wanted. While the fog helps with the ambiance of the scene it might be working against you by stealing a bit of the saturation and depth of hue from the lupine. Perhaps a bit of tweaking in the HSL panel might embolden them a bit? Sorry I can’t help with the tree id. A fine capture.
Lovely image, with or without the fog. Nice intimate landscape composition. I can see why you were drawn to this image. Being an easterner, I don’t know the tree id.
Bret, I’m enjoying the view here. I can hear the quiet that seems to be a characteristic of fog and like the contrast between the flowers and grasses at the bottom and the trees dominating the top. It’s also interesting because part of me would like to see this with higher contrast, but that would be fogless…
Bret, the more I look at this one, the more I like it.
I have two minor suggestions that are easier to show than to explain. I wasn’t crazy about the tree limb at the center of the left edge. I also thought we were seeing slightly too much of the tree limbs at the top. Cropping the top and the left side slightly, while maintaining your aspect ratio, took care of both concerns. I also darkened the bright tones a hair. That’s entirely a matter of taste. It’s a fine shot with or without any changes.
Hi Bret - What a classic Pacific coast scene. I think those trees are alders. We have lots of them on the northern California coast, too. I wasn’t bothered by that branch on frame left, but after I read Don’s comment I couldn’t unsee it. A slight crop doesn’t seem like it would unbalance the frame. No other nits from me.
@Mark_Seaver Funny you say that because I had to restrain myself from adding too much contrast as it did diminish the fog. I shot a few frames without the fog and I preferred the atmosphere of this one, but both certainly have merit.
@Don_Peters Good eye! I usually catch distracting elements like that branch but it slipped through the cracks. I like your crop better than my original. Thank you.
@Bonnie_Lampley I think you’re right. I googled them and they do look very similar. Thanks for the ID!
Hi Bret,
This scene has a soft delicate mood which I find to be very inviting and the fog is certainly a big part of that. I also like the understated processing as that helps accentuate the mood. Some might say it is busy, but I like the way the limbs reach out and arch across the frame. My only suggestion would be a small crop from the left side to get rid of that protruding limb entering the frame. Very nicely done!
