Marsh Morning

[Bill_Chambers]

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

I processed this last week, and haven’t looked at it since. Overall, I like the overall “feel” of the image, but after looking at it after a week of not seeing it, I’m seeing things I missed. It seems to me the FG water is overly bright and should be toned down some. I intended for it to be a rather dark scene because it was a rather dark morning after the sun went behind the low clouds. The terrain actually has a lot of detail but it’s difficult to see at this size.

Creative direction

I was trying to make a more solemn sunrise image as that was the mood of the morning. This was taken back in January of 2024, but the morning was warmer and very humid. The air was thick and unmoving, and the marsh was quiet. Most everything was soaked due to the heavy dew. That was the feeling I was trying to capture. This image was focus stacked due to my 24-120 Z lens being basically worthless at any aperture past f/7.1. I plan to initially have this printed at 48" wide so the details in the terrain will be visible. If that is successful, I will have it printed at 60" wide as a gallery wrap.

Specific Feedback

Any and all feedback will be greatly appreciated. I realize I don’t post very often any more, but I still hold NPN in the highest regard and value every opinion. For this image, I would like to know if I was able to capture the more solemn feel & mood of the morning.

Technical Details

Nikon Z9 w/ 24-120 Z lens
1/30 sec. @ f/7.1
Focus stacked (3 images) because my 24-120 is basically unusable past f/7.1. Very disappointed with this lens.
200 ISO
Polarizer (basically lives on my lens, but I don’t recall if I actually used it for this shot)
Tripod
Processed using PureRaw 4, HeliconFocus for stacking, Capture One Pro, and Photoshop.

Description

Marsh sunrise on January 11, 2024. Typical Florida winter morning - warm, very humid, heavy dew, everything was soaked, very quiet, beautiful light. Shot this at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 70,000 acres of marsh, swamp, beach, and woods. The large bird in the tree on the left is a Red Tailed Hawk, which is the first time I’ve ever seen a Red Tail in this tree; it is usually occupied by either an Osprey, Bald Eagle, or Egret. If you’ve read my previous remarks, you know the rest of the story.

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[Bonnie_Lampley]

Hi Bill - another beautiful lowland scene. Great composition, with that triangle formed by the line of bright cloud reflections in the water, the dark clouds at the top of the sunrise color, and the left tree. I love the colors the way they are, but they don’t feel too solemn for me. They aren’t too luminous, but I think they might be too saturated for solemnity. I did a quick edit, desaturating the reds/yellows and blues separately, and dodged mid-tones in the brown vegetation area (just for grins to see what that would do). However you finally edit it, I’m sure it will make a spectacular print.

[Michael_Lowe]

Other people can judge an image for solemnity better than I can. I had to look up the definition.
I just know what appeals to me visually first and then maybe emotionally. I like it. Especially the saturated blues in the water. Nicely balanced composition with the larger tree on the left and the two smaller trees on the right. The bird is a nice addition.
Welcome back.

[Bill_Chambers]

Thanks @Bonnie_Lampley and @Michael_Lowe for your quick responses! Bonnie, I’ve placed your version in my post so it’s easier for both me and others to compare the two.

[Paul_Breitkreuz]

Bill, I tried my hand on the image and used NIK grads and some Curves to raise the land exposure somewhat…I think ?..
For me, after downloading the image, it’s rewarding to see the big hawk or owl in the bare tree on the left there. That’s a real plus IMO.

[Tom_Nevesely]

Hi Bill, this is a very beautiful and calming image. I love your choice of foreground with the dark blue water, the leaves, and the bits of bright reflected clouds. I also like how the image is anchored by the trees on either side. When I compare the two versions, I like the first, bluer one but I’m not viewing this on the best monitor out there so I could be out to lunch.
Also, I’m curious why you can’t go past f/7.1 on that lens. Is it broken? Or just too soft? Inquiring mind want to know.

[Bill_Chambers]

Thanks @Paul_Breitkreuz & @Tom_Nevesely for your comments!

Thanks Paul for your version as well. I just posted it with my original & Bonnie’s version so it will be easier to compare.

Tom - I’ve read LOTS of reviews about the 24-120 & the 14-30 and they have all been wonderful. Based on that I purchased both lenses. I wanted to go with them since they were lighter than the f/2.8 versions, plus I never used either of my f/2.8 SLR versions at f/2.8 anyway. I was excited when they came in the day before a trip to the swamp. When I returned from my trip 4 days later, I uploaded them and checked them out and almost every one of them was unusable!! I then ran a test on them and discovered they both SUCKED (24-120 at any aperture above 7.1, and 14-30 at any aperture above 8) I was NOT a happy camper! Just to make sure it wasn’t a camera issue, I ran another test on my 2nd body with identical results. Thus, I have to focus stack most every image I take. I’m going to send both lenses to Nikon to have them checked out, but I’m not expecting any miracle cures. My 105, 70-200, and 180-600 are all tack sharp to at least f/11, with the 105 being tack sharp to 18, and the 70-200 tack sharp to 16.