Thank you all for taking time and commenting on my image. I have taken a crack at reworking it with your suggestions and still keep what I liked about it. (Hope I post the rework correctly)
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Travel, hiking and photography is my kind of vacation. This morning hike was so still and the lake reflections were stunning. Some of the shots turned out a little postcard like but I ended up being happy with this one.
Specific Feedback
I would like to know if the composition holds your interest to explore it. Since a good amount of my images are travel images I struggle with wondering if they are interesting as a photograph. Would you compose it differently?
Technical Details
ISO 100 f/13 1/60 sec. 24mm
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I quite like it. The only thing I would change about the composition is: it would have been nice to try and compose the FG reeds to where they mimic the mountains and don’t intrude into the mountains and lesson that nice reflection. Also I might add a little contrast to that nice blue sky. Nice image.
This is a beautiful image, @Steve_Diephuis. I very much know the feeling of combining travels and hikes with a quick opportunity of taking a picture and since there is not much time for photography later wondering, if with a bit more time the image could have been even better. Quite often I am on hikes with my family and let’s face it - noone wants to wait for the photographer to find the perfect, light, composition or lens on the other side, it is a good training to try and find compositions very quickly. I think your picture is very beautiful and I like the symmetrical shapes of the mountains to both sides of the frame, which lead the eye nicely in to the middle section of the frame. The only thing that is catching my eye is the grasses which are intersecting with the reflection of the Mountain. I don’t know if this could have been avoided by maybe moving a bit to the right or if you don’t mind wet feet by stepping into the water. Anyways it is a beautiful picture and for sure a nice reminder of your trip =)
Hey @Steve_Diephuis - this is awesome.
There’s so much to like about this scene.
The way the grass mimics the clouds is fantastic. Bravo.
There’s really only a few things I would try to change, if at all:
The bright area at the upper right corner pulls the viewer away there - Hard to fix unless you waited for the sun to get lower or if you cropped / zoomed in.
The boulder on the right hand side of the lake, coupled with the big mountainside and the brighter grasses gives the right hand side a lot more visual weight than the left - I think I’d be compelled for a more simplistic vertical comp to compensate:
Michael, thanks for you suggestions and supportive words. I was debating if a little more sky color was needed.
Ronja, thanks for commenting on this image and kind words. I’m with ya with the scanning for interesting images while hiking. That is the #1 reason I tend to stub my foot on a root or rock. (eyes scanning the scenery) HA. I agree with the grass and mountain convergence, wish I noticed in the viewfinder.
Matt, thanks so much for your time to do this critique session. I appreciate you taking your time to view and offer your insights. I see what you saying on the heavy right side and morning light on the mountain top. I’ll edit some more with that in mind. I did like the boulder in the water so maybe I can just bring in the corner some. I also have a similar shot so I’ll check if the boulder was placed more in the middle of the image. Thanks again!
I’m a little bit late on this one but I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying this beautiful image. You have a really nice sky and even cloud cover, terrific foreground reeds, a stunning reflection and gorgeous light on those mountains in the center of the frame.
I think the composition works pretty well but with that mountain on the right in nearly full shadow with only a few highlights and actually not much interest, I would crop off the right. Now, whether to keep the rock in the frame or not is better determined by where you crop than anything else but I find it better balanced if you take the rock out as well. For me, the most interesting part of this frame is the central mountain peak. It has depth, structure, crags and those wonderfully lit trees just in front of it along with that terrific reflection. The two mountains on the right and the left are more framing elements because they lack all of the visual interest that the center peak has but they make up most of the image real estate and are the least important and interesting part of the scene. I would also add a little bit of color to the sky. It’s just a tiny bit flat and I like what @Michael_Lowe’s rework shows as potential for the sky. I wouldn’t over do it because the rest of the scene has minimal contrast which I find beautiful and soft. Nice job. By the way, these are very small nits. The image is exceptional as is but I really think a crop could take it to another level and showcase that center mountain range. I’m really enjoying this one Steve!
Beautiful work. I like the symmetry of this image and wouldn’t do any cropping. The subject is horizontal and the landscape format works well for it. The grass does overlap into the reflection but since it’s dark it’s not that noticeable and it seems to follow the contour of the reflection of the sky along the mountains, which is very attractive. I agree with Michael about slightly saturating it but the blues in the sky should not be saturated as much as the rest. Just my opinion. I can get very obssessive about processing the sky.
Steve, it’s a lovely, inviting scene that begs the viewer to sit quietly and enjoy. I think you composition works well. I do agree that it looks a bit flat, adding mid-tone contrast would make it even more inviting simiolar to Michael’s extra contrast in the sky.
@Steve_Diephuis This is a lovely image, very peaceful. I do prefer the re-work as the colors are a bit more vibrant and contrasty. Normally, I’d like to see separation between the reeds and the mountain reflection but here it doesn’t bother me. I don’t know if it’s because those amazing clouds are also reflected in the reeds, which puts less focus on the peak? Regardless, you’ve got a wonderful image here.
on the other side, it is a good training to try and find compositions very quickly. I think your picture is very beautiful and I like the symmetrical shapes of the mountains to both sides of the frame, which lead the eye nicely in to the middle section of the frame. The only thing that is catching my eye is the grasses which are intersecting with the reflection of the Mountain. I don’t know if this could have been avoided by maybe moving a bit to the right or if you don’t mind wet feet by stepping into the water. Anyways it is a beautiful picture and for sure a nice reminder of your trip =)