The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was an early morning image, shot after a light snow overnight, the first dusting of snow on the mountains of the fall. The mountain in the background is Mount Sneffels, a 14,000 foot peak n the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. I have been away from photography, and this forum, for about ten years and am trying to get back into it. I have taken a trip or so a year in that time, but haven’t processed any of the images until now. This was taken in the fall of 2011. Thank you for looking!
Specific Feedback
Any feedback is welcome. Specifically would like input on the composition and exposure. The highlights in the image were a challenge.
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
Scott, the colors look great. I think you’ve handled the dynamic range well. I have two suggestions;
First, a bit of dodging on the trees and sunlit ridge in the middle ground. That would give them a bit more interest without them overshadowing the fine glow of the foreground trees. and Second, a modest blue reduction in the shadow areas on the left side, both the ridge and the sky.
This is a beautiful grand scene, and I love the mix of cloud and snow draped mountain with the glory of the aspen below. There are nice diagonal flows leading from the right to the left. It looks like you’ve done a nice job with the highlights.
I don’t have a lot to suggest, but one thought would be a slight vignette of the upper corners to emphasize that mountain peak a little more.
Great to have you back, Scott. That was a very long absence but it sounds like the urge to photograph has returned and what a statement you’ve made with this post.
This is one of my favorite easy to access locations in Colorado and 14 years ago you were rewarded with Fall colors nearing peak colors with a huge amount of snow in the mountains. I’m jealous. I’ve been several times and have not had much snow during Fall. This is a classic Grand Landscape that has aged really well over the years.
The conditions gave you a moody and beautiful sky with bright sunshine hitting those aspens. I love the ridge in the center of the image that is catching nice light leading to the top of the peak. The colors look spot on for me and I can’t tell how much processing you’ve done on this which is awesome. Very natural looking. The only thing that disrupts the flow or balance of the scene is the lower left corner where the aspens fall off into the scrub brush and it’s where my eye goes as I peruse the scene. There’s not much you can do about that unless you have more canvas on the bottom. It’s certainly not a deal breaker at all. This is a terrific image. Here’s to hoping those creative juices start flowing and that we get a chance to see more of your images and participation here on NPN.
Hi Scott,
First off welcome backand I hope to see some more images from your trips. This is quite the grand landscape and it looks like you had some wonderful shooting conditions with the snow and autumn colors; they do make a great combination. The drama with the clouds also works very nicely in this scene. My only suggestion wwould be a little crop from the left and bottom edges as that area in the LLC catches my eye a little. I hope you do not mind, but here is a rework with what I was thinking. Just my opinion of course. Very nicely done.
Thanks for your comments David! The lower left corner is bothersome to me as well, I wanted to crop it out, but really didn’t like the cropped image as much. In the end, I think it adds another color element and layer to the image, but do agree your eye tends to go down there. I didn’t do much processing at all, just some brightness reduction of the highlights in the clouds and toning down the brightness in the foreground aspens just a tad. The light that morning was wonderful, I didn’t need to do too much.
Thank you Ed for your suggestions and the rework, I had the same thought about the LLC as well, but was torn about losing a good amount of the foreground aspens. I’m still going back between the two images trying to figure out which one I like better.
Than you for your comments John, I do like what you did with the vignetting, very subtle and natural looking, I’ll incorporate that into the image as soon as I get a chance.
Thank you Mark, great suggestion on dodging the trees. I don’t think I even paid attention to that area, and now that you mention it, it its pretty obvious. That the great thing about having other people look at your work!
Oh those tough life decisions we have to make. I like the image as presented cause the LLC sorta mimics the bare area to the right of center. I also like @Ed_Lowe’s crop. In other words, I’m indecisive as usual. lol
Yeah, I’ve went back and forth for a while, but in the end I will go with the original , every time I looked at it the cropped version seems to look too “tight”, and the original seems a bit more expansive. Couldn’t go wrong wither way though.
I like the image as presented cause the LLC sorta mimics the bare area to the right of center. I also like