The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is a little area close to home that I frequent half a dozen or so times a year during the early spring and autumn seasons. This land has been quarried in the past and now nature is slowly reclaiming it. It is private property so I have to shoot from the road; even so I have several images from this location that I am quite fond of as it has a nice mix of trees and brush. This particular day was overcast with a light mist so the autumn colors were quite lush and saturated.
Specific Feedback
How does the saturation look? I tried to not go overboard. There is a tree limb sticking in from the left edge a little over half way up. I went back and forth on removing it, but I thought I would see what others thought about it. Anything else you notice please feel free to mention it.
Technical Details
Nikon Z 7, Nikon Z 24-200 @ 105 mm, f 11 @ 1/4 sec, ISO 200, Kase magnetic CPL, cable release & tripod, two image stack for DOF.
Critique Template
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Sweet, Ed. This little inauspicious place has yielded some really nice photos. The limb doesn’t bother me. I didn’t notice until you pointed it out. I see this is a square crop. Do you have any 2x3 with more trees at the top? Just for a comparison, that’s all. The only thing I notice are the blue trees. I like blue trees, so it’s not a criticism. Just an observation. I removed the blue for comparison.
I love this.
I have a little place like this that I go in the fall and see a lot of similar scenes to this. It’s my favorite in the fall because of the way the light works in my particular canyon, and like your pretty scene here, it has a lot of different trees, shrubs, and grasses that give different colors and textures. So I’m really drawn to this scene because of my own experiences. That said, I think the scene you’ve chosen works really well, with the gold shrub on the bottom and the taller trees reaching up and a nice mix in the middle ground. A really nice mix of subtle colors and textures in this scene.
I think the colors are great, subtle with little pops here and there. It feels true, so I don’t think you’ve gone too far.
The blue color of the trunks doesn’t bother me, again in “my” canyon, the trunks do the same when they’re pretty deep in the shadow, and I always like it.
I also didn’t notice the branch halfway up on the left because it’s dark and doesn’t really stick out. If you have a printer, just run a draft print and you’ll know right away if it draws your attention. And then after that, work up a real print because this is lovely and you should give it a feature.
I am curious, though. You said you have two shots for focus stacking. I’m assuming that one focus area is on the shrub in the foreground, and the other on the tree trunks? Just asking because when I shoot scenes like this, there’s often something that is OOF and I’ve been working on either leaving things OOF, or stacking, but I’ve never reached a final conclusion on what’s best, realizing that it does depend on the scene…
The point at which chaos turns beautiful is an illusive prey for me, so congratulations on capturing this one. I just love the amazing variation of texture AND color you were able to find and isolate. This would make a wonderfully challenging jigsaw puzzle.
Ed, this is lovely. You’ve got a fine mix of colors and shapes. That small branch on the left blends very with with it’s surroundings, so it fits in well. Nothing like staying local for great photos (and knowing what’s where, when)!
Ditto what others have said regarding the branch. I really like the blue cast to the trunks as well. They provide a cool contrast in the scene and help my eyes to move up in the frame.
Which brings me to what is so interesting here: for me, the fact that the trunks are in the top half is really compelling, Yeah tree trunks are above brush all the time, but here the distance gives the impression of a wall of beauty. I don’t want to call it flatness, because the scene clearly has depth, but it dies something to the scale that elevates every element in the frame.
I enjoy the layers of textures. The lack of shadows makes the scene a bit dreamy. My eye starts with the bottom orange bush, and finds the S curve to the left and back right. Nice trip!
I had to decide what I feel about the light tree trunks. Ended up feeling they rather kept me in the scene, like a rickety fence. The bright patch on upper right edge is a grace note suggesting a brightness beyond.
Wonderfully soft colors in this one Ed. I love the anchor at the bottom of the frame with that yellow busg fanning up to the trees at the top of the frame. I actually VERY much like the blue in the trunks and I wouldn’t remove it. As I scan this scene I’m drawn to variations in color, particularly the reds in the upper portion of the image and I think it really helps anchor the scene. I’m being very nit picky here but the bottom right corner has not color so I’m wondering if reducing red colored leaves in the LLC would help with the balance on the bottom of the frame??? I’m really loving this one Ed!
Thanks so much for your thoughts everyone @Michael_Lowe, @JulieEdwardsViola, @John_Williams, @Mark_Seaver, @Marylynne_Diggs, @Dick_Knudson and @David_Haynes as it is always appreciated. Glad everyone liked the image. @Michael_Lowe : Thanks for taking the time to do a rework. I like both versions. None with more trees at the top. I cropped from both the right and left sides. @JulieEdwardsViola : This is an area I like to head to when the conditions are right; kind of like your canyon. You are correct; one focus area was on the FG bush and the other on the trees. I haven’t reached a conclusion either. Each situation is different as you mentioned. @John_Williams : That is a good idea. I will have to keep the jigsaw puzzle idea in mind for Christmas. @David_Haynes : I see what you mean. I will play around with those red leaves in the LLC.
Ed: I’m pretty late to this party but wanted to add my kudos. You and @Michael_Lowe are masters of this genre and area. Sometimes my wife asks why I like to go back to places I’ve been so I might use this as an object lesson. I certainly enjoy going to new places but knowing the familiar lets you explore more intimately and thoroughly. Most excellent. >=))>
PS: When the new posting procedures come online consider putting the plant life tag on your intimates. They are certainly worthy of the hoped for greater exposure.
Thanks for the kind words @Bill_Fach; always nice to hear. Please feel free to use this as an example for your wife. Mike and I discovered this little nondescript location a few years ago while driving along some back roads looking for some fall color. I most definitely believe in going back to familiar locations as things always seem to change.
A lovely square of autumnal colours isolated from a bigger landscape. I do like these Edward Weson style subjectless compositions where the eye can just explore every corner and is not guided anywhere in particular.
