The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
During a photo workshop in Patagonia, our group ventured up a steep, winding trail that provided a breathtaking vantage point of a glacier within the bounds of Los Glaciares National Park. During our climb, I stumbled, only to be caught by a pair of remarkably strong hands that prevented me from a serious fall. I decided to take a seat and shift my focus towards capturing the intricate details of the rocks, opting for safety over the daunting view of the glacier.
Specific Feedback
I love the color of the rocks and the various textures, but there did not seem to be a central point of interest to anchor the composition. Did I succeed in guiding the eye with my editing of the color and use of subtle lighting?
Technical Details
Taken with a Sony RX100 Mvi. ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/100 sec.
Processed in LR and PS. I used the TK9 filters to color-balance the image. Then I used luminosity masking to emphasize the oranges. Selective use of lightening and vignetting then further focused on the center part of the composition. Did this provide a point of interest to help guide the eye throughout the composition?
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi Barbara. First of all I’m so glad that you didn’t fall. Secondly thank you for letting us see your intimate capture instead of the gran vista that you originally intended. Personally I have come to appreciate intimate scenes more as I can’t walk great distances due to having dodgy knees and as a result I have grown to prefer them as subjects.
It’s lovely to spend time with your image. I think that you have processed it well and the centre of attention (where my eye goes to first) IS the centre of the image. I love how you have teased out the colours without over saturating them and the contrast employed helps my eye to explore the rest pf the image in detail. The textures are plain to see.
One thing that I would do personally to improve on the image for my aesthetic would be to flip the image 90 degrees anti clockwise. I think that the greater emphasis that this would give to the diagonals would bring more energy to the whole.
Thank you so much for sharing this with me.
The lighting does a great job in bringing out the rock textures and keeping my eye directed to the center of the image. Nice, subtle editing. I don’t see that an image like this needs a point of interest.
BTW - the diagonal striations and smooth surfaces starting in the lower right appear to be slickensides - polished and gouged surface developed by movement along a fault.
Barbara, first I’m glad there was someone there to assist you when you needed it. Second, this is a fascinating study in textures and angles and colors of rock. I like all the different angles coming into the center of this one from the sides, the bottom and the top. I hope you don’t mind, but I can see a hand pointing upward in this and therefore I think you have the right orientation to start with. I’ve outlined what I see below.
@dewi, I am intrigued by the idea of rotating the image. Your description of how you move about the image is exactly what I was hoping to accomplish. @Bill_Pelzmann, my aim was to highlight the colors without overemphasizing them. The original image was much “flatter”. Your observation of the area’s geology is interesting. @Ed_Williams, I love the image of the hand. All three of you have responded to the fascination of textures in nature. Thanks.
Barbara, this is an amazing view. My first though was tree bark, finding out that it rock just adds to my amazement. The collection of colors and textures does a good job of keeping my eyes moving throughout the frame.
