The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This was shot before sunrise, at low tide near Oceanside, Oregon. I was drawn to the geometric balance, created by the oval tide pool, mirroring the oval cloud and how those two features together frame the seastacks. To me, the story is the changing nature of ocean tides and the resulting beauty that may only exist until the next wave paints a new scene.
Specific Feedback
While I’d appreciate any constructive feedback. There are two post-processing questions I’m exploring. First, I applied a very strong vignette to the sky in order to create balance with the naturally dark foreground. The vignette is much stronger than I’d normally prefer; however, in this case it also adds balance and serves to emphasize the subject. Is this too much? Second, this was shot before any natural sunlight illuminated the sea-stacks, allowing me to create the appearance of early, soft light illuminating the sea-stacks. Does this look natural and appropriate to the scene?
Technical Details
Nikon D850
27 mm
1.0 sec at f|22 (seeking water movement)
ISO 64
Critique Template
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Beautiful photograph Dudley. I think the colors and softness in the sky are perfect. It does not look like the horizon is straight - can you check it. I would suggest eliminating the vignette and instead burning around the tide pool to replicate the vignette you have on the bottom. The top vignette IMO is changingthe beautiful colors in the sky. You have alot of nice blues and golden yellows in there.
I’ll sound like an echo of Stephen. The first thing I noticed was that the horizon is tilted clockwise. The second thing I noticed was that it’s a terrific photo. I’m not sure any vignette is really needed here, although I can’t be sure because I haven’t seen the original.
Hi Dudley,
First off welcome to NPN! I think you will find us to be a wonderful community of like minded individuals willing to share. This is a beautiful first post that I find to be very inviting and I quite like the combination of warm and cool tones in this coastal landscape. IMO the biggest thing you need to correct is the tilted horizon. For my own personal tastes the vignette is a little strong. I hope you do not mind, but I did a rework to illustrate what I was thinking. I used 1.5 degrees of CCW rotation to straighten the horizon and lightened the vignette a little. I also darkened those seastacks just a touch as the sun does appear to be rising behind the stacks and not in front. These are just my opinions of course and the final decision of where you want to take this wonderful scene is up to you. You have some beautiful images on your website and I hope to see more of your work as well as your comments on other photographers posts.
This is a fine first post. I agree with @Ed_Lowe regarding his comments and the rework. Also, there are a couple sticks poking into the reflection pool at center that immediately caught my eye.
The light here is gorgeous, and you did a fine job!
-P
Dudley: Welcome to NPN and thanks for a really good first post. Anything from the Oregon coast gets high marks from me since it’s probably my favorite place on the planet. I’ve been in this exact spot many times. I really like what @Ed_Lowe did but he had some really good raw material to work with. Great to have you aboard and looking forward to more of your work and involvement with the community.>=))>
Thanks Stephen, Don, Preston and Ed! So embarassing to submit a first photo with the horizon tilted You were correct on that. I’m going to re-work the vignette and appreciate your comments.
Hi Dudley, Welcome to NPN! I like the composition as the seaweed adds depth to the image and also creates a diagonal line leading to the background sea stacks. I do think that the seastacks have been brightened a bit too much and they are lacking contrast. There also seems to be an unusual green color cast in the sky in the upper part of the frame. I would recommend a color balance adjustment where you shift from green toward magenta to correct this if you are inclined. Overall this is a nice image, but with a little more work it could be even better.
Thank you everyone. As several of you noted, this was my first post and I’m impressed by the insightfulness and constructive nature of your comments. I think I’m going to like this community! (And look forward to offering others helpful commentary, when I feel I may be able to add value.)
Welcome to NPN, Dudley! We’re happy to have you here. This is one heckuva wonderful photo for your first post! I read Ed’s comment after viewing your image and discovered that he and I share the same thoughts. Ed’s re-work is minor but does make a pretty significant difference, IMO. Looking forward to your participation here in the forums!
Welcome to NPN, Dudley! I really like your idea of using a vignette to emphasize the oval composition of the scene. But I think it would be better if it was subtler. What one notices immediately is that this scene is a series of concentric ovals and that’s what makes it for me. I didn’t even notice the tilted horizon line but that’s why two sets of eyes are better than one.
Welcome, Dudley. A great first post that could be made even greater by some of the suggestions you’ve gotten here. I’m a little late, so cant really add much that hasn’t already been said. Agree with @Ed_Lowe about your website.
You were correct on that. I’m going to re-work the vignette and appreciate your comments.