The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This image was captured while hiking through a gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
I was captivated by the colours, textures and still reflection of the rocky gorge walls.
Specific Feedback
I am wondering if the rich orange/red tones on the horizontal rock layers should be enhanced?
Does this image tell enough of a story? I wanted to capture the quiet, spiritual feel of this magical place.
Technical Details
Nikon z 7 24-70 lens ( 16-35 mm wide angle would have been better but was back at the campsite!) Not enough room in my dry bag for extra lenses as I had to wade waist deep through extremely cold water to get to this location.
F/9; 1/80 sec. ; ISO 320
Processed in photoshop. Curves layer applied to increase contrast and sharpening. Hand held.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi Diny, This is a lovely image you have shared with us. I think you are spot on with your intent to bring out it’s magical/spiritual side. Perhaps selecting the darker shadow areas and using an HSL luminence adjustment with the orange and red sliders (maybe some minus blue?) will help you bring out to balance the bright orange/reds in the sunny sections without lightening the shadows and loosing their marvelous quality.
What a magical looking location Diny. I think that you succeeded in capturing the mood of this place beautifully. My only suggestion would be to bring up the shadows just a little in the upper third of the right hand side. The orange/red tones look just fine to me. I do have one other small suggestion and that would be to clone out that white spot on the rock wall as it does catch my eye a little. A lovely scene.
I wondered if it might be slightly improved by darkening the sunlit area and its reflection slightly. I tried that and also boosted the color contrast. Obviously, you’re the photographer and it all depends on your taste.
Hi Diny, thank you for sharing this image. It took me some time to figure out how to interpret the spatial relations in this fascinating image, partly because the water surface is so incredibly still and the reflection on it so sharp that I did not realize at first that I was looking at a reflection. The almost equal amount of luminosity of the sunlit areas on the rock and its reflection similarly made me wonder what I was looking at. I could have used som visual guidance. Another point: To me, the vertical ‘corner’ of the rock to the left side introduces a split and in the composition, which you may want to reconsider. Having said so, I really like this image, it definitely holds my attention. Thanks!
Gorgeous image Diny. I can see a large metal print looking great on a wall. No comments on the exposure or colors – looks good to me. You asked about a “story,” I don’t see this as a storytelling image but as an exceptional nature abstract. I confess that when recently shooting a similar perfect mirror, I tossed a few small rocks into the pool and quickly took shots of the ripples differentiating top from bottom. What was the story? A photographer manipulated the environment to get a shot, but he’s not sorry!
This is beautiful Diny. It looks great as is, but I love how disorienting it is with the bottom cropped off. (I also toned down those white spots just a tad.)
