Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction
Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
What’s your reaction to this one?
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Image Description
What I liked about Weston senior (Edward) was that his images were about form but they were never abstracts. The subject was always clearly the subject yet presented in a way that was arresting.
This was shot in 2016. I came to shoot landscapes of Cirios against a mountain backdrop in the evening sky. When the light had come off the mountain I gathered my equipment and went back to the truck. In the semidarkness I looked about the truck and saw these dead cacti which I thought were beautiful in a creepy way. But the more I worked on them the more I started to see their beautiful forms. I worked on them until it got too dark thinking I’d come back and explore them even more deeply. I never did though because I couldn’t find them again.
Technical Details
Canon 6D, 24-105mm
Specific Feedback
Any advice would be appreciated.
Nice one.
I love the tonal range you show in the tree. I find the background somehow a little distracting - I would try to make it darker.
I really like the lines in this, Igor. It has a very strong sense of flow and I like the tonal range of the tree. I don’t mind the background as posted, though it would certainly make the tree pop more if it were a bit darker, if that were your intent with the image.
It’s not. I feel that the background needs to have a presence. Otherwise it becomes more of an abstraction. The attempt is to go more in the Edward Weston direction and not in the Brett Weston direction.
Igor, I know the Weston name but can’t say I ever paid much attention to any of those styles over the years. With that said I like the image very much for the graphic old wood grain here. A neat view of the “Y” composition too… 
Not being there not sure if the camera could have been inched to the left slightly to provide a more symmetric view on the extended forks on each corner of the frame here. Regardless, A fine image. And A tip of the hat to Weston for style idea too… 
I chose to avoid perfect symmetry this time. Here is an earlier version with greater symmetry.
Yes, I can see the Weston influence here. I really like the processing which has brought out all the wonderful textures and details in the wood. But imho, I don’t feel this is one of your best works. The composition seems a little obvious/normal for you.
After viewing both of the images I think I prefer the second one, not for the symmetry but more for the 3 dimensional depth that the added background gives the second version. I really like the tree being offset with added environment in the second version. The first version I like more for the actual tree and the structure of the tree. That’s quite a complex trunk structure and it reminds me a little bit of the Bristlecone Pine trees structure in its complexity and uniqueness. What kind of tree is this?
I’ve always liked your desert scenes from Mexico, if that’s where this was shot and this one is no different. The only thing that grabs my eye is the bright spot along the edge of the frame in the upper left corner. It doesn’t change the image but but you could burn that down a little bit so it doesn’t stand out so much. That’s all I got for you.
This is the remains of a standing dead cardon cactus. They look like the saguaros of Arizona except in my opinion not as shapely. The internal trunk of this tree is made of ‘ribs’ that extend vertically. The tree stores water by expanding these ribs outwards (like inhaling) in times of abundant water. This particular one hasn’t been dead for long and still has parts of its dry ‘skin’ attached. I’m not a botanist so feel free to correct me. Old cardons are normally laying flat on the ground with their ribs spread out. The locals used to construct fences with them but now you can get fined for removing them from the desert.
1 Like
Igor, I would not have guessed that this was a cactus! The detail and tonality of both images is nicely realized. Compositionally, I prefer the OP.
Having viewed both Ed’s and Brett’s prints side by side, I think your treatment is very expressive. The luminosity you have achieved here is very nice, indeed. Well done, sir!
-p
This one is well done but there’s something about the composition that doesn’t work for me. I looked at the photo for a long time, trying to figure out what was bothering me, but I couldn’t. Sorry this isn’t a more helpful comment.
Sometimes the subject itself is unappealing. Rotting wood may be a turn off. But yes, saying you don’t like something without saying why is not very helpful. In fact, it’s not a critique.
My initial impression is that details matter. While the overall view doesn’t grab my eye in a strong way to begin with, once it settles and begins to explore there are so many wonderful details and variations in the aging skeleton. It’s enjoyable to spend time with.
When I lived in Arizona and traveled in Sonora quite a bit, Cardon were some of my favorite plants. They are so huge, like a Saguaro on steroids!
1 Like
