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.
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General reaction/thoughts.
Other Information
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Image Description
This was taken on a small rocky beach in Oregon. I noticed how the waves were coming in a filtering back out through the smooth rocks. I wanted to capture that motion with a long exposure.
Technical Details
Canon 6D
2 second exposure
f/22
ISO 100
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
The lower two-thirds are the stars of the show with the shiney, wet rocks and great patterns in the retreating surf which lead the eye nicely. The upper 1/3 anchors the image and gives a sense of place.
The non-shiney rock in the LLC is a minor bummer but in no way a deal breaker.
Thanks for your input, but I didn’t make a major change to the colors on this photo and don’t see a greenish tint on anything but the water and rocks. It’s pretty representative of the scene.
Agreed, this was my Initial Impression. Using lab values, the sky is averaging around -15 in the A channel. According to Dan Margulis, skies should be “Ordinarily found slightly to the green side of blue, so slightly negative A and strongly negative B. However, some skies tend toward purple and in these cases the A can be slightly positive. If the A and B are negative and equal, the sky is too green.”
Moving the average sky to a -9 in the A channel, I get this:
I see what you are saying here. However, this version makes the rocks and the cliff side way too red from the original. My version may be a little towards the green side but is much closer to the original color of the rocks and cliff. Below is an unedited close up of the rocks.
Aside from the color cast, that is somewhat subjective, heck all critiques are subjective anyway…
I like the idea of the composition. You have a great leading line from the LRC corner leading the eye into the scene. I just wish the rock line did not meet the left edge so tightly because it is causing my eye to stop there. I can force to continue on into the scene, but it would have been nicer if the composition facilitated that better. Timing was great to catch the water as it was rushing back in giveing the silky smooth water action.
Hello Jared. I usually try to leave my comments before reading the others so as to not be too influenced. I might be repeating some of what the others have said.
My first reaction was the image has a green color cast. I am not a PS whiz , so someone else could probably tell you how to get rid of it if you chose to. If that was your artistic intention then great. It’s your photo, not mine.
I really like the composition and the effect the ND filter has on the water. I assume you used one. Haven’t read your comments.
I would clone out the log in the LLC. It stands out too much from the glistening , spherical boulders.
I also feel the blank sky is not adding anything to the image. I know we can’t change the conditions we’re dealt, but maybe revisit the location at a different time?
Since there’s not much color in the image, maybe a B&W conversion?
Thanks, Youssef.
I see what you are saying, it is a little tight in that area. Will look at some different cropping options to maybe open it up little more.
Thanks, Michael.
Yes, I used a ND filter to get the effects in the water.
I agree would have been nice to have something other than a clear sky, I would love to get back to this area at some point.
I do have a B&W version, not sure which I like better at this point.
