# Ovation **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, landscape, intimate\ **Created:** [April 6, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362 "2026-04-06T01:05:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![michael18](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael18/32/84345_2.png) [@michael18](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/michael18)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/1 "2026-04-06T01:05:11Z")
![_DSC8218.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/a/1/a1339f4b7585d99307186024b4bacaa61676ef25.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description Scene shows a heavy snow in a lowland forest. Spring has sprung as you can see by the light greens in the tree tops and along water’s edge. I was drawn by the haunting look of the tree trunks in the forest filtered by the snow and it was kind of a reminder of how things move from old to new, having some refection of what has been but also knowing something new is just ahead. ### Specific Feedback Just first impressions and general reaction to the quality of the composition and if it succeeds any in invoking a connection or feeling. ### Technical Details Settings: ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec Lens: 24-70mm, f2.8, @65mm, No filter Processing: LRC, minimal basic adjustments and tone curve ---
**Author:** ![John\_Williams](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/john_williams/32/28797_2.png) [@John\_Williams](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/John_Williams)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/2 "2026-04-06T02:43:00Z")
Welcome to Landscape Michael, and this is a great image for your first tag in that category. It’s fascinating how black and white the trees are; it almost looks like you merged a color bottom with a black and white top. I love snow streaks in an image, so well done there. I think the composition works quite well, and I like that nice s-curve leading through the foreground.. ---
**Author:** ![Marylynne\_Diggs](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/marylynne_diggs/32/87403_2.png) [@Marylynne\_Diggs](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Marylynne_Diggs)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/3 "2026-04-06T02:52:11Z")
Hi Michael, I love this image. It’s a wonderful scene, well shot, and fittingly titled. I like the black and white contrasting with the spring green. It all works. I can see a tiny crop off the left (that tree arcing into the frame grabs my eye a bit). But otherwise, nothing but a welcome and a well done from me. ML ---
**Author:** ![Youssef\_Ismail](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/youssef_ismail/32/486_2.png) [@Youssef\_Ismail](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Youssef_Ismail)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/4 "2026-04-06T03:08:00Z")
Welcome to NPN Michael. I really like the composition. I get the sense that the main tree in the photo is reaching out to catch some snow. I think the lean of the tree and the angle at which the show is falling both lend to that sense of trying to catch the falling snow. The gentle curve of the shoreline helps lead my eye to the BG and the other audience of trees just waiting for the main tree to catch the snow, to give their standing ovation. Anyway, that’s the impression I get. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Fricke](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/scott_fricke/32/83810_2.png) [@Scott\_Fricke](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Scott_Fricke)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 5:33am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/5 "2026-04-06T05:33:44Z")
Wonderful image Michael! The composition is quite nice and I like the contrast of the darker tree trunks at the top of the tree limbs covered in snow. I think you nailed the perfect shutter speed with the falling snow as well. I wouldn’t change anything. 👏 ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/6 "2026-04-06T16:32:42Z")
Michael, this is a great catch, showing off the vageries of early spring, with the hints of green and heavy snow. I’m very much taken by the sense that the trees on the right are reaching out to catch the snow. Because of that sense, I think that cropping to 4x5 from the right enhances that feeling. The subtle greens in the land and water contrast well with the b&w of the trees and distant hillside. ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 6:39am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/7 "2026-04-07T06:39:32Z")
First impressions…Great! Beautiful scene well captured. The edge of the shoreline ( and the more concentrated colour) is a perfect, and subtle lead in line. I love the snow fall on the limbs of the hero trees. I’m just wondering if the image needs a very slight smidgen of a CCW rotation?? ---
**Author:** ![joaoquintela](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/joaoquintela/32/20552_2.png) [@joaoquintela](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/joaoquintela)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 9:03am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/8 "2026-04-07T09:03:36Z")
I really like this. I love the atmosphere and the soft light, and I think the shutter speed is perfect. I realize it’s very difficult, and maybe I’m being too picky, but if it were my photo, I’d try cropping a little off the left side—that last tree really catches the eye. ---
**Author:** ![michael18](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael18/32/84345_2.png) [@michael18](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/michael18)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/9 "2026-04-10T04:15:50Z")
@John_Williams, @Marylynne_Diggs, @Youssef_Ismail, @Scott_Fricke, @Mark_Seaver, @Glenys_Passier, @joaoquintela, thank you all for your impressions and insights! All are very much appreciated. Best regards, Michael ---
**Author:** ![Elizabeth\_Thompson](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/elizabeth_thompson/32/82795_2.png) [@Elizabeth\_Thompson](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Elizabeth_Thompson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/11 "2026-04-26T01:36:37Z")
I love this image. The snow falling and the green on the ground are so evocative of spring, trying as best it can to arrive. The angle of the snow and the angles of the trees work together well to my eye. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@Ed\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/12 "2026-04-26T15:57:57Z")
Hi Michael, First off welcome to Landscape. When I saw the thumbnail I thought this was a B&W image, but after opening I noticed the greens of the grasses. I am enjoying the changing of the seasons in this image and your SS was perfect for creating that streaking of the falling snow. My only suggestion would be to remove the tree limb sticking in about 3/4 ths of the way up on the left side of the frame. The snow laying on top of those limbs of that one tree is a nice touch and makes the scene for me. Beautifully done! ---
**Author:** ![michael18](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael18/32/84345_2.png) [@michael18](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/michael18)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/13 "2026-04-27T06:09:38Z")
Thank you so much for your impressions of the image, Elizabeth. I photographed this scene using a range of shutter speeds with each returning a slightly different story, but I think this one is my favorite. Thanks again and best regards. ---
**Author:** ![michael18](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael18/32/84345_2.png) [@michael18](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/michael18)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/14 "2026-05-09T02:13:57Z")
Ed, thank you very much for your thoughts and apologies for the late reply as I’ve been AFK quite a bit. Glad you liked the image. Best regards,. ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/15 "2026-05-12T21:37:17Z")
Michael, A bit late as I’ve been absent a bit myself, but I wanted to firstly welcome you to NPN. The image you’ve posted here is just fantastic. Gorgeous actually. The scene without the falling snow would have been beautiful itself, but the diagonal blow really creates such a dynamic and beautiful scene. Wouldn’t change a thing! Composition is excellent as well. The fact that the snow is falling diagonally left\>right works very well with the left side more open to the main tree. It all comes together perfectly. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![michael18](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael18/32/84345_2.png) [@michael18](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/michael18)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/16 "2026-05-16T02:27:25Z")
Lon, I really am glad you like the image. It’s one of my favorites. Looking forward to becoming familiar with your work and others as well. Thank you again! ---
**Author:** ![lauric](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lauric/32/86181_2.png) [@lauric](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/lauric)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 5:52am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/17 "2026-05-18T05:52:38Z")
Great photo Michael, I love the tone of this near monochrome image. the scene has a lot of winter mood to it, while some green is trying to peak through the snow. What makes that image stand out for me is the streaks of snowfall that shows how hard it was snowing on that day. It looks like an graving but with the tiny bit of colors doing its best to pop out through the white layer, remind me the harsh days of winter. I feel like a little rotation CCW may be needed a tiny bit. Great job on this photo. ---
**Author:** ![michael18](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael18/32/84345_2.png) [@michael18](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/michael18)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/ovation/50362/18 "2026-05-21T03:16:58Z")
Laurie , thank you so much for your thoughts and suggestions. I’m happy you like the image qualities and will take your suggestions into consideration. 🙏