The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Early morning, 3 days before Christmas, after driving in the dark to be there in time. (Not a big feat though, since Belgium is a very small country.) The light I hoped for was there on this crisp winter morning. This picture was taken a few moments before the sun became visible.
Specific Feedback
My main question about this picture is about the land-sky balance. I chose this one, but am very interested in knowing how you would have approached such a landscape in such a light.
Technical Details
Canon Canon EOS R6
ƒ/8
1/50
35 mm
3200 ISO
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Since it is a cold morning I would have used a cooler white balance to get the point across. I like the balance between land and sky in this image, that is the amount of space dedicated to each.
Lovely image with gorgeous color. I do like Igor’s re-work that’s slightly cooler on the landscape, but I think it removed too much of the pink color from the sky. I’d probably work the sky and landscape separately to retain more of the sky color while giving the landscape a slightly cooler presence. Also, if you aren’t opposed to such things, I would clone out the contrails. Well worth the early morning drive!
A beautiful, quiet and peaceful scene. Yes, it looks frigid, but yet crisp and refreshing.
I think the sky/land balance is just right. Clearly, the colors of this morning were the attraction and the lovely clouds (and colors), certainly deserve the space. The frost-covered landscape, the tree lines and even path/road leading the eye in to the scene, are all balanced visually.
How would I approach this scene? Feverishly! I’d be pressing that shutter as fast as I could make new comps; wide angle, zoomed in on the trees, the frosted grasses… there wouldn’t be enough time to get it all before the sun came up and washed out all the color (then new opportunities arise!)
I do like the cooler balance, at least for the land. I would keep colors in the sky. Personal choice of course.
I’m almost ambivalent on the contrails. Yeah, wish they weren’t there. However, at least there is some symmetry/pattern there that at least makes them interesting.
Lovely color Xavier. I’m right in line with the above comments. As to the contrails, I’m with @Bret_Edge and prefer to remove them.
My main suggestion to add would have been to expose this just a little less. That would have added a little detail to that right edge where it is blowing the highlights, and made for a little richer color in the rest of the image.
Xavier, the pink overall tone is quite eye catching. I think you have the land/sky balance just right, with the road coming in from the corner. I would try some subtle burning-in of the brighter tones in the right 1/3rd, thinking that would lend a bit more attention to the pinks in the ksy on the left. The pink reflections in the snow are wonderful.
