The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
On a cool morning, the mists rising from Yellowstone’s Porcelain basin were extensive. On occasion the breeze cleared the mist enough to reveal the colors in the basin.
Specific Feedback
I chose this small scene because it shows the full range of colors, from the hottest (white, yellow, orange) to the coolest (browns, greens and blacks).
Technical Details
R5, 100-500 @ 186, 1/125 s, f/16, iso 800, tripod and polarizer.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi Mark,
I find this image to be very otherworldly with the rising mist and the barren and inhospitable looking landscape. For my tastes the combination of warm and cool tones; especially those in the bottom half of the image; compliment each other rather nicely. Great eye to spot and isolate this amazing looking section from the overall landscape. My only suggestion would be to try and tone down that bright pool of water in the middle of the frame. Very nicely done.
What they said. “Otherworldly” comes to mind for me too when viewing this Mark. I love the mix of colors, and the steam gives it a mysterious atmosphere. The overall lack of large structure/detail has an impressionistic feel, but when you zoom in the small, sharp, details keep it from being fully abstract. Well done.
I like @Ed_Lowe’s idea to “turn off the headlights” a bit. I could also see cropping off, or reducing the contrast of, those couple of lighter areas that are on the bottom edge at the center and right corner.
This is fascinating and for me quite illusionary. Even with your description and the “small scene”, this also comes across strongly for me as a grand landscape! Now it helps that I’m not familiar with the Porcelain Basin of Yellowstone - I’ve only been there once as a young boy.
When I say a grand landscape, all the tiny dark green/blk specs and other smaller details could be stands of pine trees from a distance - a great distance. The steam/mist, a large bank of fog… the white patches could be ponds, patches of snow and the earth tones, all the surrounding land and geology. A barren and inhospitable looking landscape is a great description from Ed.
With that, I don’t see any changes - at least ones that I would suggest as a grand landscape. I don’t know the scale here, but as a smaller scene, I suppose you could play with colors, contrast and highlights, but this works quite well as presented.
This is very near where I took my Image, Yellowstone Hot Springs. You even mentioned the Porcelain Basin i my post. I love your intimate scene showcasing all of the colors the basin has. I like the composition with the two light pools centered with color all around and of course the steam rising from a very hot pool in the background. Finding focus when there is so much steam is very difficult but you did a great job here.
This is sure otherworldly as others have described it. I love the colors you’ve rendered and they look accurate to me. I don’t mind the bright pools either. I think my favorite part is the steam though. It shows how hot the water and mud get in these thermal areas making them so inhospitable. Great capture and I have no nits for you.
I could also see cropping off, or reducing the contrast of, those couple of lighter areas that are on the bottom edge at the center and right corner.