Quiet morning at the boat launch

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

FGisin_1189_Spring_Reflections.jpg
FGisin_1189_Spring_Reflections.jpg1500×1000 782 KB

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

First impressions?

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

The other day I was reflecting (pun intended) on this wave of fear that is sweeping the landscape photography genre, where complexity (and it’s sibling, chaos) must be avoided at all costs when searching for compositions in a forest environment.

I found it somewhat ironic that the very subject we like to photograph, nature, is at it’s core complex and chaotic. And yet here we are, afraid to photograph one of it’s most defining (endearing?) features.

So lately, I’ve been keeping an eye out for complex/chaotic compositions that I personally find very pleasing. This image is one of my favorites.

Technical Details

*1/200 sec at f/18, ISO 1600, 100 mm.
It was early in the morning, and I tried to find a balance between freezing the slight motion of the water and at the same time get as much as possible in focus without going overboard with the ISO.

Lightroom Enhanced NR, with some modest color enhancements using the original color mixer.

Specific Feedback

First impressions?

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

Franz, this is a fine mix of reflections and duckweed floating on this pond. It looks to be sharp edge-to-edge, so you achieved your goal there. This is the kind of view that I find contemplative, as it puts me sitting quietly at the pond edge watching and listening.

3

Hi Franz,
This is chaotic and busy, but it works extremely well IMO. The trees are beautifully placed and fan out across this scene perfectly. For my tastes the blue of the sky and the green of the duckweed make for a wonderful combination of colors. I also like the fact that everything appears to be very sharp. My only suggestion would be a bit of border patrol. I would crop a little from the left side to get rid of those three areas where that tree creeps into the scene. I think I would also clone out that bright bit of green along the bottom edge just left of center as it does catch my eye a little. Both are easy fixes for this wonderful scene.

4

Ed;

Thanks got the positive feedback on my image. It is sincerely appreciated.

Cheers,
Franz

P.S. I know I’m in a minority here, but elements along the edges of my images that have visual weight don’t automatically get classified as a “distraction”.

5

Hi Franz,
At the end of the day as long as you are happy with your image, that is what matters. I was just giving you my personal opinion as those couple of things I mentioned were small distractions to me. Others may not find them to be distractions and that is OK too. I hope to see more of your work.