The photographer is looking for deeper feedback connected to their intent, creative direction, and specific questions.
I was drawn to the layered texture, soft foreground elements, and the calm atmosphere of the scene.
I’d appreciate any feedback on composition, tonal balance, and overall visual impact.
First, welcome to NPN Jamshid! Second, shame on us for not giving you more feedback yet, somehow this one flew under the radar.
Black and white is working very well for this scene, and you have a nice mix from black to white, so well done on the tonal aspect. I also like the symmetry of the dark upper left and lower right borders, contrasted with the broken grass on the upper right and lower left. That matches the 50:50 split of the left and right halves, so I’m enjoying your composition. The blurred grass is a bit interesting to me, did you have both motion and out-of-focus blur going on, or is it all just focus. (The in-focus grass doesn’t seem to have moved much.)
As far as impact, I enjoy it overall for the reasons noted above, but my eye tends to roam trying to find a star for the show. I’m not exactly sure what the solution for that would be, but a flower/cattail/bird mixed in the scene would be an interesting comparison.
Hi John,
My apologies for the delayed response—I was traveling.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. It was extremely helpful, and I really appreciate your thoughtful comments.
Thanks.
Jamshid
Hi Jamshid - Welcome
This is a very interesting Mono composition - it speaks to me about calm waters and gentle breezes.
It is technically well exposed with nice range of tones.
The reflections or blurred areas on the left add a bit of mystery as far as the narrative goes.
The bright areas pull the eye so you need to consider how you want to lead the viewers eye to the important bits of your composition - at the moment there is a bright area on the water near the shore in the middle and there are some brighter areas in the grasses on the right which pull the eye and it doesn’t move round the image in a logical way.
You might consider composing to make use of some leading lines or at least directing the viewers eye a little more.
I think your image works as a square crop balancing the reflection vs the grasses, and the eye can then drift back and ponder the refections - but may not be what you intended.
Keep taking photos and submitting critiques… Try varied compositions at each site and think about what feelings you want your image to convey.
Jamshid,
I’m also a little late to respond here - but first I want to welcome you to NPN. Great to have you here.
I really like this image. From your description you were clearly drawn to the layering and how you photographed this scene really emphasizes that. I think you were very successful with your selective focus and depth of field, allowing the foreground elements to go soft. AND there’s a sense for the viewer of haing to view the scene thru those foreground elements. I think this is works beautifully.
Now to the subject that we’re viewing through those soft elements up front, is well defined (and sharp) and darker, drawing the eye to those grasses. The lines/shapes in the water are providing a bit of a mysterious element for me, but not a distracting ones. I would agree the brighter area could be toned down a bit, but that’s minor.
I have no nitpicks or other suggestions. I think this is beautifully seen (and envisioned) captured and presented. Well done.
