The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
Captured during a photo workshop in Hokkaido in January 2025. Never having shot in snow, I was working without a net, trying to get a sense of the mood, expanse, and the minimalism of the place. The ravens (crows?) would come and go, and made for some fun shots. I especially like this one with the single flying bird; I find the resting flock imparts a sense of serenity at this moment.
Feedback Requested
The composition is simple, as the falling snow and landscape made finding layers very challenging. So this is about the moment: the tree, the grasses, the blanketing snow, the birds. Does this come across at all?
Of course, any comment about any aspect is welcome.
Technical Details
Camera: NIKON Z 9
Lens: NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Focal length: 135mm
Shutter speed: 1/80s
Aperture: f/14
ISO: 100
A beautiful minimalist rendering of these trees. It could almost be a fine art print. Have you tried printing it? the piece de resistance is the bird floating above the scene. An accident, perhaps, but adds scale to the image.
This is a lovely minimalist composition and looks very peaceful. the single crow pulls the eye just where you want it.
Grasses and the tree full of crows is beautiful. I normally associate crows with raucous noise but I get none of that feeling here.
The portrait format works as does the positioning of the tree.
I wonder how it would look as a square format? if you just expanded the canvas left and right and there was a little empty white snow in the expanded area. Just a thought … not better, just maybe different.
Gary, this is a very restful and quiet view. The raven in the air is a good addition. The white space both top and bottom add to the minimalist sense. I too wonder how other size ratios would feel, like 4x5 removing either the top or bottom white?
When I’m out in winter, silence is always a strong impression for me. It’s often somewhat isolating, and really absorbs sound well. I’m not sure how silent the ravens would be , but the overall impression and minimalism works well with the theme.
Very nicely done. I didn’t notice the flock (actually, it’s a “murder of crows” or an “a conspiracy or unkindness of ravens.”) That always cracks me up. They add to the sense of settling in to roost for a bit, maybe wait out the snow or await more light.
I like the idea of square, but I’m a fan of square in minimalism. I know it’s not everyone’s taste.
ML
Even with the ravens, which I would usually associate with a cacaphony of noise. I find this quite soothing and still befitting this week’s challenge.I like the original crop. I think the extra white expanse adds to the silence aspect.
I was also there with you and my shot is when they all flew, so many more birds flying above the tree. It won me $500 in a local competition so all I can say is well shot. Mine is composed with less snow beneath the tree which I prefer. I was very surprised to see this image in this forum. Who knew
I don’t like extra space on the sides. I prefer that the grass outside the frame is implied. A different situation with less grass would lead to a different decision, but here, the left and right edges work for me.
The square is okay, I guess. I definitely want the space above. I can live with less below, but the portrait crop feels more like “me”
Critiques are definitely only suggestions based on the experience of others and coloured by trends at the time. Square crops were the vogue a while back - and are a bit commercialised and fine art driven. With the white space all around it tends to emphasise the minimalist beauty of your photograph.
I would urge you to listen to your own preferences and after a period of further reflection, consider putting another post up with your preferred crop. For us to develop we feed all the opinions into the mixer, process them and then listen to our hearts.
Hi Gary,
What feels “more like me” always gets done extra weight in my book. I don’t think I can say it better than Huw, so I’ll just “heart” his comment. Time, perspective, and what feels like you will get you the very best version of this image. Indeed, you might already have that.
ML
, but the overall impression and minimalism works well with the theme.