The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
I feel like making this a black and white picture created more story and interest. I am just wondering if the composition works.
Creative direction
I would say abstract almost street photography like. The message…beauty can be found anywhere, even on the dirtiest pathways in the early spring
Specific Feedback
Composition
Does the black and white work…any other touches you might recommend to bring this picture out more?
It was a pretty dull day walking the dog with my husband. There wasn’t a lot going on bird life along the path. So, I decided to look elsewhere. I looked down. The snow is melting and the initial large puddles that were hard to pass have become small. When I saw this interesting shape of a puddle I also saw the beautiful reflection of the tree in it. So, I snapped a couple of photos. I went home and knew it would be a black and white photo. The longest time I took was the cropping to create an interesting composition. Does the composition flow?
Critique Template
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First of all, Welcome to NPN! Great to have you here and what a fabulous first post!
Kudos for the great eye in capturing this - and of course for keeping an eye out for photo opportunities at your feet! B&W is for sure the way to go and from your description, you saw it that way even before getting it on the computer.
Does the composition flow? Honestly, “flow” is not what I see here - but that’s not a critique actually. I somehow see tension between the water/reflection and the pavement or path. What joins them together is the receding or evaporating line between wet and dry. Then, those cracks add a very cool and important element; almost like little streams feeding the water - or pond?
Maybe the tension I feel is the reflected tree so close to the edge of the frame. Somehow though, it works beautifully. You know what they say about guidelines like the “rule of thirds” - that rules are meant to be broken. I’m really enjoying that with this capture
B&W processing looks spot on to me. Well done!
The only small thing I wanted to mention is the emptiness of the UR, upper right, quadrant. I’m taking quite extreme liberties here, and I hope you don’t mind, especially being your first post. I don’t normally go to this extreme, but I thought, how can this be remedied? I just took the image and did a tranformation, but skewing the top right corner and pulling it up, thus reducing the amount of empty space. I then narrowed the frame a little. I realize this is altering reality and not everyone is keen on that. But I say… it’s in the abstract category - and there are no rules! ha ha.
Thank you so much for sharing this one. I love it the more I look at it. We look forward to more images and your engagement and contributions in the forums and galleries. Don’t be shy! Welcome!
Thank you Lon. I appreciate you taking the time with your feedback. You are right, there’s quite a bit of negative space in the UR . That maybe why I was curious about composition. I really do love the cracks in the pavement so I souldn’t want to crop it in more on the right. If only the crack had gone the right way hahah. Maybe I will just crop a bit at the top. Thanks again. I really appreciate your feedback
Rikki, I think it’s a terrific shot. The empty space in the upper right doesn’t bother me. I don’t think it would have occurred to many people to frame the shot the way you did. Fine work.
Welcome, Rikki. I really like this image. I was wavering on the left side and the closeness of the tree to the edge and didn’t really notice the negative space in the upper right. I finally decided that the crop works as posted, so I don’t see any reason to mess with it. Well seen and processed.
Great use of the puddle reflection in putting this together. If I can offer a POV about that blank upper corner - I think it makes an interesting statement about pavement and how it subsumes and removes nature from the landscape. Not sure if that was your intent, but that occurred to me while looking.
Hi Rikki, and welcome! This is an excellent image and your web site shows some great photography – I hope you’ll find NPN a rewarding place to hang out!
I love this image – basically all said above. I would be tempted to add a bit on the left with our new content-aware tools, but certainly not necessary and maybe it would spoil the scene. @Lon_Overacker has an interesting take on the empty UR corner, and another option would be a subtle darker gradient. But letting the eye wander off up there makes a statement. A fabulous image in any case! Hope to see more of your work and your comments on other images!!
Welcome Rikki, I hope you enjoy this bunch of photographers (more importantly really interesting people) as much as I have. Your introduction to us tells a bit about you - dog, husband, snow, and camera always at hand. I think this is a wonderfully imaginative scene. The crack from the right breaks up the empty space for me, and the closeness of tree to LHS creates some nice tension.
I tried flipping the photo vertically, and find the difference intriguing. The line goes up and to the right, which is emotionally uplifting, and the expanse of concrete now at the bottom sets a base along with the bottom of the tree. Might crop a bit of the resulting top, I think.
Welcome to the NPN… I am a big fan of reflection and B&W photography. Your image caught my eye and I really love what you captured. I like the way you kept the reflection and tree to the left and all the space to the right. Your vision. Beautiful tone !!!
Thank you! What does EP mean? Haha, I am not up on the lingo yet. I am looking forward to going through some pictures from other photographers and getting inspired.
I think this shot works, and I like your idea to show the beauty in the unthought of places. It works well in bnw, probably better than in color. Not knowing what the color version is like … I do however think you should crop it a little. There is too much asphalt compared to the water, which is the main subject. There is room to crop from the LRC.
I would also try to lighten the water a little and maybe darken the asphalt. Just to see if that is an improvement or not.
