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
I would very much like to hear your first impression and subsequent thoughts. If it’s any consolation, I’m probably just as baffled as you are - and I created this!
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
This was literally captured 2 minutes after my “Swimming Upstream” image posted recently in Landscape. So, the subject matter is the rocks and streaming patterns in the sand; ie. it’s a double-exposed ICM of the same scene! (or thereabouts..)
It’s very monochromatic, so I went ahead and completed the b&w conversion.
As I mentioned above, I’m baffled of the outcome. I chose the title because it appears there are two planes… the top plane is somehow being swept away, revealing either another plane or layer - or if I may, another dimension…
Technical Details
Nikon Z7ii, Z24-200mm @56mm, f/32 1/4s iso31.
2x in-camera multiple exposure ICM. Vertical and horizontal motions combined. Dark blending mode
Specific Feedback
Comments, feedback and impressions are always welcome. I’m really wanting to learn your impression. Of course if you have any suggestion for improvement, I’m all ears.
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:
My first impression: He did it again!! A fascinating result indeed and one I would have thought took a lot of work in PS. I love the dimensionality of the reflections in the puddles – I’m looking underneath one surface at something in the distance. Pretty cool!
Definitely a worthy addition to your portfolio. The framing and tonalities look fine to me. My only thought would be to wonder about correcting the horizontal lines to be more rigidly horizontal, but that’s probably way too OCD.
Great Image ICM Photography is so cool. Great lines and nice contrast. Very unique and interesting !!!
Quite an appropriate title, Lon. It does remind me of peaking through window blinds. An interesting image that bears contemplation.
I think this is very interesting, Lon. One thought, which may not work I’d have to play with it, could be to try emphasising the ‘background’ elements that are naturally lighter a bit, so either by lightening them or darkening the rest and perhaps adding a little clarity. I think the slashed shape they make is quite interesting.
Thank you so much @Diane_Miller , @Gill_Vanderlip , @Dennis_Plank and @DomMcKenzie for your comments, observations and suggestions.
Yeah, definitely thought about that. Not that the end result mattered, but I thought back to the capture/technique and that the 2 motions, horizontal and vertical don’t necessarily or usually have a 90 degree difference. Such an inexact science these ICM’s… 
Thanks Dom - keen observation as I employed all of those adjustments. It came much further than the original. And to your suggestion, there is always room for more playing around, most especially with abstracts like these. There are no rules! FWIW, in ACR, I did increase highlights, but stopped when they started clipping. So I think if anything, dropping the blacks and shadows would go towards the same goal.
Thanks so much!
1 Like
