The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is a small portion of Gazos Creek in the Santa Cruz mountains. It was taken in May in a portion of the creek where it made a right turn and crossed its own channel. The main flow was to my left, it cut across and then turned left and continued down the main channel. It was in the early after noon, and the sun was lined up with the canyon that this creek runs through. The Big Leaf Maples were just starting to leaf out and were backlit by the sun producing this reflection in the water. I had planned on making several different exposures varying the shutter speed to try and capture the faint little ripples on the surface. As luck would have it, I made this first exposure and then was distracted, walked away from the camera, and by the time I returned, the reflection was gone. When the film came back, I was beside myself in that this one exposure, captured the ripples exactly as I had envisioned. I also posted this photo in the Weekly Challenge this week for Shades of Green, but thought to share it here as well. I hope that is okay?
Specific Feedback
Any and all feedback appreciated.
Technical Details
Shen-Hao 4x5, Nikon 300mm f/9 lens set at f11.5, 1 sec, on Fuji Astia 100F
Processed in PS, no special adjustments, cropped from the 4x5 transparency.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
If you turn it 90 degrees counterclockwise it looks like a crystal glass.
I love the area at Gazos Creek where you shot this. In the old days you could camp at the bank under the alders. Lovely blue and green colors here. I like the unusual composition.
Dear Youssef Ismail,
Thanks for posting this fascinating image. I looked at the image before I read your text. Of course, I had noticed your caption, which is open to interpretation. At first I was not really sure what the image represented: My attention focused on the left side, which appeared like dissolved crystals. Now I wonder what made you crop the image in the way you have cropped it, horizontally; the bluish, crystal like ripples on the left side seem to expand upwards and downwards, i.e. vertically, proving another possibility for cropping, focused on this area; or, alternatively, a square format might also be interesting. Would that work as an alternative crop? In any case, thanks, I enjoyed this image.
@Leo_Catana this crop was what was intended from the initial composition in camera. As I mentioned, this portion of the creek turned and flowed across its normal channel, which would have been perpendicular to the image as is presented, with the flow from the bottom to the top. Below the lower edge stagnant water, gravel, and rocks and above the upper edge there was more gravel and rocks followed by more flowing water upwards out of the frame. My interest was this small cross channel flow.
Youssef,
Very cool image and I love the reflected greens of the spring maple leaves. The graceful undulating lines are quite fascinating and create a nice sense of movement in the scene. For my tastes the left side bothers me a little as the shapes are so different from the others and seem to disrupt the flow of the rest of the image. Just my opinion of course. This might not be your vision, but here is a rework with what I was thinking.
