The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is another image from April, late on the same day I took the prior image I posted. I had never been to the Alvord Desert before, and so I made that my “apogee” as I wandered Oregon. I was able to spend one night there. I was hoping for a sunset or sunrise, but unfortunately it was overcast and dull for most of my stay. When I first arrived and was scouting a bit though, the sun popped through the clouds a couple of times.
Specific Feedback
I’m not sure it works; I’d love your feedback. I wish it wasn’t so far from the foreground to the background, and I wish the hills had a little more light on them (the dynamic range was pretty wide). I’m also not sure about the tire tracks, but at least they are symmetrical.
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 14-30 f/4S at 14.0 mm
Four images at 1/400 sec. at f/9.0 and ISO 64, focus stacked using Helicon Focus
One image exposed to recover blown highlights in the sky at 1/6400 sec. at f/8.0 and ISO 31
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
This image certainly works for me. I often have a hard time making ultrawide images work, but I think you’ve really nailed it here. I really like the detail and texture you’ve captured (the focus stacking pays off for this), and the sky and sun is a nice contrast to the rest of the image. In fact an actual sunset might not have worked as well. I think its good that the strongest colors in the image are the foreground.
The hills are not the strongest part of the image, but they’re not a problem. I guess you could go the other way with them and darken them to be even more of a silhouette, but I don’t know that it would change things much
I’ve never seen this area look quite like this. This is different. It takes some time to see the photo opportunities there. I like the large black crack at the bottom to provide some variability.
Well I think this photo works for me. I have always admired photos of the cracked earth/mud. I love how the individual sections piece themselves together. In this photo, in particular, I love the sun glade across the mud leading the eye into the BG. I can understand the desire to have more light on the hills, but as it is I think it adds some mystery to the whole photo. That sun star is awesome as well.
Oh, this works. This works big time. The composition is perfect and I don’t mind that the wide angle lens somewhat diminishes the background mountains as the star of the show - for me - is the foreground. The tire tracks don’t bother me. I don’t know how you controlled the dynamic range so well but you did, and it’s masterful. This is an outstanding image.
This most definitely works for me John! I don’t use my 14-30 as much anymore, but this makes me want to get it out of the pack a bit more. I love the depth to this scene as well as the way the light spills out across the dried mud. The clouds create some wonderful drama and that sunstar is flat out gorgeous. This was a great twofer. I guess I am not the only one who notices alternate scenes while looking at the computer screen after I get back home. I could also see this as a B&W due to the lack of light on the BG mountains. I hope you don’t mind, but here is a rework with what I was thinking.
I could also see this as a B&W due to the lack of light on the BG mountains. I hope you don’t mind, but here is a rework with what I was thinking.