The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This little collection of rocks is part of a larger pile left on the banks of the Virgin river (UT). I’m not sure if these were placed here by a construction crew or left naturally by the river. Either way, I was drawn to the diversity of shapes, colors, striations, patterns in this jumble of rocks and boulders. Initially, I was attracted to colorful and perfectly horizontal striations of the rock on the left and then began to notice all of the intricate details of it’s neighbors. This location is near where I live and a place where I can easily get out for an hour or two in the evening and “see what I can see.”
Specific Feedback
Is it unfair to submit an image for critique and then question whether it deserves one? I think this image is ok but maybe place more value in the process I went through to make it. Did my process result in a compelling image? I don’t think it fits as an abstract and not interesting enough to stand out as a small scene. Thoughts?
Technical Details
Sony A7RIII
ISO 100
1/1.6s
f/11
77mm
Tamron 50-400mm
3 image focus stack, processed in Capture One and PS. Basic adjustments to exposure, contrast and white balance. Used PS for additional small adjustments to contrast, hugh/saturation and color balance.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi @josh_ulloa - Thanks for asking the questions and for submitting the image!
My immediate reaction to this image was that I liked the varying shapes, colors, sizes, and colors of the rocks, so yes I think it is a worthy subject.
I don’t really see it as being abstract in any way, but certainly more intimate in nature, and a study of the subject itself.
There’s a few minor things that I think would improve the image a lot:
The dark thing at LLC - fix that with a slight crop and it would help a lot.
I think your chosen aperture was a bit too shallow and so stopping down could have helped bring into focus all of the rocks, or you could have focus stacked the scene more than you did.
The little bits of debris in the center top don’t feel like they belong, so perhaps a bit of burning could help in that area?
Can’t add too much to Matt’s good comments, but I would expand on his mentioning of the small items like the LLC, lower left corner and the small black corner, as well as the small debri up top. I was actually thinking a little bigger too by going with a big, square crop. The reason I was think this is becaause the large rock on the left pretty much dominates since it takes up pretty much 1/2 of the image. A crop could be constructed that gives less weight to that rock and get to a more balanced comp of shapes and textures.
Processing looks great.
Like Matt mentions, no, not really an abstract and I understand your dilema deciding where to post. I’ll just say, don’t worry too much about that. We’re pretty easy going here. Yeah, it’s not a grand landscape with dramatic light and color, but certainly a solid image (rock, no pun…) And honestly, when a photographer chooses to isolate a scene and make a purposeful composition, rather than just incorporating in a larger landscape view, I do think abstract qualities of a scene are increased (at least over a wider more conventional view.)
Hope some of that makes sense. Thanks for sharing and we hope to see more of your images.
Josh, I think the rocks are very interesting, but the composition doesn’t work that well for me. I think you might do better with a composition that emphasizes the variety of the rocks. Since you can get back to this location easily, you might just sit and look and visualize various compositions in your head. One possibility that occurred to me was something like this:
Thanks for all the feedback so far, really appreciate all the thoughtful comments. I’ll have to revisit this spot and play with some other compositions.
Hi @josh_ulloa, I very much like the different colors and shapes of the rocks, it is a nice subject to photograph and play around with! Especially the rock at the left side of the image is super interesting due to the lines. Probably this rock alone could also make for a very interesting, abstract image by focussing on the lines and textures.
