Rock Climber

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
1

20240421 Rock Climber npn tighter
20240421 Rock Climber npn tighter1034×1550 1.22 MB

20240421 Rock Climber npn tight
20240421 Rock Climber npn tight1029×1544 1.15 MB

20240421 Rock Climber NPN.jpg
20240421 Rock Climber NPN.jpg1033×1550 1.18 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

The prior image I posted was from the Columbia Hills of Washington, and the center part of the state park is accessed by Dalles Mountain Ranch Road. Driving the dirt road after turning off of Highway 14, the road passes outcrops with a few Cutleaf Thelypody growing on them. I always think “I should stop and photograph one of these,” and this year I finally did.

Specific Feedback

I have a horizontal version that I think I prefer, but as I noted in my last post I’m playing with a gorge flowers project that I’m trying to keep in a 2:3 vertical format. Other than the crop, I’d love any input on improvements for alternate cropping and processing.

Technical Details

NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 200 mm
1/15 sec. at f/11.0 and ISO 64

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:
2

Personally, I prefer the cropped version, you could go a bit further too and crop to just below the black horizontal line in the middle rock. It could give an effect that the rocks continue to tower above. I like that the cropped version removes the bright yellow patch on the far right edge of the image. You could try to pull back some highlights in the flowers and restore a little saturation in there but thats pretty nitpicky. I quite like it overall!

3

Thank you for the feedback David! I like your idea of cropping even more; it’s funny how one gets married to the original. Proof yet again that I need a longer lens, because I definitely would have played with tighter zooms if I had had the option. I’ve added a third crop per your suggestion.

I payed with the highlights in the flowers, but decided my personal preference was to leave them fairly bright. I appreciate the suggestion though!

4

I think that the first image, the one you titled “tighter” is spot on. I really like that the flower is just off center as that creates a very pleasing comp. The colours and the processing are also spot on. I like this!

5

I’m always the weirdo it seems. :joy: :rofl:
I actually prefer the original shot. It’s more of an environmental portrait. I feel the large rock over the plant is a little too dominant in the cropped versions.
:metal:

6

Thank you @Tom_Nevesely and @Michael_Lowe ; I really appreciate the feedback!