The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is an image from the Columbia River Gorge taken back in the middle of May that I’ve been meaning to circle back to.
Stone Crop are one of my favorite plants in the Gorge, and I enjoy the way that they line rock walls and cling to nooks and crannies.
Specific Feedback
I don’t play in Flora as often as I should, so I always feel a bit low on the Flora learning curve. I tend to try to marry the flora with the landscape, and am curious if you think that works here. This is especially true in regards to the crop. Should I crop tighter?
There are two red bugs (mites?) in the image, but they are small. Should I just clone them out?
It’s usually the answers to the questions I don’t think of that are the most helpful, so any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 175 mm
0.5 sec. at f/13 and ISO 64
Blend of 10 images using both Helicon Focus and by hand in Photoshop
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:
I think this is very cool! This is a Stonecrop I’m not familiar with – we have denser ones down here. But I love the way it cascades and sprawls, with the tiny leaves, and the blooms reaching up! You should do Flora more often! The crop is excellent, for me! A bit off the top might balance the bottom a bit more, but then you have those bold blossoms up there… The bugs worked hard to get there – I’d leave them! And kudos for the stacking – I wouldn’t have known you did it.
John: We have a number of cultivated stone crops in our garden but I don’t recall ever seeing them out in the wild. Your image explains their name. I love scenes like this for the contrast between the living plant and the hard rock. It’s also a testimony to how life can spring up just about anywhere. The mites are a total non-issue for me. Wonderful find and a superb capture and presentation.>=))>
I think your crop is perfect for this plant, John. I like the way the plant moves through the rockscape and I think the room you left at the top is just right. Excellent image.
The starkness of this image is very appealing. The texture of the rock complements the stonecrop. Comp is fine and I do not have any nits for you. Awesome shot…Jim
The first thing to strike me was the amazing tenacity of many plants to take root in the most unlikely spots. Also I really like the framing aspect of the crack in the rock on the upper left. Very cool and I have to think deliberate given your composition skills. I wonder if giving a tiny bit more room at the bottom would enhance the abyssal echo in the mini chasm. Hm…I like the idea of suspension as the plant hangs down. The yellows look a tiny bit hot to me (something that has plagued me) and you could reduce saturation and luminance there to bring out more detail. Excellent find and presentation.
John, this view does an excellent job of illustrating how this plant got its name. The ruggedness of the surroundings shows off the gentle beauty of the flower and plant. It’s also a good show of how nature perseveres.
