The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
Not quite finished with the Yosemite images…
This was captured near the parking area of Valley View - the last touristy pullout before exiting the valley proper. As many have noted, I kinda had been lamenting the weather and conditions during our trip - but that doesn’t mean it was bad! Drizzle/rain on and off kept things damp, which allowed the forest floor and intimate scenes like this to come to one’s attention. This was very near the river’s edge and so an area that frequently goes under water based on run off.
I really like all the exposed roots, their randomness and also the warm/cool color contrasts. And the little nature story being told with the brightness and youth of the emerging grasses among the aging roots.
Feedback Requested
First of all, I would like to know if this engages you enough? Is there enough interest - or enough to keep you looking?
Also very curious as to the processing, color balance, saturation, etc. Too much reflected blue on the roots?
Any and all feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Technical Details
Camera: NIKON Z 8
Lens: NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR
Focal length: 62mm
Shutter speed: 1/4s
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 160
The twisted maze of roots is interesting and the green interspersed green grass is a nice color contrast. I think the blur reflected light on the roots helps balance out the color of the warmer pine needles. I think you processed it well. As far as holding my attention, yes and no. The roots keep me engaged as I try to see if they lead anywhere, they kind of lead my eye through the frame but not to anywhere in particular, but then my eye is just left there. The title is interesting and makes me look again to wonder if the roots lead to anything. Its interesting.
Lon, I think this looks good as a pleasantly inviting nature abstract. There’s a quiet, invitingness to the bright green grasses as set off by the pine needles and the way that they’re offset by the twisting roots. Interestingly, it feels like a spring view…
These were the exact thoughts I had when viewing the image. Well, with the addition that it also looks like a wonderful place to trip…
I suspect this wouldn’t grab the eye of the “Oh, your just practicing” crowd, but for those that pause and look a little deeper this is very engaging. It does tell the story of contrast between annual growth and the staying power of the perennial trees.
Hi Lon! I really like this image. There’s so much to see and the wondering roots take my eye on a journey throughout the image. The thicker tuft of grass in the center is a good anchor to keep my eye from wondering off the image. As John said, the processing is spot on.
Hi Lon,
This is one of those understated images that one has to slow down and let the eye wander around the frame to truly appreciate. The color palette works beautifully with the warm tones of the fallen pine needles contrasting perfectly with the cooler tones of the roots and grasses. I also quite like the way the tree roots take the eye around the frame. My only tiny suggestion would be to remove that stick along the top edge of the frame towards the URC as it does catch my eye in the large version; which I had to use to enjoy all those wonderful details at our feet. Beautifully done..
I can’t argue that Youssef. I hadn’t really thought about that aspect, but you’re right, a lot of meandering without a place to settle. Maybe the tuft of grass? And the title? just a lame play on words… there’s really no problem in nature about this one..
Thanks Ed - good catch. I’m thinking this image will never see the light of day, but I’ve cloned it out anyway. Thanks for mentioning.
Hardly a lame paly on words. I think that really is the root of the problem today. A lot of distracting paths to nowhere and no real substance to rest on. If the main tuft of grass is the resting spot, it is metaphorically just to flimsy to hold anything up. I think you actually nailed the problem down perfectly. Sorry, I have been in a very philosophical mood today.
I knew what this was when viewing the thumbnail but I have to say, these look like wandering snakes. Ok, maybe not. This is a really good composition. I have a couple that are ok but not this good. I forgot how wet everything was but the cloud cover and the wet conditions we had helped to make this little intimate scene pretty captivating. The flat even light worked it’s magic here. I love the freshly growing grasses that tell us Spring has arrived mixed with the wet and saturated roots that go very dark which I like a lot. The blue huies look natural to me as that is what I remember and all of my images had more blue than this in them. Yep, the reds of the fallen pine needles are Yin to the grasses Yang and it proves very effective indeed.
I remember when we were shooting this scene the view of Bridal Veil Falls across the Merced river was barely visible with all of the fog and clouds so we were kind of forced to look for these small scenes. However, I think you bested the rest of us with this one, Lon. Very creative.
Oh, is it engaging enough? Heck yeah. Because of the snakes…oops, I mean the roots, your eye is forced to view and wander through the entire scene. That’s something that can’t be said for a lot of images. Does it lead the eye to something beyond…No but it doesn’t have to. It’s an intimate scene.
There’s a definite suggestiveness to these roots, although they look great as roots themselves. For some reason they gave me the sense that they were crawling - like the legs of a spider. The pine needles are pretty dark and I’m assuming that due to some rain? Anyway, it was noted that they contrast well with the darker roots. I’m wondering if brightening up the needles would work. I don’t know if it would. If the goal is to show the subject after a rain then I would leave as be.
My first reaction was that that central clump of grass was too bright. I thought about that. It looks as though it has been illuminated by sunlight but nothing around it is sunlit. I don’t know. Maybe that grass was naturally brighter.
Hey Lon! First, I love that you saw this. A wonderful subject and composition. Consider cropping on the Left and Bottom a little. I’d also like to see the orange pine needles and blue in the wood both brighter. That’s something could be tested via Color Mixer in LR. Well done! Those dreary days are not lost on a guy with a good eye!
