The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Summer was too busy, and here it is fall already. I have a backlog of images I’d eventually like to circle back and post, but I thought I’d skip ahead to toss one up for the season.
I was able to get out for a few days week before last and play with fall color. I love hiking and backpacking, but some of my most enjoyable times in nature are also just driving slowly on back roads and seeing what catches my eye. This little scene was at the edge of Lolo Pass Road, on the north side of Mt. Hood.
Specific Feedback
The color is what got me out of the car, but the bent and broken ferns on the dead and decaying wood then caught my eye. I wanted to capture the circle of life, and the beauty that transition brings. Does this do that?
As always, all thoughts and suggestions appreciated!
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 42 mm
1/13 sec. at f/16 and ISO 64
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
John, this is a lovely look at “the ground”. You’ve got a fine mix of fall colors and textures in the vegetation. Those colors and textures set off the fallen wood very well.
What a gorgeous intimate landscape! Love just about everything! The colors are beautiful of course, with a good mix. The diagonal of the weathered logs and the presence of the decaying ferns combine with the vibrant colors for an outstanding image!
The only tiny nitpick would be the brighness of the stick along the top edge just left of center. You could either clone, or target the brightness. Very minor, but if printing you might want to consider.
Very pretty and autumnal love the wood textures and the pot pourri of autumnal colours. it’s actually a really strong composition with no wasted space where not a lot happens there is interest and textures and clashing colours everywhere and that for me makes it a very successful autumnal cameo.
That’s a great idea Lon. I’m adding an edit with an attempt at that. I also decided I liked the image opened up just a little, so the edit is a little brighter overall.
I love this one.
In terms of composition, it’s a bit “tight” - but who am I to talk about tight compositions?
The colors are fabulous and the composition works perfectly.
Favorite.
Having great respect for your ability to compose small scenes, I’d love your feedback on cropping options. (One of the disadvantages of tight crops is that those who critique don’t know what the options are.)
Here is a downsized version of one of the sidecar jpg images I used (I completely forgot to add in my post that I used three images for a focus blend to get it sharp throughout), plus a horizontal I took of the same scene. Obviously if you superimposed them the corners are still missing, but I’d love your thoughts on if I would have been better served to compose wider? I was trying to emphasize the broken dry ferns and to use the color as framing, but maybe I went too far? Any thoughts appreciated!
Actually, and just so there’s no doubt, I like the composition you’ve chosen - and I know how difficult it is to compose these kinds of scenes in which our main tendency is to eliminate parts, colors, elements, shapes, etc.
In short, I wouldn’t have altered the original photo.
But as you were so kind and gave me a perspective to better understand the reality when you took the photo, I, curious, took the opportunity to propose another interpretation, another crop.
I opted for a traditional 4X5 format and incorporated the branch with the red leaves on the right. I know it’s a different image, but I wanted to give an opinion on this topic; I hope it’s what you want.
I attach the original image, without the corner, with a crop, and as an extra, another one with the corner filled in with the “remove tool” and a small brown leaf removed from the top border.
Beautiful work John … and a bit different, isn’t it. As I recall you prefer grand landscapes. I like both the original and rework. I prefer the vertical over the horizontal because that’s how the logs go. No , rework is better. I agree. You’ve chosen to go warm with this image and I have no reason to question that since I can’t experiment in my current situation. The bright reds on the margins should be an issue but it works fine. I wonder how it would look with the reds being more maroons. I’ve started to experiment a lot with colors. Don’t mind me. Looking forward to seeing your backlog.
I love that @joaoquintela. Thank you for the comparison. I’m a real fan of color, and I like that your version brings in more. When I shot this, my primary focus was those decaying ferns, and unfortunately I can’t remember what was in that upper right corner. Now I wish I had a shot that included it.
True. I’ve been trying to open my horizons though, and the feedback on images like these is very valuable to me.
Very observant! I wrested with the color on this. The camera saw it less yellow than what I posted. This was in shade, but it was a very bright day and I wasn’t convinced the scene was as blue as the camera recorded. Maybe I went too far? I’ll play with that again. (A wise man would have gone the 50’ back to the car for his gray card; I am not a wise man.)
Great eye, John. As others have noted, the combination of diagonals, detail, and colour make for a very compelling image that draws my eye and holds my attention. It speaks to me of autumn without hitting me over the head with it. I must say that even though @joaoquintela’s landscape version doesn’t actually exist I, myself have a personal preference for the landscape mode in general but that in no way diminishes my appreciation for your vision.
Having great respect for your ability to compose small scenes, I’d love your feedback on cropping options. (One of the disadvantages of tight crops is that those who critique don’t know what the options are.)
I, myself have a personal preference for the landscape mode in general but that in no way diminishes my appreciation for your vision.