The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I have been sitting on this photograph for a very long time. I might have shared it here in the past but now I am not sure. I reworked it today and its is a 3:1 Panoramic crop from a digital image taken with the Nikon D2x. Not sure how big I can print it, but it is sharp and clean.
Of course it was taken in Yosemite in the early spring as soon as the Dogwoods started blooming, I am kind of yearning to go there but I am tied up until late may and will miss the NPN gathering there in early spring, so maybe that is why I am revisiting this photo now.
Specific Feedback
My main question is do I keep the blossoms in the ULC or clone them out?
Any other feedback in general about the photo is appreciated.
I do plan on making a print of this.
Technical Details
Nikon D2x, Nikon 80-200mm f/4 MF lens, at 200mm, f/8, 1/40 sec ISO 100.
Hello Youssef, these are lovely flowers. I agree that the flowers in the ULC are better not there. With that said, the stem that’s left seems too long. I’m sure you don’t want to alter your aspect ratio (1:3), but if you can crop in from the left about a third of the way, I think that the proportions will be better. I’d be interested to know what others think about it.
Gorgeous, Youssef. I also like it without the upper left flowers. I’m not sure I understand what Susanna is saying about the stem feeling long. Is it the section in the middle with no flowers that feels long? I can see that. But I also like the sense of a long line punctuated with some lovely notes. I’ve been thinking in music metaphors lately, and this one seems to have a nice, rhythmic feel, perhaps with a caesura or bit of syncopation.
Sorry, let me clarify. I’m suggesting taking it in from the left, just a bit. I frequently see landscape images where the photographer has left a lot of foreground before reaching the actual subject. That, for me, distracts from the subject. In this image, the long stem on the left keeps pulling my eye. It may just be me, and you can ignore it! I am curious if anyone else sees that.
What a beautiful image… I love the colors and the strong three-dimensional appearance of the flowers against the background. Very well seen and masterly reworked. I like the version without the upper left flowers, while I am neutral about the dodging of the corners (that is, both versions are nice in my opinion). These early digital cameras - and old lenses - sometimes have a feeling/flavour that can be lost in more recent, more clinical modern high-tech machines. Or maybe it is just nostalgia for the past…
Youssef, the cloned, corner darkened version looks best. Another example of how subtle changes in luminosity effect our viewing. The undarkened corner version would probably be fine, if we hadn’t seen the uncloned version. You have a lovely, inviting spring feeling here.
I seem to be late to this, but I’d definitely clone them out, Youssef. I don’t think they add anything to the image and the clones image is so graceful and elegant that leaving them in detracts from the composition in my opinion. I’m a bit ambivalent about burning in the upper left corner. I’d be more inclined to dodge the lower right a bit, but I’ve never been a big fan of dark corners.
Hi @Youssef_Ismail — Susanna, again. I think the burned-in corner does make a difference. But, as a couple of people pointed out, having seen the uncloned version probably affected me, too. It’s a lovely image regardless!
This is the type and quality photograph to my eyes transcends a great shot to something you find in fine art. The color and light mixture along with the fine detail place it above the traditional flower shot! Wow!
How did I miss this one? Not sure but I’m glad I saw it tonight even if I’m way late to the party. This has e itching to get to Yosemite in 4 weeks for the meet up and I’d love to come away with an image this good. Frankly, I’d print this one if it fits into the decore of your home. It’s that good.
I prefer the top image but I would also like to have that frame’s lower right corner dodged back to where it is in the third frame. In other words, light in both the upper left corner and the lower right corner. Also, if you have it I would like to see the same image with a tad more canvas along the bottom. Great find in a beautiful location. We’ll miss you, Youssef. Is there any way you can come up just for the day on Sunday, the 3rd? I’m staying John Williams so you could have my hotel room at the Yosemite view lodge if you wanted it for one night. Let me know because I’m about to cancel that reservation.
