The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The other day I went out on snowshoes and turned my mind to the things that only winter provides. Animal tracks are one of them. They are a great indicator (and reminder) that there is so much activity we never see. Great scurrying, trekking, bounding and slinking. Not all arrangements work well photographically, but I kept my eye out and this squiggly trail stood out. For its fun shape and the fact that it wasn’t a straight line, which frankly, most mouse tracks are. What with being at the bottom of the food chain and all.
Specific Feedback
I wanted this to be light in tone and in feeling as I think it complements the fact that mice walk on top of snow and make the smallest of impressions. But I understand that people want more contrast with monochromatic images like this, so I’m interested in how well you think the photo harmonizes or doesn’t.
Lr for the crop and basic tonality adjustments including increasing whites and highlights, some exposure and a bit of texture and clarity. Lowered shadows and blacks somewhat, but not very much. Ps to remove some distractions. Also used a linear gradient to even out the white of the snow.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Very cool! Surprising this was from a tiny mouse. I love the curves and the way you angled them in the capture. The light is delectable (i.e. lickable!) and the wisps of tree shadows are a huge plus! Great job bringing out the textures and surface undulations on the snow. No suggestions except get out more often!
Great eye and selection of the tracks in composing this. You would know, but I honestly wouldn’t have a clue as to what made these tracks - and was that animal too drunk to walk? ha ha! But like you mentioned, most tracks might have more direct and straight lines. But regardless, this is just way cool.
Like Diane, I also appreciate the shadows and tonal variations and other details that make this engaging and fun to explore. And despite being all textured snow and some tracks… there isn’t any wasted or unnecessary space.
Kudos for spying this and crafting this little gem.
This is an interesting little scene and you have a good eye to spot it. I think the contrast is perfect. I wouldn’t want additional contrast as I feel it would make this too “hard”. I’m unsure of the shadows at URH corner. Sometimes I don’t mind them, and others I wish they weren’t there. I think mostly I don’t mind them. Regardless, this is a neat image.
Hi Kris,
This does tell a wonderful story with the animal tracks zigzagging across the top of the snow. The textures and details in the snow work very nicely here along with the diagonal placement of the tracks.I also think the light and subtle shadows work beautifully together. This is a wonderful woodland find.
Thanks @Diane_Miller, @Lon_Overacker, @Bret_Edge & @Ed_Lowe - glad this resonated with you a little. Lately I’ve been struggling with photography and inspiration so when I was out I tried to not do the same thing I do with a lot of my winter photography. This was one and I have others and it was fun and a little refreshing. Oh and when I was walking down my driveway the other day, I saw a mouse in the wooded part run like mad on top of the snow with something in its mouth big as its head. Acorn probably or a butternut. Very cute. So could imagine the one that made this track sort of stumbling and weaving under the weight of its tasty burden.
I immediately thought to myself, "what has infected the brain of this animal? " Maybe a bender the night before but I find this interesting and maybe even a little impractical that an animal would purposely choose a route through thick snow like this. Maybe they are simply searching for food and a zig zag approach works best. Who knows? It sure makes my mind think.
I do like the dappled light and soft shadows in this scene and I think you’ve composed this neatly. Like @Bret_Edge, I was also drawn to those lines in the URC and I think they detract a little bit from the footprints. I would maybe dodge those so they aren’t so noticeable and call this done! Nice little treasure here Kris.
Yeah it is a bit crazy isn’t it @David_Haynes - I saw a couple more in a similar scribble, but this one stood out the most. Maybe I can take the tree shadows down a bit. More tracks coming up, but they are different so I hope no one gets too bored with them. It was about 50 degrees yesterday, so all the tracks have melted and lost their shapes a bit. But it won’t be long until it’s cold and it snows again. It’s not even March.
Hi Kristen, Thank you for sharing this wonderful image. I very much like the zigzagging line through the picture - beautifully seen! I especially like your color work - the snow is white and not too blue or yellow (I find this quite difficult sometimes) and I can even see the snow sparkle from the sunlight! Wonderful! I also like the soft contrast and would not change this. Except maybe the shadow in the upper right corner might look nice as well if it was a bit brighter. I wondered also about removing or brightening the few little dark specs of dirt/foliage in the lower right corner. Anyways, it is a wonderful little scene, really beautifully seen!
Thanks @Ronja - snow is so hard to photograph, I know! Blue snow is the bane of my existence and I try to tame it in my pics without it seeming too dull. The sparkle came though most of the day and I really like how the flakes were so dry and separate to allow for this.
I did some clean up and lightened that corner a bit and put the shot in the OP.
