The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I usually gravitate towards the subtle shades of monochrome in my work, valuing the raw textures and contrasts that speak through the absence of colour. However, this Japanese Maple, in its full autumnal display, presented an unapologetic burst of hues that even I couldn’t resist capturing. The vivid reds and oranges were as authentic as nature intended, without the need for any digital amplification. While the flamboyance of these colours is somewhat off my usual path, they represent the tree’s natural state.
Specific Feedback
Any feedback welcome. I’m curious to know if these vivid colours resonate with viewers, or if a slightly subdued palette might be more appealing.
Technical Details
15 mm at ISO 1600 and 1⁄200sec at ƒ/9
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Japanese maples in the fall need to be vibrant. It’s what they’re all about. Looking at the two images, the mood is completely different in the B&W-almost foreboding. The vibrant color is great and fits the tree. I’m particularly fond of the backlit foliage.
Don, I agree with @Dennis_Plank about the color. Was there some reason you weren’t able to show the complete tree? I would like to see it’s full shape. I like the comparison you made between the color and B & W.
Don: Beautiful tree that requires the color to show its true character. My first impression was that I wish there was less sky. In the B&W it’s a non-factor for me but in the color it distracts. Of course the classic presentation of Japanese Maples is a landscape orientation filling the frame with the tree alone. I would be curious to see if you have that shot. >=))>
I’m going to be the contrarian here. I like the color version very much, but it also feels somewhat, well, familiar. To be fair, this is a uniquely low perspective, but there is something about the emphasis on structure, rather than color, that makes the black and white version really interesting to me.
If you were to crop off the top (on either really) and make it a square comp, we can really get into the structure of the branching. This is especially true in the b/w version, where it does become a bit more of a haunting image.
These are just quickie screen grabs cropped (hence the bit of NPN gray screen on three sides), just in case you want to have 4 cool images instead of just two. Anyway you look at these, you did well with the subject and the light.
Thanks, Barbara. I didn’t get a shot at that angle that included the foot of the tree, but below is a shot from a slightly different angle that did. I was more drawn to the structure of the branches and the light through the foliage. I have to confess, I didn’t pay much attention to the full shape of the tree, probably because I thought I’d seen hundreds like it.
Thanks, Bill. I think what I found interesting was the shape and angle of the canopy. Do you think perhaps removing the blue from the sky might help make it less distracting?
Thanks, Marylynne. I was drawn to the textures/structure you speak of first. I think I only realized how vibrant the colors were when I got the images into Lightroom. I love the black and white but can see why for most, the color would be more appealing. Your crop is great and certainly adds two more to the image. Thanks for your insightful feedback!
