Snippets of Autumn

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I usually try to post images in season, but I haven’t traveled out to the West Virginia/ Western Maryland area yet this winter while recuperating from my hip replacement; so here is another fall image. I am getting close though. While scanning the hillsides in Blackwater Falls SP, WV this array of autumn reds, yellows and oranges interspersed against a backdrop of evergreens caught my eye. Over the last year or so I have gotten so that I prefer the fall colors to be just a little past peak with some leaf drop; as was the case here; as it affords the viewer a little glimpse into the surrounding woodland tree structure.

Specific Feedback

Curious as to which crop everyone might prefer. I have been waffling back and forth and can’t make up my mind. Anything else you notice please feel free to mention it.

Technical Details

Nikon Z 7, Nikon Z 100-400 @ 400 mm, f 11 @ 1/6th sec, ISO 200, Kase magnetic CPL, cable release & tripod.


Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:

Ed, I like both images, but I prefer the pano crop since it homes in the most important elements.

The color and contrast look great to me. Well done!
-P

Hi Ed, they’re both beautiful Fall images and I especially enjoy seeing the birch (?) trees in the background. I’m leaning to the first image as a favorite because it shows the top of the red tree. Also like the composition with the yellow leaves framing the red leaves in the center.

More gorgeous Fall color images. What’s not to like about these. I like them both but I can honestly say that I much prefer the un-cropped version. The cropped version looks cut off to me. In the larger version I like that I can see the tops of the three main characters. I would tone down the bright trunk at the top of the larger version though. That pulls the eye a little bit but other than that I really can’t offer any way to improve upon these. The colors are fantastic and I agree about loving to shoot Fall color at just past peak to enable seeing the tree structure. Lots of structure going on here and it all works.

Beautiful Ed. I prefer the full frame for reasons I can’t fully articulate. I guess I love seeing the whole red tree and it seems a little cut off in the pano.This section of hillside is quite productive.

I prefer the first crop. I think , the central red tree is nicely framed by the surrounding trees in this version.

-Will

Add me to the fuller version crowd, because of being able to see the top of the tree. But I usually have telephoto vision and think I would go for the cropped version more if it was cropped in from the sides so it’s mostly dominated by that central tree. Had to have a look – maybe something like this?