This is an image that is similar to one I posted earlier in the month:
The main difference being that there isn’t the strip of grass at the very bottom of the frame and that the line going through the canyon is different. Here it’s more straight whereas in the other image it was more of a S curve.
Type of Critique Requested
Aesthetic: Feedback on the overall visual appeal of the image, including its color, lighting, cropping, and composition.
Conceptual: Feedback on the message and story conveyed by the image.
Emotional: Feedback on the emotional impact and artistic value of the image.
Technical: Feedback on the technical aspects of the image, such as exposure, color, focus and reproduction of colors and details, post-processing, and print quality.
Specific Feedback and Self-Critique
My intent with this composition was to show the vastness and the beauty of the landscape - specifically the badlands. What do you feel when looking at this? Do you want to go out and explore? Does it look sad and lonely? Do you feel nothing? Something else?
This was a very dull raw file and I tried to bring out some of the colour and contrast. Is it too much? Too little?
Tom, I think I prefer this one to the other one. This is much more simple and at the same time, grand. I’m intrigued by the scene and want to explore more. I could spend a long time at this one spot with a telephoto lens, picking apart the wonderful geography. Awesome.
Thanks @David_Bostock for your feedback! I actually also prefer this version over the other. Like you say, it feels simpler, and I like that. Life is complicated enough.
It feels emotionally heavy. Heavy in spirit. If that’s your goal then I think you’ve achieved it. Part of it is due to the nature of the sky. And part is due to a lot of dark tones.
Excellent! So glad you brought this out of the archives. I didn’t recall your first, but I much prefer this post. I love the vast view and the darker tones, including the sky, most certainly create a feeling of vast emptiness - which could also mean sad and lonely. Desolate, forboding… cold and remote. All things that give this image an engaging presence. Awesome job bringing all that out.
Only observation/suggestion is that the whites of the aging snow in the landscape are a little blue? Faded and dull a little bit too - but that goes with the scene and mood. Perhaps just a little color balance change in the snow? Very minor though
Wonderful imagery from the Badlands!
Lon
ps. for some reason, the image isn’t showing up top, but clicking on reveals the large view. weird.
Thank you, @Igor_Doncov Igor and @Lon_Overacker , for your comments. It sounds to me that the feeling I wanted to express is more or less coming across, so I’m happy about that.
The story I’m wanting to tell with this image is one of “being alone against the world”. A world that isn’t necessarily cruel nor is it necessarily inviting. It’s just there, so big and vast and it can be hard to navigate on your own. There is no plot and things won’t necessarily end badly nor will there be a happy ending. It’s just about a feeling, a moment in time.
In hindsight, I regret using the title I chose because it doesn’t fit with the story at all. It’s just that every time I see badlands; I’m reminded of the old western films. I will be more cognisant of this in the future.
Lon, thanks also for pointing out the colour balance of the snow. I will look at that.
Your processing looks spot on to me, Tom. This is gorgeous and I think the soft, low contrast light is actually working in your favor here. There are so many wonderful patterns and textures to appreciate, and I love the muted color palette. Bravo!
