The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
Spotted these skeletal dried plants in Capitol Reef NP and thought they looked like dancing Kokopellis or Anasazi rock art. Must admit I got a bit of a Southwest shiver. But I liked it. Can any fellow redrock shooters relate?
Feedback Requested
This is about a 50 percent crop. Didn’t think the subject was strong enough to surround it with more red rock, but had to keep the wonderful red drippings at left. Maybe darken the reds/oranges as well to help the subject stand out?
So much to love about this photograph. The color palette is wonderful, so representative of that general area. The grasses and the lines on the rock are complementary (grass rising up, the shadows or water lines appearing to run down).
I’m not sure whether the “spirit grasses” are those dark lines on the left side of the rock or the actual grasses, which are now ancestral seed heads with a vaguely human form, giving me a spiritual vibe as well. Regardless of what your title refers to, I love the title. It works with the image and with the context.
[Edit: read the description more carefully and you already answered my question about the title]
I’ll be curious to see other’s feedback. The neat freak in me kind of wants that tiny blade of grass at the right edge and the little dimple/pimple in the rock above it to disappear. Who am I to mess with nature though!? If they bug you and it’s within your practice to clone, heal, remove such things, it’s worth experimenting. That said, I like it as presented.
Jim, the Kokopeli/Amasazi rock art look grabbed me immediately. Having then set against the red rock adds even more to that feeling. What I would suggest is to do some lights dodging of the grasses so they stand out a bit more and do lights burning of the bright streaks on the left. I agree that you want those dark streamers showing up well.
James: I thought of rock art immediately. A very nice find and I like your comp. Some of the tweaks that @Mark_Seaver mentioned would be a nice fine tuning. Top notch shot. >=))>
