The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
We had a complete thaw earlier this week and then a minor freeze yesterday. That’s a combination that makes for some fine ice shapes on my pond. Here are two views of the exact same area showing how a polarizer effects the view.
Specific Feedback
The second view (V2) is with the polarizer rotated to minimize the sky reflection. For V1, I rotated it slightly to allow some (but not all) of the sky’s reflection. The difference is very dramatic. I slightly prefer V1 where the shapes in the ice are emphasized, while V2 lets the colors under the ice play a larger role.
Technical Details
R5, 100-500 @ 343, 1/6 s, f/10, iso 800, tripod and polarizer. Both are 16 shot stacks.
Critique Template
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Very cool, Mark. Both of them are reminiscent of grand landscapes except for the reflectivity of the ice. An excellent demonstration and both images are very nice.
Mark, you are the “Ice Man”! I love both shots and not sure one more than the other. You provided a nice demonstration of the polarizing filter and what it can do to change a scene. I agree with @Dennis_Plank about it having the resemblance of a grand landscape. Excellent!
Hi Mark,
What an interesting contrast. I love both. I had to do a double-take to check on whether it was the very same scene (before I read your description of course). It’s amazing what a difference just a slight turn can make.
I don’t think I can pick. In a way, they are totally different images. One is about the color and texture of the ice, the other is about the shapes of the colorful patches of whatever is under the ice. Both have fantastic texture. I can see the ice “steppes” better in the more polarized frame. I can see the textured ripples on those steppes more on the one with sky reflection. If it were me, I would probably take 2-3 of every composition with different polarization from now on, filling up cards, having a ton of fun.
And aside from all that, these are just lovely abstracts. Beautiful. If I were to recommend anything (and I’m really hunting) it’s to consider taking off that very top line of ice texture near the edge of the frame. It pulls my eye a bit.
ML
Mark: What a great lesson in what a polarizer can do. I’m pretty much 100% in agreement with @Marylynne_Diggs. These are both striking images worthy of a wall near you. >=))>
Marylynne, I watch carefully through the viewfinder as I rotate the polarizer to get “the right” mix of refraction and reflection. In this case letting all of the reflected sky through completely overwhelms the colors from below and it makes the Steppes hard to see. Since I was shooting stacks this “session” used 260 photos to make 11 images.
I love how each photo brings out different views of the same field of view. I tend to favor v1, but v2 offers the rich color blending. Both are very nice, well done, Mark.
