The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I found these lovely Stonecrop blooming among old pieces of Western Juniper at the border of a granite slab loaded with Feldspar phenocrysts. This was taken early in the morning at about 8,500 ft elevation near Sonora Pass.
This was kind of an experiment to see if I could get the exposure correct given the large format bellows extension required to get this framing. I think it worked out pretty well.
-P
Specific Feedback
Any thoughts on composition, color, or tonality are always welcome and appreciated.
Technical Details
Tachihara 4x5
Fujinon 180mm
81-b filter
Astia 100F ISO 100
f32 @ 2s
1800 dpi scan
Processed in Photo Shop.
A fine shot, Preston. The decaying wood, the flowers and the granite make for an interesting mix of new, old and very old. Because the flowers are small, this would be a good one to enlarge.
Very nice shot. The framing of the flowers by the wood is lovely; it seems to be swirling. For me, the textures are what make the image. Everything is sharp but not crispy.
Preston: Oh this is fine! We have a number of different stonecrops in our garden but I don’t recall ever seeing them in the wild. The supporting elements of the granite and old wood are the perfect complements to the flowers. Well seen and your skill with the LF really shows through here. >=))>
This is very nice. I love these kinds of “still life” intimate images. This one has such lovely textures and colors as well. And that wood! Not much strength left in it, and the little plants are making good use of what it’s giving up.
I’m not sure, but I think it might fit with the weekly challenge, though perhaps it’s more of the rocky area ecosystem than ecotone.
Thanks for sharing this one, and wow, what it must be like to work with that camera.
Hi Preston,
This is wonderful; I love these types of intimate landscapes. There are so many wonderful textures, details and lines in this scene to enjoy and savor. I am also loving the subdued color palette as it looks very natural and pleasing to the eye. The wildflowers look to be very comfortable nestled in the pieces of juniper. Beautifully done; no suggestions from me.
Oooh this is a lovely find with so many textures and a story about the hardiness of nature. I couldn’t resist a little Photoshop play just to see how it might look with this crop and a tiny Orton effect in the highlights and a Soft Pop action in the TK panel.
A beautiful composition of lines, textures, patterns, and color. It makes me yearn to be in the Sierras. And on good ol Astia 100F. That was my favorite film.
The tonal richness is remarkable in this image. Anil would call this a tactile image. It’s one you can feel the wood by looking at it. I think the composition could be better. I say that because I have passed up very similar compositions I saw in Alaska. I find the balance between wood and rock within the frame to be awkward a bit. I think there’s too much granite. A crop from below would be a solution but that gives a landscape aspect ratio that’s not appealing.
Hey Preston this is ready for a large framed print! I’ve shot a lot of stonecrop images and usually I crop tighter. I’m sure your decision to keep the large area of exposed rock at the bottom was deliberate, and in my view, helps to elevate this stonecrop shot above others.
What a beautiful little vignette of high country life. The yellows of the stonecrop pop just enough against the warm browns of the juniper without ever tipping into the saturated sunset look that this kind of subject often invites. The whole palette feels honest and alive, the sort of color that makes you trust the photograph. Tonally it sits in that lovely zone where nothing is shouting and yet every element earns its place, which given the bellows extension gymnastics involved is a small miracle of metering on your part.
And oh, the textures. The juniper roots have that wonderful sinewy braided quality, like rope that has been left to think about its life choices for a few decades. The granite below provides a granular counterpoint with its peppered feldspar, and the soft succulent leaves of the stonecrop add a third texture that keeps the whole frame conversational. It is a feast for the eye and a love letter to the macro to medium ground that large format does so well.
Speaking of which, your kit makes me a little wistful. I once owned a beautiful large format outfit myself, lovingly assembled and lovingly cared for, until someone with a very different definition of love decided it would look better in their van than in my closet. So please give yours a small protective pat from me. I am living vicariously through your bellows.
A small thought on composition. The bottom right corner has a lovely diagonal of root sliding onto the granite, which is doing real work pulling the eye into the frame. The upper left, by contrast, feels a touch heavier and slightly less directional, with the root forms there reading more as mass than as movement. A small crop from the left, or even just a touch of selective burning to settle that area down, might help the diagonal energy on the right side carry more of the composition. The little cluster of stonecrop hiding in the lower left is charming but it is also competing slightly with the main floral mass for attention. Letting the central bloom be the unmistakable star, with the secondary cluster reading as a quiet supporting note rather than a near rival, could tighten the visual hierarchy.
None of this is essential. The image already has a beautifully observed sense of place and the kind of patience that only large format seems to encourage. Thank you for sharing it, and please keep that camera close.
