Critique Style: Initial Reaction
Please share your first response before reading the hidden notes below. The photographer is looking for an unbiased initial impression.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
Questions for Viewers
What are your initial thoughts about this photo?
Does the name fit?
About This Image
This was made back in 2010 and is a 3:1 crop from a full frame photo of water flow in the Merced River in Yosemite during autumn in the afternoon with the autumn colors of trees on the bank reflecting in the water and a few spot of the deep blue sky reflecting as well.
I was poking around looking for a photo that I titled Dancing Light, but came across this one and saw in the leveled photo this abstract if I cropped and rotated it. So I processed it, and started to reconsider titling this Dancing Light, but opted for a new name.
Technical Details
Camera: NIKON D2X
Lens: 400 mm f/5.6 MF
Equivalent Focal length: 600mm
Shutter speed: 1/13s
Aperture: f/11
ISO: 100
Processing software: ACR and PS
Major adjustments: Adjusted the mid tone contrast and added a light Orton layer. brought up the blue vibrance to contrast the yellows.
Feedback Requested
Are the colors to strong or saturated? I did not adjust the overall saturation, other than with the mid tone contrast adjustment.
How do you feel about the angled flow of the water?
Does the water feel like it is flowing down and to the right or up and to the left?
Initially I thought water; but if it is, the name might be streams of gold. If grass, swathes of gold maybe. I’ll forget about the title and just say it’s an intriguing abstract. Water over rocks was my literal reaction. Dynamic, forceful, electric all sprang to mind. I just like it for itself and that’s it! OK, now I’ve read your description above. To my eye, the water flows down and to the right - and I like what you did with the rotation - it creates great motion. Good as is for me, Youssef.
Sttrokes of Gold for sure Youssef. In fact, I’d say strokes of acrylic - as in a closeup of an oil or acrylic painting (is that the same thing?) The gold is striking, but then so are the hints of blue and black.
For me, the main draw is the left 2/3’s; and the pano crop is kinda shortening the “strokes” - if that makes sense. There seems to be more of a flow in the UR area, but more detailed as you move left. Not an issue per se, just an observation. I’m wondering more what the original crop looked like.
And the more I look at this, the more impressive that section left of center becomes. Very artistic to me. (I’d name a Renaissance artist or painter, but then I’d fail because I don’t know what I’m talking about…)
Youssef, the title fits well, as someone who’s shot a lot of moving water, reflection abstracts, I’m pretty sure I recognize the material. The intensity of both the golds and the blues is striking. Again, I’m assuming from experience that this started as a relatively low contrast view, which gets highly saturated as you increase the contrast. That does make for a very dynamic abstract with a strong sense of movement.
Hi Youssef,
My first reaction was, oh what lovely golds and blues. There is a reason these two colors captivate us: Sunshine and water must be an evolutionary comfort. The gold reflections of leaves and the blue sky look wonderful to my eye, not too saturated given the abstraction.
My second reaction was a wish for a bit more height. a 2:1 pano or 2.5:1? I felt like I wanted more of the scene. Of course, I don’t know what you had above and below this crop, and I’m sure you chose the part that best represented the feelings you wanted to evoke.
As for the flow, I feel like it’s downward to the right. I know that riffles can be deceptive, but there is a downward movement of my eyes as well, so regardless of the water’s direction, the viewer (in my case) is going downstream to the right.
Nicely done,
ML
This is the RAW file that I started with.
Thanks for sharing the full frame, @Youssef_Ismail. I think your composition as presented is much more interesting, and I think there are probably several compositions in this image. You mention rotating it, so I’m not sure by how many degrees, but you might be able to get a tish more on the top if that is something you are interested in OR you might be able to get a second slim-line style composition from the same image. Who doesn’t love a two-fer?
ML
How cool!! (And probably also literally…) I find the raw file delightful enough, but you have zeroed in on a very interesting part and taken it to a new level. No suggestions, just enjoyment!
