The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is new territory for me, I haven’t shot any landscapes since 2023 and have never shot a sand dune landscape! I was at White Sands in Dec. 2024 and captured this lone plant with a nice sunset.
Specific Feedback
I’m unsure about most of this - I tried to keep the colors soft but enhance the ripples in the sand nearest the viewer, and the shadows from the plant to the bottom right. Not that effective though… Any suggestions appreciated.
Technical Details
Fuji X-H2S, 1/320s, f/10, ISO 200, 45mm using a Fujinon XC 16-50mm lens.
Basic processing in LrC. No special methods.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi @debbie_campbell, You have shared with us a fine image of a desert scene just after sunset. It presents a classic composition with interesting foreground detail leading to a strong mid ground element and the background mountains complete with well caught sunset glow. You have really lovely details in the rippling foreground, a convenient echo of the foreground plant leading into the wash and the mid ground dunes. I really like the tone of the evening light on the dunes. The ripples behind the plant are almost like a boat wake. To bring them out more you could use a radial mask and gently bring up the contrast and bring down the shadows. But that is the only suggestion I’m make. It really is well seen and processed.
Debbie: Oh this is fine! Great comp and light. I was immediately struck by the soft color palette and the color of the sand. I’ve only been to White Sands once but this is making me want to return soon. Superbly crafted image. >=))>
Debbie - lovely colour palette!
Guy’s suggestions are good ones to try.
I’d suggest also allowing a bit more of that great sunset.
Really nice image of a beautiful place!
Hi Debbie,
The light in this scene is flat out gorgeous as are the warm and cool tones. The placement of the plant is perfect IMO and I am enjoying the textures of the ripples throughout the sand. I think you have done an excellent job of keeping the colors soft while enhancing the ripples in the sand. My only suggestion would be to clone out that white jet contrail in the ULC. Beautifully done; I hope you do you do more landscapes.
@guy@Ed_Lowe@Bill_Fach@Sandy_Richards-Brown Wow, thank you so much for these comments, this is really not what I expected! I’ll make the recommended edits and post a rework. Thank you again! I have a lot of White Sands shots to go through and will post more.
You had some great light for this image. There’s a hint of purple and even magenta in it, which is one of the things I like about the light at this time of day. I noticed that the sky got overall darker as you reworked it. I thought it looked more natural in the original, given how much light there is in the foreground. There might be a faint halo around the mountains but I’m not sure.
Classic composition at a beautiful location with gorgeous light! There’s very little to critique in your final re-work and what I have to say is likely just what my eyes would like to see, but the mountains feel just a touch too bright. I think making them darker, maybe one stop, would improve the image ever so slightly. Wonderful work!
Hi Debbie,
IMO you nailed it with the second rework as the color in the sky is a bit more harmonious with the soft light on the sand dunes. Beautifully done!
