The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
These two images were captured at sunset in the White Mountains of New Hampshire during a two day get together that Mike and I had with Ed McGuirk and Carl Zuzarte. This view is from the aptly named Sunset Hill in Sugar Hill. The light this particular evening was quite lovely and I came away with three images that I like very much. These are slightly different views and were taken one minute apart. I have been going back and forth as to which one I like better and I thought why not put it out there and see what you folks thoughts are.
Specific Feedback
Just curious if anyone has a preference of one over the other and why. If you notice anything else please feel free to mention it.
Technical Details
Nikon Z 7, Nikon 24-200 @ 155 mm, f 11 @ 1/10 sec, ISO 200, cable release & tripod.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
There’s a couple of dust bunnies you might want to go after. They become much more obvious when you play with hiraloam; I often use a hiraloam layer to help me find them:
Both originally posted images work, but for different reasons.
In the top one, the star of the show is gentle light on the mountain and mid-ground hillside. In the second image, the light is a tad softer, and the image is more about the landscape and the dramatic clouds.
In my opinion, the hiraloam treatment went too far and that image looks a little crunchy. The technique can work for increasing local contrast, but it’s easy to overdo it.
The original images make the grade and are nicely done.
-P
Ed you’re probably not gonna get a definitive answer on which one is preferred although with my vote for the first image it seems for now it’s running ahead. It’s a very subtle difference, but I prefer the light in the first, especially on the mountains. and I like the clouds a little better. Both are excellent. Wish I had gone with you.
Hello Preston. John will probably chime back in on the subject, but I assume he overdid the hiraloam process to look for and accentuate the dust spots for removal. I think it’s obvious with all the haloing. I used to use a technique to do that and for the life of me I can’t remember it. That’s what I get for not writing stuff down.
Just so I understand, are you referring to the first image I posted or the second? If the first, fair enough. If the second, to clarify, it was just to point out dust bunnies and not a final image suggestion.
A very lovely view with wonderful light! Although there is some lovely light in the first, I’ll vote for the second composition. The first leads my eye to the right edge and I want to see more there. In the second, that side feels like it ends nicely inside the frame. Maybe the light could be enhanced a bit more, to feel closer to what you captured in the first.
Another vote for the first image. I felt that the thinner forest layer in the second makes it less visually balanced. But the mountains and clouds are also more interesting in the first image.
@John_Williams : Thanks for the tip with the hiraloam; I had never heard of it before you mentioned it. I went back and got rid of the dust bunnies on that file and on a few more from that evening as well. Not sure how I missed them on the first go round. I think I found four total to remove. @Michael_Lowe : Yeah, I remember Ed being exhausted and you were under the weather that particular evening. Sunset Hill has been pretty reliable for some wonderful light on our trips over the years.
Add me to the first image fandom. The light on the hills is what draws me to it. Great pastel colors and a very peaceful image. Thanks for sharing, Ed.
