The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
During my recent ambivalence about photography, I let a few session’s worth of shots just sit on the hard drive. In some ways, this is beneficial to help winnow the good from the average as it separates us from the emotions stirred up by the experience in the field. Mostly it’s positivity and enjoyment that can color our assessment of our photos, but in this case it was more negative. I just felt like I was doing the same thing over and over and not really adding much to my collection or the world at large. Dumb, I know, but there it is. I had a pretty good day out, but that mantra rolled over and over at the back of my thoughts and ruined my attitude about what I produced. So this has sat since December.
Flowing water is a favorite as are icy formations and I shouldn’t feel badly about that even though it’s nothing new either for me or nature photography as a whole. I enjoyed wandering up and down looking for small slices and this is one. Mainly I used my longest telephoto to reach across to the other shoreline, so compositions were a bit limited as I didn’t want to fall through on my side and couldn’t position as easily on the ice ledges.
Specific Feedback
Overall I think this balances pretty well, but wonder about the relatively featureless snow on the top. The light was flat and so no texture could be teased up by side lighting and there wasn’t much anyway due to repeated meltings and refreezings. Does the little “cave” save it from pure blah? At first that little bit annoyed me as it seems out of keeping with the rest of the flow, but now I like it as sort of a ‘high C’ cutting through the melody.
Lr processed with a little boost in exposure plus wb adjustment to dial back the very warm temp of the tannic water. Messed with sliders for global contrast, used some masking on the water and removed some debris on the snow. Narrow crop for balance and harmony. More clarity and texture than normal because the ice looks really good with it.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I agree with David duChemin who has always suggested that the most pointless question a photographer or any artist can ask is, “Is it any good?” It is a meaningless and purposeless question and yet, I ask it of myself all the time. Hopefully, we can encourage each other to let it go and enjoy the opportunity to commune that our camera offers us.
As to your photograph, I think it is beautiful, even charming - both simple and complex. The dark softness below and the white softness above beautifully frame the sharp detail of the ice between. The diagonal and the slight wave give this image a wonderful sense of flow. Very frame-able by which I mean, it is a picture that is worth looking at over and over again. As to your question about the upper part of the frame - yes, the “little cave” does give it just enough life and interest. That being said if you could pull up a touch more shadow detail in the upper right (I see there is a faint line of shadow and some texture already there) without losing the general “softness” that would help enliven the otherwise sense of flatness in the urc. But really, don’t lose courage - push the shutter button as you’ve done here.
This is stunning @Kris_Smith !!! My first thought was fine diamond jewelry! What really works for me are the texture of the water movement and the snow work to really make the ice/icicles stand out as they should. The BW conversion is perfect for this image! I like your photography mood description “ambivalence about photography” much more refined vs my “photography depression” I was in last year. Glad you shared this amazing image!
Hi Kris,
Well, I for one am glad you let this simmer a bit as I quite like this intimate icescape! The icicles hanging suspended just above the water look like diamond pendants. The B&W conversion looks great and the image has a nice diagonal flow to it with the water and the snowcap and icicles just above. It may not be new, but it is quite lovely and you captured this little slice of winter beautifully for the rest of us to savor and enjoy. I find this image to be very serene and relaxing and IMO would make a beautiful print.
Thanks @Keith_Flood, @Kerry_Gordon & @Ed_Lowe for your thoughtful insights and observations. I appreciate the encouragement and the understanding by your own ups and downs with our shared craft. Sometimes being behind that stupid thing a lot can burn you out and make you doubt yourself. Good to know my instincts still operate even in the face of my ambivalence. I’ve been through it several times before since I first picked up a 35mm SLR in the mid-80s and I’m sure I’ll go through it again.
Kerry - thanks for pointing out that bit of shadow…I will explore it when I get a chance tomorrow. Am going to finish setting a pendant later before I head to a party down the street. Maybe it can add some interest up that way.
Keith - glad you like it, and as a silversmith, it’s interesting that you picked up a jewelry theme when I didn’t at first really see it. Instead I saw a piano keyboard and felt a musical influence in the way the ice formed. Can’t play anything except the stereo myself so it’s funny. Oh and it’s not strictly a monochrome conversion, but a much cooled off white balance compared to how it came out of the camera.
Thanks Ed for another vote of confidence for this as a print. I just might do that if I can find a size that will work. I have a few others I took the same day and they could work as a small group.
I almost missed this one and so glad I didn’t! The details are fascinating – definitely little jewels. Wonderful mix with the softly blurred water. I don’t mind the fairly featureless white at the top and would add a but more canvas there as the cavelet feels a bit crowded. The color is perfect for my fantasy of what ice should look like. Keep digging in those folders!
Thanks @Diane_Miller - I did a lot of experimenting with shutter speeds on this little outing, so that I could choose what looked the best with each one. The water always moves really well on this river pretty much all year because it’s spring fed and not dammed. Makes for a reliable place to play. Am still messing in folders and having a pretty good time actually.
I’ll just take a back seat to those deeper thoughts, and say I really think this cream rose to the top. I think the suggestions above are great, but this is really good even without those tweaks. (In a weird way, it reminds me of the pipes on a marimba.)
Thanks @John_Williams - I don’t know about profound, but it’s something that I’ve noticed in my behavior over the years. The rush to edit (and to judgment) our photos sometimes elevates them in our eyes. Looking back at them occasionally makes me wonder why I got so excited about a certain shot when it didn’t hold up over time. Usually it’s the emotion of the moment that made it stand out to me, not the finished result. But As Kerry also pointed out, the enjoyment in our experience and doing the “work” should be enough for us.
Which leads me down another path I’ve need noodling with in my mind ever since computer-generated images have started encroaching on traditional photography. Many got quite worried at the perilous position of their profession (alliteration anyone??) and the possibility of dollars drying up as AI can often create an illustration that will work for a client’s purpose and is cheaper than hiring a photographer. True, but I find with nature photographers the love of being out there is sometimes even more important than the pictures it generates. I’m not sure the same can be said for product or portrait photographers. Watching various nature photography oriented You Tubers, I hear the same sentiment echoed - we love being out there, good weather or bad, good light or bad, cooperative wildlife or just butts and elbows, we love it out there and it will keep us going back even if we have nothing to show for it.
I always enjoy these mini ice curtains that form at the edge of fast flowing streams in winter and this has a nicely chosen shutter speed to contrast with the flowing water and the glittering sharpness of the frozen ice.
Thanks @Ian_Cameron - ice is pretty magical isn’t it? The nearly infinite permutations and formations give us so much to work with. Lately I’ve been changing up shutter speeds more and more with my water work so I can choose the right one in terms of flow, feel, highlights, darks and texture. Sometimes exposure blending can get better results, too, and so having choice makes it better. It’s exactly that contrast ot texture you pointed out that I was going for.
Kris, you’re not alone… been there and done that! In fact, in my most recent outing to Monterey, it was a huge revelation for me, and to learn that “my instincts still operate” came thru big time. More on that in a future post… but to your image.
I too love the visual contrast between the flow of the water beneath the icy details of the shore. Just the right amount of texture in the water; and the flow is especially bold - almost turbulent with the ups and downs.
Before reading any comments, that open area UR that you question, was the only thing that stood out as a potential issue. You did well to bring out a little more texture, but still I’m not sure if that negative space is helping, hurting or just neutral. The good news… it’s NOT a deal breaker, but you asked and so I’m just mentioning. The “cave” - very important actually to alieve some of that featureless snow, and is position that there’s really no good crop I can think of. At least for me, any crop on either side reduces the lengthy flow of the water to where it’s impact would be greatly lessened.
Beautifully seen! And certainly glad you were able to revisit and hopefully kick out that ambivalence!
