The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Here’s another image from my recent trip into the Columbia River Gorge. I took several photographs looking up at this spot on the wall of the Gorge, and slightly preferred how things looked on the left in one and on the right in another, so I finally just put the two together.
Specific Feedback
I don’t have specific questions here, but the input on my last post was very helpful and I’m open to any and all suggestions.
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 200 mm
1/100 sec. at f/9.0 and ISO 64
WOW! I got behind here and have only glanced at thumbnails recently, and will go back to enjoy your pervious ones, but this one totally grabbed me. The story of the tragically burned trees with living ones looming over them out of the mist is compelling, but it’s always design that I see before story, and this one is just gorgeous! The undulating ridge in the FG is echoed in the BG and the light through the mist is otherworldly. The darker trees in the closest FG provide a wonderful base and the tonalities feel just right. That thread of mist dropping down on the left ties the FG to the BG. I visualize a HUGE print occupying as much of a wall as possible!
Peering at it again, there is a tiny blip of a branch on the left edge that could go, and a blunt stub of a trunk on the right. Maybe a slight burn in the LR corner to balance with the LL corner?
This composition is quite compelling to me, John. The fog does a nice job of emphasizing the burn. While there might be some tiny tweaks such as @Diane_Miller mentioned, I would be very happy with an image this compelling.
I absolutely love this photo. I especially like the density of the fog at the top part of the photo (by the trees) and how the image is brighter in the middle (perhaps that was the sun?). The center brightness drew my eyes immediately to that portion of the photo, but then my eyes went down to the trees, and I really like the detail there. This is a wonderful, mood-setting photo.
Hi John,
Talk about dripping with mood! The atmospherics with the fog has added a wonderful sense of mystery to this landscape and I feel like the subtle light only reinforces that feeling. I also quite like the undulations of the fire ravaged FG treeline as well as the spared ones in the BG treeline. My only tiny suggestion would be tose two trees already mentioned by @Diane_Miller. I also like her suggestion of making a large print of this and finding some wall space.
I think you’ve dialed in pretty well now on this subject. I can’t think of any way to improve this. If you could raise the luminosity a bit on that wisp of foreground mist in the lower left it might help but I don’t think that’s technically easy to do. I know that this image is about the burnt forest but that back layer of fog and mist beckons. And it’s so well composed.
Outstanding!. I’m jealous. We get some nice atmospherics at Blackwater Falls Canyon in WV, but nothing that matches the combination of that and the dramatic topographic features. Very primordial.
John, this is an excellent view with lots of mood and telling quite a story. I’m with Michael in feeling like T Rex is about to pop up behind the burned trees… Definitely a wall hanger.
Gorgeous, John. I love this one, and I think it’s a tick better in my opinion than the first one (ramparts). I’m not sure whether it’s the contrast or the composition of the stacked ridge lines in the frame. I think it’s the latter and also the clarity we get that the snags were burned. For someone from Oregon, that fire and its impact on that section of the gorge is kind of apocalyptic and hopeful. I see all of that in this image. No suggestions from me.
Thanks for pointing out the edges Diane, and the thoughts on Igor’s crop. I’ll make those adjustments.
I like that crop Igor. I recently added Nikon’s 28-400 lens to take winter camping, so hopefully I can catch more scenes like that without cropping.
Marylynne, when I first started working with these, I strongly preferred the first image. This one has grown on me though, and I’d say they are currently tied. I totally agree with you about that fire. It was devastating, but nature heals and it’s fascinating to see the new growing in. (I wish the Poison Oak didn’t like it so well though!)
this is an impeccable image. I saw this thumbnail in my email and it stopped me in my tracks. I love the processing and tone. Overall image is tastefully edited with out being overly contrasty or flat. Definitely a inspiration image. Thanks for posting! cheers
The shapes and contours of the trees in the mist is so compelling! This could become a wallpaper design perfect for a family room or large kitchen! Really well done.
Love this photo! I live in eastern WA, and go to the Gorge at times. I’ve also experienced this type of scene at Leavenworth in October. I always love take a pix of it also. This scene is gorgeous and I always love the mist just winding its way thru the forest like it is on a walk. A beautiful scene, and well captured…both of them. :).
That’s great that you are able to get to the Gorge sometimes Judi. If I was forced to only photograph in one location, the Columbia River Gorge would probably be it. It’s a pretty amazing place!
Definitely a wall hanger.