The Burning Bush

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Spent a few days in the beautiful swamps of lower Mississippi recently, and this was captured just as the very last bit of light was disappearing. This scene was completely bland within a minute of this shot as the sun went behind trees.

Specific Feedback

Any and all comments, suggestions, and critiques welcomed and appreciated!

Technical Details

Nikon Z9 w/ Z 70-200 f/2.8 @ 95mm
1/2 sec @ f/11
100 ISO
Polarizer
Tripod


Critique Template

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1 Like

Bill, Great timing to capture this! The bright bush contrasts with the dark swamp perfectly, and the reflections add a lot. Perhaps a little centered?
Feels like a very uplifting scene to me.
Well-done!

Bill, I love the light in this scene. Wonderful warm golden light, and wonderful mysterious dark tree trunks and shadows. You’ve really featured the “burning bush” so it’s appropriate to be a bit more centralized than it otherwise could have been composed as @SandyR-B has noted. If you want to experiment a bit you could carve off the far left side just beyond the last dark tree trunk. I do like those little bits of light on the little grey tree, so I understand not wanting to remove them. Too many great features in this . . .

Bill, that’s a great capture. It’s sharp everywhere that matters and the colour, light and reflections are great.

Well done.

Thank you @SandyR-B , @Ed_Williams , & @Mark_Orchard for your kind comments!

This is a very striking high contrast image that’s really well rendered. There’s a great image within an image on the right that would require a bigger lens.

Thanks @Igor_Doncov ! You’re right there’s actually several possibilities for additional compositions, but the light was moving much faster than I was, LOL.

1 Like

Wow, Bill, this is gorgeous! I love the light and dark contrasts here, and the late afternoon setting sun is just beautiful.

I had to go look you up, I thought your name was familiar. I remember you from the Nature First Facebook site. I was the moderator back in the day. So glad to see your images here too. I haven’t been on here in months. I need to make more time to participate. Glad to see you and your beautiful images again. Thanks for sharing.

1 Like

Thank you, @Barbara_Livieri . Yes, your name looked familiar; I do remember you. Thanks so much for your comments!

1 Like

Thanks Bill for posting this amazing image! I really enjoyed it.

I am inclined to see a break on a horizontal level in the rhythm of trunks and reflections in the water: In the right part of the image there is a clear separation of figures and colors in the water reflecting the trees; in the left side (left of the bright green leaves in the middle of the image, near the water), there is much less separation of figures (tree trunks) and colors in the water. Hence, to me the image appears as being divided into two; one on the left side and one on the right side. I reckon that the horizontal branch in the top third ties the two parts together. Still, I have two problems with this branch: One is that the leaves are less sharp than the leaves on the central trees, another is that the right part of the top branch is fairly dark, thus reinforcing the impression of two images in one. I wonder if you see the same pattern? Or if it is just me?