The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
I took this image earlier this year in Morocco from a hot air ballon. It was early morning and a fog had settled in the valley which created a feeling of floating in the clouds. During our flight the pilot stopped the burners and lead us in a meditation. It was a magical experience.
Feedback Requested
I tried several different crops on this image and decided that the square worked best for me. What are your thoughts.
Alice: What a marvelous scene and I do envy you the experience. The subtle BG colors and the bolder balloons make a great contrast. I also like your horizon placement. I would be sorely tempted to remove the two small yellow balloons in the fog layer. They are significant eye magnets for me. Maybe just removing one would work too. All in all a wonderful entry. >=))>
Alice, this is a great scene, that shows off the subtleties of air temperature (on density). The three main balloons are well placed and nicely colorful. I really like the two balloons just getting out of the fog, as they add well to the story of a flying event. The subtle colors along the horizon and that mountain sticking out in the distance add interest and separate the ground from the sky.
Thank you Bill! I think I have to agree with Mark on the two yellow balloons in the LR, I think they help balance the image, but I appreciate your input
Alice
Great scene, and I can’t imagine anything saying “air” quite like a hot air balloon. I’ve never been in one but I bet it was a neat experience. Love the image, and your crop.
I love a square crop for this, Alice. It’s unusual, in part because it’s not a static scene or an abstract, and we feel the balloons lifting, even within the equilateral frame. That’s part of what makes it work.
As for the two balloons, what bothers me (jeez, so arrogant of me to be bothered by them at all, but here goes) is that they are the same color as each other and so very different from the colorful patterns of the three main balloons. They are what they are, but if you could make one blue and one red…or perhaps remove one…or leave it as is so it represents the reality you saw. With any of the options, it’s a great photograph.
ML
Jonathan, if you get a chance to go up in a balloon, I suggest you go for it. I thought I would be nervous because I don’t like heights but I felt secure the whole time.
Alice
Marylynne, thank you, I’m glad you like the square crop, it just seemed to be the best fit for this image. I decided to remove both of the yellow balloons.
Alice
Alice: I like the revision and now that you’ve posted it I find another benefit is that the background mountain is more noticeable without the balloons competing for attention in that area. >=))>
A very nice image from a unique perspective! I think the two balloons just lifting off show more of the story so I could go with either version, but I think it is a good idea to change the color (even a little) of one or both – their sameness is a bit distracting, as is their lightness and low contrast. A wonderful capture either way!
1 Like
Mark_Seaver
(Mark Seaver)
selected this as an Editor's Pick
18
The revised version provides an excellent sense of floating, with simplicity of the three baloons against a nicely colored sky.
Hi Alice. Just came across this and really like it. I think the revision works, as the yellow balloons do tend to draw the eye. Sounds like a great experience. Congrats on well deserved editor’s pick.
