The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I have been in this area multiple times and walked past this innocuous little alcove without really noticing anything special, until this day. I happened by at just the right time, when the sunlight was reflecting off a wall out of frame to the right and the glow of the golden sandstone lit up the alcove. I particularly like how the linear red sandstone merges into the swirling gold sandstone and the slivers of brighter red streaks mixed in with the gold.
Specific Feedback
I’d appreciate any comments you may have, particularly on composition and exposure.
Technical Details
Canon 1DS Mark II, 16-35L @ 19mm
1/8 sec, f22, ISO 100
Wow, there’s a lot to like with this comp. I like the bright yellows atg the top half the frame that contrast with the warm reds and browns in the lower half. Reminds me of a colorful feather due the abstraction produced by the colors and swirling lines. I like this photo as presented…Jim
This is lovely, Scott. Isn’t it funny how we sometimes go for the big scenes when the little ones are right there waiting to be noticed. I love the swirl, the narrow color palette with so much variation in the yellows, oranges, and browns. And I really love the leading lines in the foreground texture, and how they stop abruptly at what appears to be a small shelf, where everything changes and swirls.
It’s like a burst of sunshine. It has that energy that Van Gogh has in his paintings. Yellow is a very strong color and to have it burst out from the center like that just multiplies the whole experience. I often go hog wild and exaggerate the colors and then later regret it.
I love the combination of color and motion in this one Scott. This reminds me of a location in Zion with the same reflected light from an opposite wall. The swirl is beautiful and the straight lines along the bottom holding the frame up are really captivating. I think this works well as is. Terrific image.
Scott, the line and swirl are so much fun. When I look at any composition, the first thing I check is can it be cropped. I do like all the energy from the maelstrom – great title – of lines. Though, check and see if a slight crop from the left would help things for you. It might help keep the eye to the right more. Don’t think it would hurt to leave as is, just an idea.
Patrick, I had the very same thoughts as I was composing the shot (I wish it swirled the opposite direction, I hate it when nature doesn’t cooperate fully!) I originally framed it farther to the right, but it is much less visually interesting even just a little to the right. I also tried the crop you suggested during processing and it does keep your eye more towards the swirl, but you lose to a degree the leading lines coming in from the left side of the frame and how they merge into the swirl. In the end I liked this comp better, but your suggestion certainly has its merits as well. Here is a cropped version, in a square format.
I often do the same thing, take something to an extreme and then dial it back 50-75%. This is just slightly enhanced, pretty close to what I see in my mind’s eye when I remember the experience of being there. When gold sandstone receives the perfect reflected light it is one the most beautiful things I have seen, it truly glows.
When I played with it this morning I came up with a similar composition but more intense colors. Like this. I didn’t post it because I could never come up with colors that I was consistently happy with. Some days I would like the intense colors and others I preferred less intensity. There never seemed to be a right or wrong with this subject. So I just stopped experimenting. I could not find a consistent response to the image and I always value an image by emotion. Perhaps this is just a fact of life about every image we make.
I think you are right Igor, I don’t think I ever process an image once and call it done, or print it. I constantly go back, tweaking it slightly, back and forth, until a “compromise” is reached. It also helps to have the great folks here give their valuable thoughts and suggestions.
hi Scott,
Maelstrom is certainly the perfect title for this wonderful desert landscape! All of those graceful lines have created this turbulence and energy and the warm tones of the sandstone only reinforce that mood for me.I like the original landscape better because the alternate crop seems to lose some of that energy for some reason. I like your processing of the colors as well as they are still bold without being over the top. Beautifully done!
The wider view for me too Scott, for the reasons you noted.
I won’t repeat the above compliments, but very much agree. This is one of those images that hanging on a wall would “tie the room together” if the colors were complimentary.
Ah, at first I was like, “What have you done, @Scott_Fricke!” Didn’t expect you to crop that much!. Then looked again on its own, and thought this is a cool crop, too. The gift and the curse of crating an image with a lot of different and beautiful potentials. And yes, at some point you do have to just abandon the piece and enjoy what you have done. This was a lot of fun. Hope it was for you, too.
Then looked again on its own, and thought this is a cool crop, too. The gift and the curse of crating an image with a lot of different and beautiful potentials. And yes, at some point you do have to just abandon the piece and enjoy what you have done. This was a lot of fun. Hope it was for you, too.