The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Time was running out. I had driven to an area that was supposed to be get very few people and the campground was completely full, and I was running out of daylight. I pulled back out on the highway looking for any roadside shelter. And then on my left I saw one of those gravel mounds left by road construction crews. Gravel in Central Oregon often consists of red volcanic rock that I find very attractive. So I ended up with both a shelter and a photographic subject.
Specific Feedback
Is this too simple? Actually I’m after simplicity. But purposeful simplicity, not boring simplicity. So I guess is this engaging enough? Or at all? Or is it just dirt (lol)?
Technical Details
GFX50R, 45-100mm, f/11
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Yep, big pile of dirt, but it is a colorful pile of dirt.
Is this a simple image, yes, but as Albert Einstein once said, “The Universe should be as simple as possible but not simpler.” Basically, he was saying the Universe is governed by basic principles that cannot be distilled any further. That, I think is what makes this image work, Igor.
Also, to me, it shows how life can flourish in what at first appears to be an inhospitable place.
As usual, your processing is nicely done without being overwhelming.
Your image is a lot of fun for me. For me, it stands for the proposition that “things are not always what they seem.”
I’m from Oregon, and I think I still remember how the geology of Central Oregon worked. The red color comes from the oxidation of iron-rich minerals within the rock. This oxidation was influenced by the violence of the volcanic explosion that created the rock. Cinder rocks like these are full of gas bubbles (that are directly related to the explosive nature of the eruption), which accelerate the oxidation of the rock. And from that comes this great red color.
So this peaceful scene is actually an indicator of the violence of the geological history of this part of Oregon.
Hi Igor,
Yes, this is a simple scene and I mean that in a good way. For me this is all about that colorful red volcanic rock and the grasses taking hold; all set against a backdrop of that beautiful blue cloud filled sky. I also enjoyed the backstory on the rock supplied by @russ_carpenter. I find it engaging. You have all the elements you need and nothing more. Beautifully done.
This could be a scene from the Painted Hills in Oregon. For me, it’s all about the color and the difference in textures between the two color blocks.
I have lost count of the number of times we have had smoko in or camped overnight in gravel pits like this. I can usually find something very nice about the piles of dirt and gravel.
The striking red colour looks so much like our Australian desert country which I adore. Your image (and your words) give me the feeling of lonliness, but not emptiness.
The soft and gently sky is the perfect contrasting partner for the hard textured rock pile.
I did. Ma and minimalism are two different concepts for sure. Your photo here is minimalist in its geometry and color, but not texture. And I’m having a hard time applying the concept of Ma, or the space between. This is more to do with the concept of side-by-side things (don’t remember which Japanese character (in the video you posted) applies).
Hi Igor,
Love the colour contrasts and the simplicity of the composition. I so want to climb this red hill and see what’s on the other side!
It’s amazing how plants can survive in such a stark landscape.
In simplicity, this is simply perfect. One person’s dump is another’s art. The texture and scattered new growth against the pastel sky works great.
