Through Another Spectrum

Image Critiques
, , ,
1

JUNPDUPV13_0001 - Derwent Reservoir Stream (Infrared).jpg
JUNPDUPV13_0001 - Derwent Reservoir Stream (Infrared).jpg1500Ă—1000 970 KB

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

Despite the water flowing quickly, the slow shutter speed not only blurred the mini waterfall, but also allowed the bright sunlight reflections to create areas where the water almost appears still.

I am aware the top of the arch has been cropped off, which is frustrating, but I did not have anything wider than 18mm on a crop sensor body and physically could not move further back. If I had tilted the camera upwards, I feel I would have lost the foreground water beneath the waterfall.

Creative direction

I wanted to combine a watery landscape with infrared photography, whilst also creating a sense of mystery within the scene. The arch beneath the bridge almost felt like walking through the wardrobe into Narnia, drawing the viewer into another world beneath it.

Specific Feedback

I would like feedback on whether I should have tilted the lens upwards to include the full arch, despite the risk of losing the foreground water beneath the mini waterfall.

I would also like feedback on whether I should have lifted the shadows on the arch, particularly on the right side of the image.

Technical Details

Camera: Canon EOS 60D

Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Focal Length: 18mm

Aperture: f/11

Shutter Speed: 30 seconds

ISO: 800

Exposure Compensation: 0.0

Techniques:
Shot using a tripod. Manual focus. Cokin Infrared 720nm P filter.

Processing:
Processed in Adobe Camera Raw. Adjustments included noise reduction, red/blue channel swapping. Overall exposure and sharpening.

Description

This photo was taken in 2014 when I was experimenting with different genres of photography. Due to where I live being very flat, I often find landscapes less appealing, so I visited the Upper Derwent Valley and went slightly off the beaten track. Although I nearly slipped down a muddy slope carved out by other walkers, I discovered this small scene hidden beneath the bridge.

I was also experimenting with infrared photography in harsh sunlight using an infrared filter rather than a converted camera body, alongside some basic red/blue channel swapping in post processing.

2

This image gets more interesting the longer I look at it, Matthew. Initially, the cut off arch and slightly off-center composition (but not enough off-center to look intentional) felt like a deal breaker, but I’ve come to like the tension of all of it.

Here’s what creates that tenion, I think: half the arch in full shadow, the other half revealed; the distant creek looks natural, the waterfall an off-center jersey barrier construction; off-center arch and off-center waterfall; distant reflections crisp, and near reflection diffused.

Don’t take this the wrong way, and it might not have been your intention, but the image is awkward in a way that draws attention to many binaries. It works well for the weekly challenge, imho.

ML

1 Like
3

@Marylynne_Diggs - Thank you! There certainly wasn’t any intention of being awkward, more of it was awkward to shoot! However, I do love that description tbh! Perhaps a rename to “Awkward, Through Another Spectrum” is descriptive of the image and my neurodivergent self. I really like your comments!

4

Very Cool Image. B&W possibility as another way to look at this image… Peaceful image in my opinion. Really Nice. !!!

5

[quote=“Matthew Farrugia LRPS, post:1, topic:50732, username:MatthewFarrugiaPhotography”]
I would like feedback on whether I should have tilted the lens upwards to include the full arch, despite the risk of losing the foreground water beneath the mini waterfall.

Hello, Mathew. First, I congratulate you on your results of creating an otherworldly feeling with this image. I really like that! As to your specific questions, it appears that if you shifted the camera angle upward just a bit more, to get a bit more of that arc, you would not lose too much area below the waterfall. At least that’s how it appears here. I would definitely have tried it while in position, I always suggest making more than one image in situations like this just in case I end up liking one better over the other. The highlight on the water in bottom center has me more concerned; it’s a bit distracting. Tilting upward would have reduced the size of that a bit, and helped. I realize it’s the reflection of the bright sky area in the background, but reducing the size of it and perhaps toning it down slight could help overall. As to the right hand side of the bridge, I would not lighten that up. In fact, I might suggest darkening the left side a bit, so that we are pulled into the scene beneath/behind the bridge even more. Hope this helps!

6

@Gill_Vanderlip - Thank you!
@brenda_tharp - Thank you! I am terrible as I do in-camera culling, quite hevaily at times. When I revisit this area, I will be sure to look at your suggestions.

7

I like the way the arch pulls the eye into the frame and the dark right side doesn’t bother me at all, Matthew. As for the chopped off top of the arch and the lack of a wider lens, When I can’t get enough width, it’s easy enough to take several frames horizontally and vertically and combine them, then do the cropping in pose to get the desired composition. Unless you’re an in-camera purist, there’s no real need to be constrained by the field of view available.

8

@Dennis_Plank - Thank you! I was constrained by the field of view available as I was not able to move horizontally. Equally neither could I have moved vertically as I did not have a cnetre column that I could have raised and equally it would have been very tricky stiching this infrared, due to using infrared and slow shutter speeds. However, I am giving thought to a wide angle lens and/or tilt shift lens.