Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I took the shot in the afternoon, walking close to a river. The reflection of the sun in the water looks like a 2nd sun. I wanted sun bursts, so I stopped the lens down. When I took the shot, there was just light and dark, so I kept it in the picture, i.e. almost no mid tones (what I like anyway in B/W).
Specific Feedback
Any feedback and critique is welcome
Technical Details
f14, ISO 500, 1/80s, 28mm
I love what you did here, the second sun gives you the hint about what lies on the other side of the trees without showing you what is there. The high contrast works well, the tree elements are very lace like. Very nicely composed as well. Great work!
I love the high contrast whites and blacks in this image. and the texture that’s everywhere. The twin sunstars fooled me as I’m sure it will most that view this but it makes sense after reading your description. In fact, I love the reflected sun star much better than the higher sun star. It’s smaller and more crisp and defined. The foreground dappled light provides just a peak at what makes up the forest floor leading the eye right to the lower star burst. I initially had two thoughts. The first was that I was drawn to the bright patch along the lower right edge of the frame but after thinking about it I think it balances the bright spot on the other side of the frame on the left edge. I also thought about wanting to crop out the branches that run across the top of the frame but again after thinking about it I like them and wouldn’t do a thing with them. They actually keep the eye in the frame.
The composition works well not having the sunstars in the center of the frame and I love the use of the tree trunks to frame the edges with. The dark foreground makes it easy for the viewer to to quickly engage with all of the background elements while providing a nice border for the bottom pf the image.
Nicely done, Ralf!
It is remarkable that this is the photograph you preconceived when you were by the river. Well seen and produced.
I enjoy letting my eye roam in this scene; the 2 suns are remarkable, but they do not prevent my eye from enjoying the textures of the trees and the dappled light in the foreground.
I found that burning highlights in the bottom left and right as well as in top left let me stay in the scene more comfortably.
Thank you very much, Dick!
