Unhappy Neptune

Critique Style Requested: Initial Reaction

Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.

Questions to guide your feedback

Is my imagination running wild? Do I need to change anything to make Neptune have more impact - or is there too much impact?

Other Information

Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.

Image Description

Photograph from the rock shelf at Cylinder headland, North Straddie. A NE wind produces waves that reflect off the rocks and hit the following incoming wave, producing constructive and destructive interference. This is the first humanoid shape I have seen - the first in about 5 years of visiting the area. Rachael Talibart’s book, Sirens, encouraged me to spend more time watching the waves here.

Sea masked from land and then used the colour channels and contrast to produce the photo. Neptune’s eyes and hands tweaked using dodge and burn. More info in the metadata.

Technical Details

Canon 90D Sigma 17 to 70 at 37mm, 1/500 sec, F11 ISO 200

Specific Feedback

Is my dodging and burning too blatant?


Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:

I see your vision on this image. Really Cool and I love the Tone. Perfect in B&W. ISO 200 ! must have been a good sunny day. Dodging and Burning has been done well. They are my favorite tools to use in Photoshop. This image carries lots of energy. and kept simple. !!!

Immediately scary, like something from Ghostbusters or Henry James. The high contrast black and white reminds me of some beach photos I saw a long time ago, shot with Ilford HP5 I think. It has a film noir quality for me. In terms of composition, I like the way the horizon fans down from horizontal to 45 degrees with the wave in between, boxed by the foamy water. Nice shot.

The impact is right on - that’s one angry Neptune. Your seeing in this image and visioning in the title is superb. The whole wave is angry and balanced nicely with the textured foreground rocks. Your fast shutter speed works wonders here. The image would not “speak” as you have made it, if you used a smooth slow shutter speed. The B&W conversion is just right too.

If nature photography hasn’t taught me patience, nothing will..
It took these bad eyes awhile to see Neptune and his outstretched hands - but this is just fantastic!
I also like the faint outline of the distant shores.
Well-seen and composed!