The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Since I’m grubbing around the bottom of the barrel now, I’ll finish up these snow images from this winter. Here’s one final image I’d love your thoughts on though, this one from Mt. St. Helens taken in January.
Specific Feedback
This one was taken right about noon. I liked the way the clouds made swirls of shadow on the snow, but do you find that appealing/interesting?
I’d prefer a shorter aspect ratio, but wasn’t happy with the other crops I played with. I suppose I could transform the image, but I’ve been trying to avoid “changing reality” in this day and age of AI. Any thoughts on the aspect ratio/crop?
As always, all comments and suggestions welcome. (It’s usually the answers to the questions I don’t know to ask that are the most helpful.)
Technical Details
NIKON Z 7II
NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR at 120 mm
1/800 sec. at f/16 and ISO 64
Handheld
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
This is completely wonderful!! The light is perfect to bring out the shapes in the snow. The trees give a hint of scale and lead the viewer across the snow field to the spectacular mountain. The swirling mist revealing bits of sky is perfect! The aspect ratio fits the subject well – no need for imposing some arbitrary one. Choosing the crop dictated by the subject is a powerful tool in developing an image, and you have demonstrated that here.
My only suggestion – frame and hang – in a high-end gallery!
Very nice winter mountain landscape! I also like a smaller aspect ratio, and at first I was not sure about this one, but indeed it does work. It fits the scene. I like the clouds, the smooth shapes of the snow cover and the general tones of the colors, the whole picture reminds me of a mountain watercolor… So, I agree with Diane, it is ready for being printed big and get a place on the wall!
Hi John,
This is flat out gorgeous and you have to move this up from the bottom of the barrel as it doesn’t belong there. For my tastes the shadows on the snow are part of the appeal as is the swirling snow around the mountain peak. I also think you did a wonderful job of spacing the trees in the lower part of the frame. My only suggestion; and this is being very nit picky; would be to remove that cluster of five dark spots in the snow toward the left edge about half way up the image. I too agree with @Diane_Miller about making a print. Beautifully done.
You must really like the snow because some of your best work are snowscapes. You’re one of the few people that can render snow to be sensual. The other that comes to mind is Alex Noriega. I like the composition very much. The layout of the components is fairly complex yet balanced and harmonious.
John: this is a wonderful image. I have no idea of the size of the original image, but your chosen crop is fine. The shadows cast by the clouds give depth, dimension and some tonality to the snow. The foreground trees give an idea of scale. I really like how the mountain disappear in to the clouds. It deserves a large print.
Just lovely, John. I can image you had a hard time cropping. Simply don’t. I don’t see anything on the edges of the photograph I could let go. There is so much happening in this picture, there are levels and depth, there are shapes and graduations. I could imagine this also being a great black and white photograph. Thanks for sharing.
The crazy luminosity of this image is what stands out right away. I love it. Almost glowing. Simple but effective composition, and there’s enough texture in the snow to hold my interest. Beautiful image, John.
Your feedback is a classic example of how helpful it is to have others give input. Both when I took this and when I first came home with this image, I really liked it. After letting it settle for awhile, I started to doubt that. Given your kind thoughts I should have stuck with my initial feelings.
John: I’m late to this party but I suspected it was yours from the thumbnail. The play of light and shadow from the clouds makes an otherwise good image exceptional. Top notch in every way. >=))>
John, I think this looks great as presented. For me, a major part of enjoying the view is how there a rough series of slopes (and textures) that go from slightly tilted near the bottom to strongly pointing into the sky along the peak. That makes a very dynamic view. The swirls of shadow add interesting textures while the trees in the lower 1/3 rd add context and interest. The thin clouds add to the sense of dynamism.
