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Self Critique
Leading line successful. Not sure about processing of left part of dune
Creative direction
I wanted to show varying textures and light
Specific Feedback
Aesthetic: Feedback on the overall visual appeal, including color, lighting, cropping, and composition.
Technical: Feedback on technical aspects, such as exposure, color, focus, reproduction of colors and details, processing, and print quality.
Technical Details
1/20
f 10
67mm
Description
explored this park for 2 days. This is the first image I made. An amazing place as the sand is graphite and translucent and therefore reflects the natural light colors at the moment.
Critique Template
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Welcome back. We missed your work. This is a different take on White Sands. Usually they are combinations of blue and white to my recollection. The warm tones, even the mist is unique here. The biggest issue for me is that the dunes are half shadow and half sunlight. It feels unbalanced somehow but I couldn’t find a satisfying crop for it. I think you did about as well as you could with what you had. My favorite thing is how the clouds are creeping over the dunes. I suspect this is why you took the picture.
Mario: I’ve only been to White Sands once and did not have anywhere near the marvelous conditions you have here. I like what you’ve done with the dunes. I would crop about 25-30 % of the sky as it’s interesting but has too much of the real estate of the frame and competes with the dunes. Cropping the sky also gets the horizon line off center which would suit me better. The capture itself and the play of light and shadow on the dunes are terrific. Well seen and nicely presented. >=))>
I’ve never been to the White Sands. One of these days I’m going to correct that deficit.
I’m a bit confused by the shadows in the sand. It looks like the sun was to your left as you took the picture, but the light and shadow on the sand ripples is what I would expect if the sun was coming in from the right. Is that something inherent in the sand causing an optical illusion of sorts? (I’m assuming this is the original sky?)
Welcome back - great to see an image post from you. I was a bit incognito as well for a while, so it’s good to be back too!
Very dynamic image from White Sands. I’m struck by both the elements - the dune and ripples as well as the sky! There’s a pretty good balance between the two, but it’s right on the border of being a 50/50 image where I’m not quite sure the primary subject. well, of course it’s the dunes and ripple patterns - and yes, the lead-in line. But that sky/clouds is quite dramatic too. I’m kinda thinking a fairly good crop off the sky and eliminate most of the blue; then you have some colors echoing between the clouds and sand. For sure though, think of this comment as an alternative, and not necessarily an improvement. As presented, I actually like the blue sky included for some contrast in color.
I went ahead and took the crop idea, and a little further. Since the very bottom is a little soft from selective/DOF, I cropped from the bottom too ; and a little on the left. Again, I think more al alternate view.
Hi Mario,
Good to see you posting again. The light in this scene is simply gorgeous and those clouds have added some wonderful drama to this desert landscape. That ridge line is perfect for drawing the viewer into the image. It may be just me because no one else has mentioned it but, the OOF FG sand bothers me a bit as I like my FG’s in focus. Just my opinion of course. I am loving everything else you put together here.
Mario, I think it’s a fine image as presented but could still use a couple tweaks to elevate even more. I feel the 50/50 comp could be improved upon and the OOF FG bothers me a little. That’s why I like @Lon_Overacker’s rework. I think your processing is fine and your use of leading lines is quite effective.
