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
I’m quite satisfied with the composition (although the twin trunks on the right are masking each other a bit). I’m just not sure if the light coming from above (reinforced in Adobe PS) battles with the soft stripe of white branches in the middle of the frame. What do you think?
Creative direction
For me this composition expresses total harmony and unisonity. Although there’s still a lot of clutter going on, I can see some almost logical order that balances everything else.
Specific Feedback
How do you feel about the image? Can you share my vision? Do you feel, the composition is strong enough to involve the viewer?
I feel like vignetting and cold-to-warm-transition from outside to inside must be handled very carefully here, or would you strengthen it?
On location, the scene didn’t feel as if I absolutely had to shoot it. I liked the order of the trees, yes, but the clutter held me back at first. At home I really fell in love with it.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Wow! I think those snow-or ice-?) plastered trees are wonderful! And in a perfect setting! The low contrast and slight underexposure gives the scene an appropriate cold but peaceful mood. I love the lacy undergrowth and the way the trees recede in the mist. I do wonder a bit about the skinny bush in the LR corner. It pulls my eye a bit and I think with today’s tools it could be pruned out nicely. Or some canvas might be added to the bottom and right to make it less crowded. But if that is not your thing, I’ll bow to your preference – the image is so wondrous there is no way I can object to such a little bush.
It does feel solid because of all those lovely trees. The color feels right, with that low contrast light. There’s enough light to make faint shadows on the ground - that makes me feel depth and the irregular surface of the snow.
The one thing that feels slightly less harmonious to me is the darkness of those twin trees. Perhaps lightening them up a tad would be interesting. I tried that, using an object selection in ACR and steepening the luminosity curve.
This is a truly amazing image. On one level it’s haunting. But on another level it’s just so beautiful. Those smooth well defined trees and their echos. The trees do have a metallic sense to them. The whole thing is shrouded in mystery. It’s almost frightening. The fact that the background is so ambiguous and the trees are simple and well defined. That contrast has much to do with the magic here. Yes, the bush is not optimal, nor the twin trees, but there is so much that’s positive that these things seem inconsequential. You could experiment with the exposure a bit as well.
This is amazing Markus! I for one am glad that you decided to capture the scene as it is mesmerizing. I love the way the BG forest fades away in the snow and the spacing on the trees is perfect. I do like the tweaks that @Bonnie_Lampley applied with her rework. I hope you print this and hang it on the wall!
I do like the harmony and union that is represented by the contrasts; the dark trees and the light snow blended together by fog. I think the fog and the snow make a huge difference in how cluttered the clutter appears; I really don’t think it looks cluttered at all. I also don’t think the light from above is too much competition for the stripe of white branches.
I’m assuming it was a conscious choice to post this dark, and I respect the creative vision. It certainly gives the image a mood, and creates an almost silvery effect. With that said, in the spirit of creative difference I would brighten it just a tad if it were mine.
I like @Bonnie_Lampley’s idea of bringing up the twin trees. That softens the fact that they are different than the rest and they really don’t bug; I think they look fine with the edit.
I can see the point that the little guy in the bottom right is a bit of an eye pull into that corner. I don’t know if it was possible to move to exclude it yet keep the overall effect, but if so the image might have sung even a little more. As is, I’d keep the little guy; it’s not a deal breaker for me.
I was curious what this would look like with all those things changed, and here’s a version in the spirit of experimenting (as opposed to improvements).
I am with Igor on this one, the original is best. It has the flattest lighting I have seen in a long while and yet the image seems like it is literally popping out of the screen - it has such a 3D feel to it. I don’t mind the little branch in the LRC but it is fine without it as well. I like the mood set by the light level you presented. It gives it a more dreamlike ethereal feel, something that lingers in the background of one’s mind after a dream, not knowing if it was real or not. The mystery of the fog obscuring the trees in the BG and the confusion of the tangled underbrush add to the mystery of it all. This is photography at its best in my opinion.
I don’t think I can add to what has already been said. This is a gorgeous image. The textures of the trees , the mist, and the lighting give a fairytale feel to this that is compelling. Bonnie’s tweaks add to an already outstanding image. Beautifully seen and executed.
