I'm well aware of the fact that ratings are partly dependent on taste, but I'd like to hear your opinion on why this image doesn't hit the mark.
Of course, one might argue that there's "no light" in this image, yet I'm more interested in knowing what I could have done better on location (composition?) or in post processing to improve it. Thanks a million and wish you all an awesome weekend :)
It's a beautiful image, Hajnalka. I don't see anything wrong with the composition, but I think it deserves more contrast and vibrance.
Its a very genuine image and I feel like I could be standing there in the cool mist enjoying the day. If I had to think of one thing to possibly add it might be to pull up the whites a bit. Maybe a tad of punch in the yellow trees(okay thats two0. All in all I enjoy this image...well done.
^this
Hi Hajnalka, thanks for posting and sharing.
First off, well done with this image. I really like the somber mood this evokes and the fact that you have restrained and kept the photograph realistic - I really feel like I am there witnessing the scene.
I think the color is correct and like the balance between the mountaintop and the forest below - I think the lighting of the trees helps maintain that and provides an anchor for the eye.
I do think the mountain itself is a little flat, it would have been nice to capture early/late in the day with a bit of side lighting but I understand the need t work with what is in front of you. You could try bringing out some definition by lightly painting in a bit of exposure etc but I think any adjustments should be done with extreme restraint so as not to lose authenticity.
Overall I think this is a wonderful image, whatever may be lacking visually is more than compensated by the emotion that it evokes.
i would love to see this shot horizontally
There is actually a landscape format of this scene, but it looks much less balanced. That's why I chose this. Perhaps I should give that version a shot too :) Thanks for the feedback
I think this is a beautiful image, Hajnalka. I enjoy your work.
Regarding your "no light" comment, perhaps this image straddles the fine line between being subtle & moody, and coming across as a little dull. As a generalisation, and not a criticism, it has struck me that people in the USA tend to prefer bold, contrasty images - ones that "pop", as they sometimes like to say. (However, I note that William Murray is from Melbourne, like me, and seeks more contrast and vibrance!) To my eye, such images can seem a bit full-on, and their appeal does not always last. Images that have enduring appeal for me over the years tend to be understated. Your images show restraint in contrast and saturation compared with what many people would have done in post, and are the better for it in my view.
This forum, like the rest of the plethora of internet images, is not immune to the sensory saturation effect, and the tendency for subtlety to be overlooked; again, not a criticism of F-Stoppers as such, just a fact of modern life..
I think that this composition is a little too symmetrical, and I would have been inclined to swing the camera to the left and slightly up, including a little more of the mountain on the left, and leaving a little more sky above the main peak, allowing it to "breathe" a little more..
I append an edit where I've made it asymmetrical by cropping, and increased the contrast around the peaks, and in the foreground trees. I'm not sure it's an improvement! Some of the misty mystery is lost.
To be really cheeky, just for fun I've added a second edit in which I've synthesised more room on the left and top to "improve" the composition as above!
Hi everyone, Thanks ever so much for your kind and helpful comments. I'll try to improve the image, though I fear adding contrast will reduce the effect of the mist, which is actually what I love most about this shot. I guess I'll play around in Photoshop a little more and see where I'll end up. Thanks again for your feedback, it's much appreciated.
i like this shot don't worry about pleasing others..when i first got on here i was trying to please other peoples tastes. i learned that this was not the way to approach things. speaking on this shot im a lover of moody dark emotional pics there is only one thing i would do...layer 1 increase the the darkness in curves layer 2 increase the brightness in the tree area layer 3 soft light overlay of a warm tone on the trees super subtle stuff moved things around in very small increments like i said i dig the shot