After returning from an (unsuccessful) sunset shoot I came across this scene. I was attracted by the remnants of the falling sun casting a rose glow on sparse clouds, along with the February supermoon in the Eastern sky.
My initial posting did not fare well, so I have re-edited and am presenting here for critique.
- what is the initial impact of this image on you?
- what do you like/not like?
- what would make the image more appealing to you?
As always, all feedback whether positive or negative, from newcomer or expert alike would be regarded as a gift.
Also - I think the community grading is a great way to rate anonymously so I would appreciate if you could visit in my portfolio. This will give me a general sense of how the broader community feels.
Thanks in advance for comments!
This photo inspires a feeling of tranquility and something spiritual.
The only complaint I have is that the tree is in the upper part darker than in the lower. Excellent photo Alan!
Thanks Radisa. Other than reflected light off the snow I have no idea why the lower trunk would be lighter. This is not due to any local adjustments to the tree at all.
Really nice scene. My comment would be that the white balance is off since snow is white. Snow is notorious for playing tricks on a camera.
Thanks for the feedback David.
I agree that snow is at least perceived as white, but feel that it reflects the tones of the environment (in this case the sky).
I'm curious - do you feel in this instance that the image would be improved if the snow were a pure/near white?
I don't know for sure. I would give it a try just to see the results. It might be nice to have more of a separation between the sky and foreground. Then again, it might ruin the shot.
I really like this image, Alan. For, me - and please keep in mind, I'm a newbie, my eye goes straight to the tree, then the moon, then moves through the rest of the scene. I enjoy the tranquility. If anything, I think I would like the snow a little bit whiter, with just the faintest touch of blue. But that's me. Love it!
Thanks Elizabeth. As long as you have a set of eyes and are willing to express your opinion you are more than qualified to comment
For a ‘newbie’ your sense of composition and flow is very perceptive.
As the sun had dropped the snow is reflecting the blue of the sky. I could change the color balance but I think it would change the mood of the image.
I'm a newcomer to photography. I like how this picture makes me feel. It is tranquil and would be an excellent wall-paper on my Macs Mini and MacBook Pro. I like the cool colors (well "warm" from the color temperature perspective).
I like the balance in this photo. I will say may eye is drawn to both the true and the Lunar Orb...not sure where to focus but still I love it.
If I were standing where you were, I would not know where to put my attention, but since it is supermen, the moon is the right answer because of the science.
Great photo....
Thanks Tom. I am glad that as a 'newcomer' you are comfortable expressing your opinion.
My feeling is that as all viewers have the same number of eyes they are equally qualified to express what they see.
I think it quite perceptive that you mention the balance in the image, which is in agreement with my own. I feel that the eye is drawn to and anchored on the (much brighter) moon, but balanced by the visual weight of the dark tree.
The size, luminosity and positioning of these elements is key to the composition.
Great work dissecting the image.
Ambivalent about this one, Alan! All the elements are there, as Radisa and Tom suggest, to create that tranquil, even transcendent or sublime mood. I particularly like the fact that you've used the shape and position of the tree in the image in such a way that I feel as if the tree is reaching towards the moon, perhaps even longingly (God knows where I get these flights of fancy!).
But... something holds it back. The colour is probably natural, but the image seems over-saturated, with those admittedly appealing colours. A bit candy-coloured, perhaps? And perhaps a little contrasty?
Also, I feel as if the tree is a little cramped in. According to your EXIF data, a 22mm focal length on that camera should give a moon about a third the size. Have you cropped, or is this a montage? If it's cropped, I'd crop less.
I append a rough edit where I've tried to address the above.
Thanks for your feedback as always Chris. I feel the same about the tree leaning toward the moon) although perhaps not as deeply as you do :-)
My original post was less-saturated, perhaps a little more true to the scene but less appealing to the community. Not that I use that to guide my output but I did take responses into account and found what I believe myself is a more gratifying image.
As for the tree/moon. I had to resort to the 22mm as I was cramped for space - this was the only way I could get the tree fully in the image. As you (rightly) indicated the moon was smaller - I had been taking other pictures so merged/resized the moon to better represent what was witnessed by the naked eye/helped balance the composition.
As always, I'd be interested how others feel (especially those who enjoy candy?)