Highland landscape with Mamiya 7, and request for criticism

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks so much for the feedback and criticism
I made it 11-4 to the version I preferred with a couple of people not expressing a view and one not liking either (I think). The most interesting thing about that is it just shows how there is no 'right' or 'wrong' and people have different tastes. Although I have to admit I am happier that my taste finds more support, and although I was going to keep my crop anyway, I feel slightly more fortified in doing so now.

The only post I think I disagreed with was bmattocks. Not sure what you are getting at and maybe I have got you wrong, but I think that a landscape of only one subject (let's say here only the mountain, or perhaps only the ice) whilst pleasing sometimes often lacks the depth and interest of one with contrasting or complimentary subjects. In particular, with wide landscapes, I have been trying hard to introduce more foreground subjects before a mountain or lake, for example, as I think otherwise the photo can look a bit boring or two dimensional. I'm no landscape expert, and perhaps you are lot more experienced than me in this field, so I would like to know more about what you mean.

Yes it was Glencoe, on the river etive leading up to the mountain which was, luckily for us that day (my first time there) frozen so we could actually stand on it rather than on a rock (although treading carefully). There were at least 4 other landscape photographers with tripod doing the same throughout my hour or so photographing there. I took mostly black and white medium format film (both there and elsewhere in the highlands) but the light and colours were so beautiful that day I had to put in a roll of velvia, and 'm very happy I did.

I want to make a print of crop 1, so again I am glad I used 6x7 and Velvia because the actual resolution size at 300 dpi (after a 4000 dpi scan) is about 36 inches by 24, and on y screen a least it looks pretty good at that resolution, so I think I can get a nice big one.

 

[Schlapp]

Before I say anything, I cannot tell you whether the images are good or not. However, I can tell you what I like. And although the images seem to be technically good, and conventionally composed, I'm afraid both images have little emotional content. And an emotional response to an image is what it is all about for me.
I might, only very occasionally do I make an image that does it for me and mine arn't so technically competent.

 

[HarryW]

Of the two photographs it's No. 1 and its Buchaille Etive Mor that's the main peak.
Regards

Harry

 

[FrankS]

About the wedding comment: there is only one main subject in weddings: the bride. 😉

I like the first shot more.

 

[skibeerr]

Sorry, neither one nor two work for me.

Nice try tough and better than any of my work.

 

[LeicaM3]

Neither for me.

Great camera, enjoy and post some more.

 

[Ezzie]

A combination of both would have done it for me. I like the shoulder of the mountain leading away to the right in the second and the river in the foreground of the first.

EDIT: Oh and in B&W. It´s more or less monochrome to begin with. The blue sky doesn´t add that much to the picture. I would have experimented burning the clouds somewhat to add drama.

 

[fotomeow]

I like the second one. In the first foto: my eye is first drawn to the foreground and the crevice/stream looks a little stretched out and unrealistic (wide angle lens), so then I look up at the peak: the peak looks small by comparison, so then Im kind of left not feeling drawn to any part of the picture other than the general natural beauty of the overall scene. Wide angle lenses are great tools, but they are tricky, and take lots of practice to get just right, just like any other tool IMO. Most of all, Keep shooting!! And thanks for letting us analyze your foto!

 

[tj01]

I have no rationalization for my choice, but I like the first one

 

[snausages]

I like the foreground of the first one. For me, the appeal of the second one is the way the lip of the ice gives the impression the entire scene is floating. To accentuate that effect, as if the mountain were resting on a cloud, what about a crop along these lines?

 

[not_in_good_order]

I like the foreground of the first one. For me, the appeal of the second one is the way the lip of the ice gives the impression the entire scene is floating. To accentuate that effect, as if the mountain were resting on a cloud, what about a crop along these lines?

I think that this crop produces a much stronger composition than either of the two examples in the original post.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks snausages, if I were to go with a square, closer crop I do agree yours looks better.

Nick

 

[Jamie123]

I'll have to agree with the minority here. Neither of them really does it for me. It's not a bad shot but it's not a great one either. I wouldn't waste too much time obsessing about which way to crop it.

 

[kontrajan]

I regard the escond version as better, since it has a stronger, more formal composition. It attracts the eye better, imho.

 

[Mauros]

Look at this photo
http://www.pbase.com/hwatt/image/68399140
and all pictures from Ian Cameron on Pbase and his website
very inspiring though

Yours 2nd version is better imo

 

[percepts]

There is a problem with your composition which is the big ridge sticking into the image from the left which is in shadow. It is too dominant and detracts from the main subject which is the conical shape of the hill behind.
Also the close foreground is too dark for my taste.
And thirdly a big NO NO in a landscape image of this type are the footprints where you have been tramping about in the snow. It should be a pristine landscape and the view point slightly higher to capture the snow texture above the little frozen water fall.

I cropped and lightened it a little to remove some of that ridge on left and recenter the main subject. Maybe next time be aware of what is sticking into the main image from left / right/ top/ bottom and whether is adds to or detracts from main subject.
Composition of landscape subjects is harder than it might seem at first. and the little details such as footprints do matter as they become far more obvious when the image is being studied after the event.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Ian Cameron's photo is superb - looks a 'bit high definition'?
percepts - I found your criticism both useful and perceptive, thanks.
I don't generally get upset by footprints as I quite like man's inter-raction with nature, or breaking big NO NOs. And that day it was pretty impossible to avoid them. It was funny as there were about 4 blokes with tripods all trying to avoid each others or the last person's steps. But you are right, looking at the photos after I wish they weren't there. I acn spend ages on photoshop getting rid of them, but its not the same as virgin.
I like your crop - thanks.

 

[douwe]

So many people, so many preferences. I think you should stop asking others what they like, and do as your gut feeling tells you. Asking others what they like doesn't help if you want to have a style of your own.

 

[pakeha]

QUOTE
So many people, so many preferences. I think you should stop asking others what they like, and do as your gut feeling tells you. Asking others what they like doesn't help if you want to have a style of your own.

I second the above comment, and for what it is worth to you, i have no preference as this photo looks like a `personal'. That is, a picture taken for your own pleasure of memories? I do like the square crop- even without an opinion😀

 

[percepts]

You guys are funny. I guess you guys bypassed an education then.
If someone asks for criticism then they get it and if you don't think he should be listening to what others are saying, then why do you bother posting. After all, according to you, nobody should be paying attention to what you are saying.
Maybe they aren't. 😉