Winter is still here

[jordand]

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[ucci]

Nice capture. Nice lines of the slopes and mountains well framed with the two trees in the mid foreground nicely placed. Makes it lovely to see just how beautiful a snow field can look. But that is it. Looks only! Crikey I wouldn't actually want to be there out in it. Would hate it in fact! Far too cold for me.

[Wavelength]

I really like this

[mugge]

Beautiful, can we have it in B&W also?
Cheers Ole

[Bob44]

Excellent winter scene.

[wilgk]

Very nice indeed.

[ccphoto]

Apologies in advance to Jordand for this critique as it is well intended to be a learning or explanatory missive and not necessarily a method by which to rake his image over the coals, though it is exactly what I am going to do.

So, to link specifically with Shadowman's recent post (21 March) "The Photographer's Intentions," I have to wonder why those who viewed this image considered it to be an excellent representation of a winter's scene?

This is critical though not meant to be demeaning, more so and observation that had I not read Shadowman's post, I may not have gone here; but here I am so I will continue.

When I look at the scene, I look first at overall quality/impact/eye catcher qualities. If any of these make me look further, that starts a whole chain of qualifiers: light (re: Donald's post, "It's all about the Light), tonal quality, color, framing, and does it make me smile.

In this scene, I see few of these qualifiers. The blacks as I am demonstrating, are absolutely blocked up. While there is light coming in from the left, the trees, especially the foremost centered tree does not show any detail in the needles, nor does any of the other foliage reflect this light. They are not back-lit enough to be of silhouette quality as they are presently portrayed.



Which takes me to the whites as they are nearly paper white:



Framing is okay but for me, I don't get the foreground clump as without detail it does not lead my eye anywhere. So, the question remains as to why those who previously responded positively, did so?

That's the meanie side of me emerging but to be honest in a critique is as important as being constructive. Had anyone said it was an interesting perspective and it certainly reflected a cold winter's day, then followed with, "however, you've blocked up your dark values too much as well as created blown highlights and then proceeded to explain the possibility of bracketing, polarizers, ND filters or a host of other exposure techniques, then Jordand might make a better image the next time he/she was in a similar shooting position.

This is important to my further understanding of the art as well as my understanding of how and why people critique the way they do. It is how I grow as an artist.

Again, apologies to Jordand.

[Donald]

.... then Jordand (and others) might make a better image the next time he/she was in a similar shooting
position.

That's why we critique.

We've got family and friends on social media will tell us how wonderful our images are. Hopefully on here. a photography forum, we get sensible, honest and purposeful critiques.

[mugge]

When I look at a painting I do from distance so that I am able to fully appreciate it. When I look at a digital image I do likewise. I am wondering if this image would be improve by being 'correct' I do not think it would. It is precisely because the blacks are blocked up that the picture appeals to me.

Do you have your nose against a painting and exclaim 'what wonderful brushstrokes' ?
Cheers Ole

[jordand]

That's why we critique.

We've got family and friends on social media will tell us how wonderful our images are. Hopefully on here. a photography forum, we get sensible, honest and purposeful critiques.

I agree 100% with the above.
CCPhoto did his/her best in revising the photo and it is very helpful to me indeed.
I actually applied curves and levels to adjust lights, darks and whites to my liking which might have not been technically correct, but my approach was rather aesthetical than technical.
For that reason I also agree with the post from mugge.
In any case, it is pleasing to know, that there are people out there, who are willing to help other photographers in becoming better in what we all do, and who spend significant amount of time and effort in doing so.
Thank you all.