I like the dash of light on the bg hills. The colors are soft and subtle, but so is the focus. OTOneH, it creates a comfortable sort of subdued mood. OTOtherH: this image needs a little something else to carry it to next level. Perphaps more dof? more color? opening up the fg shadows for detail and color in the trees? Dunno, but something.
Being a color fan, I have to ask. Why did you desaturate?
I agree with Catherine about the lighting on the background, but the horizontal at the very bottom distracts my eye away from that and there isn't much in the foreground to pull me back to that good light.
Muted colors are what the scene needed to duplicate the moment and feeling. I also despise saturated colors for the sake of saturated colors.
The fg line, I must be different, but when I look at the image I do not notice the fg line. I agree that it is there but for me, it doesn't pull my eyes anywhere.
I'm with you Jim. Thanks for elaborating on your thoughts for us. Sometimes critiquing is like armchair quarterbacking, when you were the one who was there and know what mood/ look you want to convey. For me, then, that makes the bg hill with the light the main subject so I'll return to my thought about more dof.
By FG line I assume you mean the horizontal streak in the water. I find it a distraction; it pulls me away from that special moment that this image otherwise conveys. I gave it the 'ol scroll crop and it really cleans it up IMO. Keeps my eye on the lit ridge where it belongs.
I'm really liking the feel of this, Jim. The limited area of focus creates a tension that I find appealing, the light is sweet, and the subdued colors are in harmony with the tranquil scene. Two nits - the line; to me it suggests a boat wake which "interrupts" the feelings of tranquility. The blown area of sky, just above the ridge on the extreme right. Both pretty minor, but worth addressing, imo.
Discussion
7 replies540mm
1/30 @ f8
ISO 100
Handheld with Camera IS
Desaturated the colors
Icy Strait, Alaska
I agree with Catherine about the lighting on the background, but the horizontal at the very bottom distracts my eye away from that and there isn't much in the foreground to pull me back to that good light.
The fg line, I must be different, but when I look at the image I do not notice the fg line. I agree that it is there but for me, it doesn't pull my eyes anywhere.
That is interesting. Thanks for your comments.
As for the blown sky, may look that way in the web presentation but is not in the print presentation.
Thanks for all the comments, especially the line. The more it was mentioned the more it started bothering me also.