Offer of an exercise in critique!

1D2n, 600mm f4 is. 1/2000s, f7.1, iso 400. Early morning mist over loch.

I’ve been dipping into the earlier thread about comments on the forum, without yet feeling able to make a useful contribution. However, there has always been a recurring theme about “the art of critique”. I am amateur and have no training in photography but do have experience in giving feedback (despite that, I still find it very difficult) . Like everyone else, I enjoy positive comments. However, it’s the constructive critique that is the most valuable. So I offer this shot as an invitation for those who might be reluctant to be honest! To me, it’s “quite nice”, and that’s it. But I have no idea what others think. Do photographers view it differently from the people who buy prints to hang on their walls? Please feel free to be absolutely blunt and to be negative or positive in a constructive way. Perhaps you might use it as a trial to test your own feedback skills. You could advise upon artistic/aesthetic appeal, technical quality, or anything at all. I am aware that the parent site has the option to post anonymously to avoid bias – I wonder if that would make people more comfortable about being honest and open? The purpose of the exercise is to encourage more people to comment honestly, whilst endeavouring to maintain politeness!

Out of interest, the parent site has useful advice on critique here:THE ART OF CRITIQUE

Hi Ian,

This image has a lovely dreamy feel to it for me. A great composition, a lovely hint of shadow on the water and the friend they have left behind.

Great work

Regards

Rob

Works for me, nice atmospheric image .......

My only nit would be a slight anti-clockwise rotation !

Mick.

OK Ian
A great atmospheric shot and I like it.
Personally ! - I would remove the floating goose and give the shot a long horizintal crop.
I might even darken the water and the reflection area a bit.
Then I'd hang it on a dentists wall !!
Cheers
John

John - you've quickly picked up on one of my dilemmas - the floating goose!

Hi Ian, I particularly enjoy this style of photogrpahy and this is a fine example. I agree with John that I would remove the floater as I find it pulls the eye away from the two in flight which are the principal subject as well as unbalancing the overall composition. Cheers, Mark

I am being honest and I just want to say fantastic shot because thats what it is, I think we look to deeply into this forum at times and lets just celebrate the fact that we are all members of the best forum not only in the UK but Europe as well, we attract some pros, experienced pro-ams and begiiners as well and thats why this forum is the best. If we want to say great shot then lets just say great shot.

Great shot by the way Ian love your stuff.

Danny

I agree about the floater. The two in flight have great motion, while that one arrests the eye.

If it were a painting I would also prefer the two to be swapped over, thus increasing the direction of the shot, but it's a photo, and to some degree we have to accept what we are presented.

Without that one I like the sight of them appearing from the mist. Very atmospheric. A shot I would be very happy to have taken.

Hi Ian,

I have to concur with the others.

I would get rid of the floater ( sounds rude ) other than that its a cracking picture.



Regards



Ian

I think the floater should stay. It adds a touch of assymetry that I find almost surreal. Posing questions that would not arise otherwise.
Excellent stuff.

I really like this, the atmosphere is great. It definately needs some rotation to get the horizon level, and I have to agree with removing the floating goose, its a shame in some ways as 'that's how it was' but it does draw your eye away from the flying ones. Oh and it's definately something to hang on the wall!

This works very well and shows a real sense of serenity. I agree about the rotation and I would be tempted to take a little off the top for my own tastes. I like the outlier as it gives more detail about the birds themselves so adds to the story. Good work and love the muted colours.

Lovely and serene... for me the lone goose on the water could go, but is that too much manipulation, for presentation here probably not, but for other uses such as competitions it is too much, but I would certainly crop to a more pan format....

"Great shot" have loved all your 'subject' in environment photographs of late,portraying the atomsphere,conditions,surroundings very well and I like this 'as shot',very nice Ian

I like this mainly due to how the water blends into the sky. My only crit would be that the in focus flying birds aren't bright enough instead your eyes are drawn towards the oof "floater". I would like others have suggested remove it and brighten the flying birds up.

Hi Ian

Another great shot,agree with John R about removing the left goose and the crop,this would make this a more pleasing shot,prefer the other one though a winner!

Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk

Like it as is for me, Ian.

Have you got your own dry-ice machine Ian? You seem to be able to turn out misty shots at the drop of a hat!
All been said really; the shot would improved with the suggestions made, my only reservation would be the context in which the image was presented in the event of the 'floater' being removed. just have to be up front about it I guess.

Cheers,
Chris

My instict would be to say loose the floating goose for composition reasons .However as so many times reminded by 'club' judges aestetically things are better in 3's .Having looked gone away and come back ,the image is as is and what you interpreted in your minds eye when you hit the shutter button .So in that respect it stays .I would leave it ,it adds depth,conveys the depth of mist better and for me balances better.Would add a touch more brightness to the highs of the flying birds to emphasise the depth and knock back the floater a tadge .Certainly a poster picture for any waiting room.

Many thanks to all for the feedback. Every comment is very much appreciated! I might just print this now and hang it in a waiting room, whereas I probably wouldn't have before. There's no doubt in my mind that this forum inspires me more than anything else. Keep up the good work!

Just out of interest, how does it look as a vertical crop?

Hi Ian.
It's refeshing to hear your thoughts on the forum but can't find any faults with this ,take the sitting goose out or leave it it's in the eye of the beholder,dare i say it excellent image.

Keith.

hi Ian i love this, and would definately hang it on my wall.. i like this type of shot. i would probably crop it to loose some of the sky, so it would be a long a thin print,


Mark.G