Photo Critique #114

Photo Critique #114

on Dec 9th 2011 with 7 comments

Friday Photo Critique is our weekly community project, where we publish a photograph submitted by one of our wonderful readers, then ask you all to offer constructive feedback on the image. It’s a great way to learn more about photography, express your viewpoint, and have your own image critiqued!

Quick Ground Rules

  1. Play nice! We’ve deliberately chosen photographs that aren’t perfect, so please be constructive with any criticism.
  2. Feel free to offer any type of advice – composition, lighting, post-processing etc.
  3. You can also link to photographs that you feel offer a great example of this type of image shot exceptionally well.

Without further ado, here is this week’s candidate for Friday Photo Critique!

The Photograph

Photo Details & Inspiration

  • Nikon D90
  • 50mm
  • f/22
  • 1/10
  • ISO 200
  • Used a tripod

I added some curves adjustment in two parts, one to the mid and foreground and one to the background. I wanted the mountains and clouds to really *pop.* I wish I could have got a little bit more of the mountains however there were some nasty buildings on the left that would have ruined the photo if I would have changed perspective.

This was my first time to Colorado and I had never really experienced a real white winter so I took the opportunity to do some landscapes since I’m busy doing event work most of the time. I wasn’t aiming for anything too spectacular, just something to show to my friends that would make them jealous of my vacation.

Photographer: Brandon Willis

Please let us know what you think in the comments – how would you have approached the scene or taken the photo differently? A massive thank you to everyone who commented last week.

The most constructive and helpful comments will be featured on the site. Interested in submitting your own photo? You can do so here!

 
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Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

I was raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, I left for Western Kentucky University where I obtained degrees in photojournalism and cultural anthropology. I am currently employed by CityBeat, an arts and entertainment weekly in Cincinnati. The work I am doing here is very rewarding and I suspect it will continue to be. I am available for freelance work in all areas of photography.  

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  • http://www.transitionsphotostudio.com/ Travis

    The color is quite beautiful as well is the landscape. In my opinion, the composition of the image is a bit too open. I get distracted very easily by so much going on. I think that if the focal point of the picture is meant to be the water tower, it needs to be cropped quite a bit. Nice work though.

  • Tor Egil Rasmussen

    I think the composition is struggeling a lot. My eyes are darting all over the picture. I really dont know whats the point of the image? What is the subject? If its the structure, then you are too far away. All the other details makes the image confusing.

  • Thinkeye

    Nice shot. The beauty lies in the eye of beholder, so don’t take my opinion too seriously.

    I would probably go 1/2 or 2/3 stop higher with the light because of the dark tree areas in the middle. Also two steps directly forward and lower the tripod a foot or so to get the tower higher and appear bigger. If you want the tower in your picture, or you can not avoid it, accept it and give it proper size and perspective. If you can and want to exclude the tower then do it, but do not let it stand there like unwanted child – too near to ignore, too far to love.

  • Jaime

    You did a good job bringing out the mountains in the background.
    The problem that I see with this photo is the harsh lighting conditions. It obliterates the trees in the middle and right of the picture, and creates unflattering shadows on the tower. It’s also a shame that the picture was taken at a time where there was a huge white cloud right in the middle of the sky. The brightness of the cloud draws the eye to it and takes attention away from the nicer parts of the photo. The contrast of the mountains and blue skies would have been nice.
    In short, it’s all about timing. Think about taking your photos during the Golden hours early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

  • http://sripal.co.cc Sripal

    great shot!
    you have pulled off a tricky exposure situation (white snow) well.

  • https://twitter.com/#!/Brandonw365 BCal

    Thanks for the advice. I do agree that the composition is a too busy. I guess I was so eager to take the picture I decided to cram everything into the frame. I do agree I should have got closer and to get the tower some perspective and add foreground and that the trees in the middle and far right are overly dark. Next time, I’ll get up earlier– albeit with a couple cups of coffee– and get some gorgeous early morning photos. Anyway, thanks for the critique and advice.

  • James Shewmaker

    This picture illustrates why one should not be a slave to the “rule of thirds” composition. The main body of the structure (is it a water tower?) is almost exactly where the “rule of thirds says that it should be. But that by itself is not enough to make to picture “pop.”