Thank you. I am glad you like the image but just to be clear, the "golden hour light" is artificial and part of my attempt to create a digital art version.
My normal workflow is to create a documentary version from the raw file and where an image particularly interests me, I try to create a nice looking digital art version as well.
Fwiw, below is the original "documentary" version from the raw file.
The light is an important factor in this photo and well done for experimenting with extra-golden hour, although actually the original light is also very attractive. In the version you posted, I think the water needs to be a bit more blue, with less of the added gold.
The composition is unusual, with the visual weight of the land in the bottom corner counterbalanced by a sliver of land on the right of the horizon. (Interestingly I was convinced the horizon was not straight and was lower on the left, however, it is straight and maybe it was an optical illusion as a result of the left side looking heavier.) In any case it works surprisingly well, and the open space of sky and water it leaves gives a sense of the vastness of the lake. This would be a point in favour of leaving the crop as posted, although Mike‘s crop has its merits too. The sense of space may be reduced, but the crop results in a more balanced image.
Pete
A bejewelled camel may be the centre of attention, but the real jewel is the seemingly real, but, of course, inanimate affection shown by the adult camel to the offspring. Having all that golden opulence out of focus in the background is a great way to set off the silver camels.
Pete
It is satisfying when viewers see the scene the way you planned, and that seems to be the case here. I agree with everything Minnie said, but would like to add an appreciation for those dark, threatening clouds - it would not have been the same with a beautiful blue sky.
Pete
Looking at the thumbnail, I thought the bird could do with a bit more light, but after seeing the full-sized image I decided it is fine as it is, in fact there is some beautiful subtle light across its back, picking out delicate detail and colour.
The camera , lens and photographer are obviously a good combination!
Pete
A nicely seen combination, as without either the tyres or the queue of people the image would not really work.
Pete
Minnie has said it all again! Very nice.
Pete
I love the “whoosh!” effect caused by all those bundled leading lines. Roel was spot on with his WARP analogy!
I also like all those different shades of green and am glad you managed to remove the purple chromatic aberration.
Pete
I like the fact that the players are contained within those two posts, despite the expanse of sand.
I agree with Minnie, that it would be worth playing with this in PP, and guess that due to the slightly misty conditions, a high-key B&W conversion could work well. Since it will not be possible to improve the detail, I would go the other way and reduce sharpness, and maybe add grain, to reduce detail further and leave a dreamy image.
Pete
The contrast between the brutal concrete and the graceful birds is always a central theme of your project, and here it looks as if the bird is about to seriously bend its beak against that massive pillar, whilst trying to land on the ledge. Surely it can’t be done? But I guess it could!
All the usual delicious ingredients are here and as usual it is a treat. I also give a nod to Mike for pointing out the balance between the bird and the splash top left. In fact that could almost be a warning of what could happen if the bird gets its landing angles wrong!
Pete
I was never a fan of larger than life monster flicks. Some friends always saw them as comedy. I might have been the stick in the mud. However today, if I happened to be presented with a scene like that, I would have had a lot of fun getting as many angles as I could. Does it say something about the sense of humour of Scandinavians?
I love bamboo. It is a versatile and under utilised resource.
You have managed to give us nearly 90 degrees field of view, almost horizontal up to the vanishing point. The culms look healthy and bright and the stand has been kept clear of old growth.
Bamboo has some interesting flowering habits. While many Herbaceous species flower yearly most woody species don't and can take from a few years, many decades or even up to 150 years to flower. Most of these species die back after flowering. Some species, no matter where in the world they are, start their flower cycle at exactly the same time.
I know nothing of subject obsession... 😉
And one that must be seen at least full screen if not 1:1 to appreciate the decoration of the adult.
Thanks Mike, Minnie and Pete.
She certainly cooperated for that shot. I did drop highlights a bit and lifted shadows just enough with a view to not overdo it. Filtered light can work well sometimes. Minnie I do have a few more birds already (although they are not often around) that I think you will like. Too kind Pete...
Here's a complete aside stirred up by Bryan's comment. Larger than life monster films never appealed to me either. However. Many years ago, I watched an analysis of the original Kong movie. It was intercut with shots that the contemporary audience would have been seeing on the news presentations that were shown in movie theatres in the same period. I think to grasp the impact of the original Kong, you need to see it with something of the mindset of people of the time. Many of the shots in Kong are deliberately, it has to be deliberate, based on the images the audience would be familiar with of black American boxers of the time. Then look at the relationship between Kong and the heroine. That's one very racist film.
Thank you Pete.
I like both the original and the colour graded version. Both have their pros and cons.
I mentioned earlier there are no totally right or totally wrong answers in situations like this.
Pete & Mike said it all.
It's a worthy entry in your series, and I am happy to see that you are still expanding it, finding new angles and new wonders.
Beautifully detailed still life capture of lovely art ornaments. The gleam of the metals and the rich gold setting are nicely punctuated with the small areas of reds and even smaller blues. Nice atmospheric capture of museum pieces that reflects the riches of a distant era and culture.