@anotherscotsman
Leading lines formed from repeating objects, elements everywhere without becoming a distraction (save for the tree in the far left). Color palette is made from the stuff of dreams.
I can see the camera movement in this shot, particularly panning from left to right. If this were my image, I might have tried boosting ever so lightly the white in the foreground.
Top notch image and evidently, spoiler alert, the winner of this contest.
@JohnDS
I really like the restricted color palette and the use of flare filter (if you used one). Flares being in focus from foreground to background verifies the deep focus. I am however split on the square crop. In one hand, it feels as of if it is not doing your subject matter any favors. I feel like it compresses its otherwise lengthy nature and hugeness. Maybe you were getting rid of unwanted elements in the photograph. On the other hand, it splits the almost square frame nicely. I am going Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde over this photograph.
@CmdrLaForge
A sympathetic panorama, however the elements in the photo do not have enough impact to me. I find myself trying to look at the boats which are too small then I drift towards the mountains but finally end up looking at the body of water in the foreground. I might have tried to play with the colors more in post. Warming up the sand and greening the water. Background sky blue as is.
@Alexander.Of.Oz
While completely unrelated, color tone and subject matter of this picture feels to me like an extension of JohnDS' image and vice-versa. Plenty of similarities, even in how it is partitioned. There is a horizontal line coming in from the right splitting the image until after the vertical half of the image, then that splinters away to two diagonals that reach to the bottom half of the picture which counterbalance volumetrically the building on the right . I do appreciate the funky geometry and the palette but I am having trouble finding elements in the between zones to look at other than the peering youth I only just spotted his existence.
@Apple fanboy
I would have uber loved this cropped!! Try it. From about under the swimming swan up to right over the building at the top and you have yourself a cinematography shot. In terms of this specific contest, it lacks some elements in the extreme foreground that justify the in-focus. The water body isn't quite "giving" in that regard. This is also a shot I can see camera movement, in this particular one, a vertical one, north bound.
@Hughmac
Before anything else, I do have to mention that the cool spectrum colors do not give justice to the subject matter. While it has been shot in the winter, there is serious lack of contrasting warm colors, at least in my mind. Theme-wise, the foliage in the foreground does not provide enough gazing pull and serves more as minor detail of the lake instead of an element making a statement. Same applies for the treeline in the background. I do however find his picture interesting to look at, and again, I can imagine a camera movement, in this case one that starts face down in the water dollying in towards the structure then rotating upwards on its Y axis to face the structure. I will pm you if you want what I think color should look like.
@Laird Knox
Mad max meets the Final Frontier. Two point perspective is very welcome however my little eye spied a camera and tripod smack in the middle of the frame. I do find interesting that only half of the frame is illuminated by a light source, it provides a contrast between the two halves of the frame which is only intensified by the Dutch Angle nature of this picture. Camera movement imagined is on the Z axis moving out in light rotation, starting at a 180 degree from its current state with the sky at the bottom.
@deep diver
Nature, I love it out
here. This is definitely a still cine frame for me. There is different coloration in the back of the frame opposing the foreground, and I find this antithesis compelling. The sinister mountain against the peaceful valley. Treeline in the foreground does offer scale to the mountain and makes them useful in the frame. Pity the lake is kind of bland. Maybe some coloring could have helped it out. I could really see this photo with a desaturation at approx -40.
So, the placements are
#1 anotherscotsman - for a still made in cinematic heaven.
#2 JohnDS - for the simple fact that I both love it & hate it at the same time.
#3 Apple fanboy - for submitting a cinematic photograph as well (should it have been cropped).
Thanks again at everyone for participating and I sincerely hope my feedback does not insult anyone in any way. It is always subjective and extremely personal.
To the next one!
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