Ahhh, the smell of Spring: This is a composited image, please don't tell me if you like or not, but if you think it works as an image, I think an image can 'work' without being liked.

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

This is a composited image, please don't tell me if you like or not, but if you think it works as an image, I think an image can 'work' without being liked. Please feel free to interpret 'works' any way you want.

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BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Hi Jon, for me it almost works because of the colors and shapes. But in the end, my eye never found a place to stop between the prominent house, the birds, flowers and the individual.
I was not able to figure out what it’s a picture Of.
I hope that is the type of answer you were looking for.

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

thank you BassmanBruce for your critique, and yes, I would love more comments like the ones you posted.

My intent with the photo was to make an image with a circular theme that would keep the eye moving, just as you recognized and commented on. However, it's not intended to be a photo of the springtime poppies, the houses, clouds, birds or the woman or really anything, it is a photo of a memory or a feeling we might have had at some point in time. Feeling the warm glow of the sun after a long winter, feeling joy in the beauty around us, seeing the beauty of our beautiful earth, smelling the smells of spring, seeing the migrating birds and knowing that another cycle is starting. It's, I guess, a photo of the emotion 'joy', not a photo of flowers and houses and such. I'm hoping this makes some sense.

ICN3S Loc: Cave Junction, OR

Perhaps if the person were standing (straight/ she is leaning somewhat) in the lower right of photo facing the house and sky. This would give me both a start and finish for where my eyes go. I love the colors.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

What makes the composition and perspective better are the flock of birds and the person standing. Nevertheless, still made beautiful by the wildflowers on the hill and the interesting placement of the houses. Thanks for sharing it.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

jonsommer wrote:

thank you BassmanBruce for your critique, and yes,... (show quote)

I spent several moments enjoying this photo before I read your thoughts. I found it to be totally successful. My first reaction was emotional. As you mentioned, it was a feeling of a warm beautiful day. Exploring the scene gave me time to bask in that feeling. Each discovered detail added to the pleasure. It is nicely balanced and very well done.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Very nice job compositing and an unusual perspective - and yes, my eye did wander around the picture.

Stephan G

jonsommer wrote:

This is a composited image, please don't tell me if you like or not, but if you think it works as an image, I think an image can 'work' without being liked. Please feel free to interpret 'works' any way you want.

When I looked at it in DL, I could not figure out why I thought something was awry. Then I realized that the source light was not singular. The front of the house is lit from the opposite direction that the person is lit. That caused a conflict in my mind that I could not resolve with the rest of the image. It is a small thing, but small things can be problematic.

Overall, I like the concept in that it suggested a scene from the Swiss Alps cantons, ignoring the architecture of the buildings in the shot.

And images work. How well depends on the intent of the photographer.

Query: How many images were used for the final result?

Linda2 Loc: Yakima Wa.

I do like it. If it was the cover of a book I would pick it up and see what it was about. If it were mine I would be tempted to remove the house on the far left though.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

Here's what I think would make the photo work better. Reverse the standing person left to right so that the direction of their lighting more nearly matches the lighting of the house. Rotate the person a bit so they are vertical. The implied leading line for the person's gaze then takes you to the birds, the birds to the slope of the hillside, the hillside to the line of flowers, the line of flowers to the person, the persons gaze to the birds and repeat . Now the eye is led around the picture in a repeating circular path and the picture works.

But you are right, I don't have to like the picture for it to work. It works and I admire it for that, but I don't like it.

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

photogeneralist wrote:

Here's what I think would make the photo work bett... (show quote)

Thank you all for your comments, I have taken them all to heart, so now the house on the far left is gone, the figure has been flipped so it looks like only one source light, and she is more vertical. I have also lightened the hill on the far left to give the illusion that it’s farther back in the photo. Seeing my work though your eyes and with your comments is an amazing experience for me. Thank you all again for taking the time you did for my benefit.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

jonsommer wrote:

Thank you all for your comments, I have taken them all to heart, so now the house on the far left is gone, the figure has been flipped so it looks like only one source light, and she is more vertical. I have also lightened the hill on the far left to give the illusion that it’s farther back in the photo. Seeing my work though your eyes and with your comments is an amazing experience for me. Thank you all again for taking the time you did for my benefit.

Have you considered the rule of thirds in this picture? There seems to be too much foreground and it dominates the photos and perhaps cropping might be the answer. Just my thought. You could have two versions and see what you think.

Nightski

I like it.

No really, the flowers are lovely and I think the lady adds a bit of mystery. The only thing I would do is to get rid of the house in the back. It does nothing for the image and it competes with the more interesting house.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

jonsommer wrote:

This is a composited image, please don't tell me if you like or not, but if you think it works as an image, I think an image can 'work' without being liked. Please feel free to interpret 'works' any way you want.

Hi, Jon.
Yes, I.M.C.O. it works well as an image.
It’s impact is skillful capitalization upon the uniquely conceived and complexly accomplished perspective!
Puts me quickly in mind of several paintings by Andrew Wyeth ... whether from his venue in Maine or Pennsylvania I’m not sure.

I can imagine that the difficulty of this self-imposed compositing challenge was heightened by the necessity of keeping track of the many monocular cues to depth perception throughout the range of depth you imposed upon the contrived scene.

To my eye, a masterful accomplishment!

Best regards,
Dave Graham

jonsommer Loc: Usually, somewhere on the U.S. west coast.

Dave, Your sophisticated comments regarding my complex composition tells me that you are no stranger to trying compositing in some of your own work. I like addressing some of the challenges you so readily identify, with my stuff, and I have started thinking that every image I capture is one that is meant to be manipulated and then pushed and shoved, and then turned into something it did not start out to be. Even though I'm really quite new to compositing, for me it's fun. Probably a good thing because I feel that the 'out of camera' promoters are simply missing an opportunity to create interest and a story, and changing an image from a look into 'our' world into a look into 'my' world.

thank you for taking the time to look at my photo and comment so Kindly,
Jon