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Dear Experts,
I captured this photograph of a man climbing a mountain.
In the distance, a town can be seen, and at the base of the mountain stands a small hut.
Through this composition, I intended to convey the message of the man’s hard journey, from the distant town, past the hut, and finally to here.
The title is ”Long Way".
This photo was not published.
I assume this may be due to issues with framing or color balance.
I would greatly appreciate any feedback or advice you might have on how I could improve this photograph.
Thank you.
Hidemasa Hatta
24mm/ f6.3 / 1/100 /ISO 100
Hidemasa Hatta,
Thank you for posting your photo in Critique Forum, and for explaining the theme of the man's hard journey. It looks like a strenuous climb. The title, 'Long Way' may suggest a meaning of life's journey to viewers.
My suggestion is to simplify the composition by cropping closer and darkening the rocks at the bottom while leaving the path lighter. Having the path end at the corner of the frame may help to show the man's path more clearly.
For this sample edit I removed the poles, ropes, and chain along the path to make the climb look more difficult, cropped to level the horizon, and darkened the bottom rocks. I used Photoshop's 'Sponge' tool to slightly saturate the blue colours of the man's clothing so he is easier to see.
These are suggestions only.
. . . . Steven, senior critic
Hi and welcome I see Steven has given you some wonderful advice. Great looking location I think the guy standing up would have looked a lot better. I've gone for more power and impact - Nik Tools Tonal Contrast Photoshop Dehaze +54 to bring out the sky and that 3D look. Thank you for sharing..
Hi Hidemasa,
You've already gotten some solid feedback and I agree with most of it. What I’d add is that the hiker’s placement in the frame feels a little off. His posture is fine, it makes sense for the climb, but his position past the halfway mark of the image and facing outward makes it feel like he’s exiting the entire frame. That disconnects him from the story you're building and pulls the eye away from the journey.
The light here isn’t helping either. It’s flat and even, which softens the drama and makes everything feel a little too uniform. Light with direction, especially early or late in the day, adds shape and depth. It gives our eyes a path to follow. Right now, the hiker is easy to overlook at first glance.
That said, the concept is strong and the environment is beautiful. I added an edit using some of the suggestions already mentioned. I removed the chains, cropped a bit tighter, painted in a curves layer with dropped highlights to add mood, and most importantly, used the content aware move tool to reposition the hiker slightly.. That shift helps anchor him more firmly in the frame and brings the focus back where it belongs.
All the best,
Tammy
Dear Steven,
Thank you very much for taking the time to review my photo and provide such thoughtful and constructive feedback.
I truly appreciate your interpretation of the theme and the idea that the title "Long Way" may resonate with viewers as a metaphor for life's journey. That insight gave me a new perspective on the emotional potential of the image.
Your suggestions regarding the composition, particularly the cropping to emphasize the path, darkening the rocks, and removing distracting elements are extremely helpful. I hadn’t considered how simplifying the scene could enhance the sense of struggle and focus the viewer’s attention more effectively. I also appreciate your note about subtly increasing the saturation of the man’s clothing. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference.
I’ll experiment with these adjustments and study your sample edit closely. Your critique has given me a clearer direction for improving not only this photo, but also how I approach storytelling through composition in general.
Thank you once again for your generous guidance.
Sincerely,
Hidemasa Hatta
Dear Daniel,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your insights.
I appreciate your suggestion about having the subject stand up. From now on, I’ll pay more attention to the subject’s posture when taking photographs.
Your edit brings a dramatic atmosphere to the image, especially with the use of Tonal Contrast and Dehaze. The enhanced sky and added depth really help make the scene more powerful.
After seeing your version, I realized that my original photo looks a bit hazy and flat in comparison.
Thank you for your precise and insightful advice. I truly appreciate it.
Best regards,
Hidemasa Hatta
Dear Tammy,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and detailed feedback.
Your point about the hiker’s placement is something I hadn’t fully considered, I can clearly see how his position and direction of movement affect the visual flow and storytelling. The idea that he feels like he’s exiting the frame really struck me. it explains why the composition may feel a bit disconnected.
I also completely agree about the lighting. I took the photo during mid day, which resulted in flat and even light. Your comment helped me realize how directional light can add not just shape and depth, but also guide the viewer’s attention.
Thank you as well for sharing your edit.
I really appreciate you taking the time to help me grow. Your critique gave me a lot to think about and apply to future work.
Best regards,
Hidemasa Hatta
Hidemasa Hatta,
Gracias por publicar tu foto en el Foro de Crítica y por explicar el tema del arduo camino de este hombre. Parece una subida extenuante. El título, "Largo Camino", podría sugerir a los espectadores el significado del viaje de la vida.
Mi sugerencia es simplificar la composición recortando más cerca y oscureciendo las rocas de la parte inferior, dejando el camino más claro. Si el camino termina en la esquina del encuadre, se puede apreciar mejor el camino del hombre.
Para esta edición de muestra, quité los postes, las cuerdas y la cadena del sendero para que la subida pareciera más difícil, recorté la imagen para nivelar el horizonte y oscurecí las rocas del fondo. Usé la herramienta "Esponja" de Photoshop para saturar ligeramente los azules de la ropa del hombre y así verlo mejor.
Éstas son sólo sugerencias.
. . . . Steven, crítico principal
yo estoy deacuerdo pero tambien quitaria un poco el rojo que distrae la mirada de la narrativa
