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Our chopper landed high on the mountain and allowed us to get out and play in the snow which had fallen the previous night.

This is one of the few shots taken outside the helicopter.

Comments welcome:

I have a lot of pictures like this: when on the spot it looks beautiful but it is very hard to convey the feeling through a picture, usually the scale of things is lost. I do not want to sound too harsh, but this one has nothing for it. The foreground is messy and the background very ordinary.

ok, but what would make it better.
A person walking into the picture on the smooth snow would help give a sense of perspective.
The sky is a brilliant blue, but some interest like clouds or birds etc would add osme inerest.
Just some thoughts.
Ian

Bob
God loves you! He takes you to beautiful places. I think with every landscape photographers need to think about foreground..middle ground and background.You got the first 2 right but the foreground is essentially empty. Anything in the foreground would help...my favourite items being: greyhounds, bicycles,umbrellas, guitars, beautiful women,pigs,vintage motor cars and helicopters. Any one of these items placed in the foreground of your image I think would: A. Provide a sense of scale B. Provide a greater sense of depth perspective C. Provided a touch more of both colour and interest. There are no rules in photography but if I had to name one 'almost rule' it would be "Avoid empty foregrounds in land/sea/snow or sky scapes. If anyone can direct me to a quality landscape that breaks this 'almost rule' then I would be grateful to see it. And yes, I do expect there a few out there. PS... ALL of the above mentioned items placed into your snow scape would be a real eye popper!

Matt. K wrote:ALL of the above mentioned items placed into your snow scape would be a real eye popper!

Except then you wouldn't be able to see any snow

favourite items being: greyhounds, bicycles,umbrellas, guitars, beautiful women,pigs,vintage motor cars and helicopters

in that order? are the pigs alive or bacon? small yet important details Matt.

biggerry wrote:in that order? are the pigs alive or bacon? small yet important details Matt.

I'd like see the women sandwiched in two large pieces of bacon.

Lovely landscape! I like the colours and I agree with
the above that a person climbing or standing in the
foreground would add a sense of proportion.

Seriously BobG,

You continue to produce such stellar landscape shots on a regular basis, we as a forum would love you critique some of our shots as well. I am sure you will have alot to offer.
I am sure others will agree.

surenj wrote:Seriously BobG,

You continue to produce such stellar landscape shots on a regular basis, we as a forum would love you critique some of our shots as well. I am sure you will have alot to offer.
I am sure others will agree.

Thanks Surenj.
Anyone who has seen a number of my landscapes would know I have a good understanding or foreground/ middleground/ backround, rule of thirds, leading lines, impact and mood, point of interest etc. etc. and thanks for recognising that.

Having said that, I wouldn't take issue with any of the above comments which are certainly appropriate to this image and of benefit also to anyone else reading the thread. I intentionally posted it here to see what others thought of it. Personally I thought it had some redeeming features even though it's a rule breaker but maybe not.

Most of my Mt. Cook images were taken crammed with 4 others in a tiny helicopter in which I had virtually no control over angle/height/direction and very limited contriol over composition. I did manage however to get quite a number of keepers and would have absolutley loved to have a private flight where I could direct the pilot and touch down anywhere I chose. We had just five minutes where we landed on the mountain top and I have some images with the chopper and my wife in frame but only happy snaps not worth posting here.

I also recognise I am not particularly good at critique and have to force my self to do it.

Mental note to try harder in future

Matt. K wrote:Bob
God loves you! He takes you to beautiful places. I think with every landscape photographers need to think about foreground..middle ground and background.You got the first 2 right but the foreground is essentially empty. Anything in the foreground would help...my favourite items being: greyhounds, bicycles,umbrellas, guitars, beautiful women,pigs,vintage motor cars and helicopters. Any one of these items placed in the foreground of your image I think would: A. Provide a sense of scale B. Provide a greater sense of depth perspective C. Provided a touch more of both colour and interest. There are no rules in photography but if I had to name one 'almost rule' it would be "Avoid empty foregrounds in land/sea/snow or sky scapes. If anyone can direct me to a quality landscape that breaks this 'almost rule' then I would be grateful to see it. And yes, I do expect there a few out there. PS... ALL of the above mentioned items placed into your snow scape would be a real eye popper!

That's what I was trying to say, but did not know it what it was...

This image is not one of Bobs great ocean images, but a great shot of a location most of us will never get to see. I like what is being shown. Yes it does lack a lot, but the image also has a lot to show. It is easy for the armchair experts to tear an image apart, now where are their images. Most who have made comments here do not post a lot of images, but are more than happy to tear an image apart if it is not perfect in there eyes....... Surenj comes across as an expert, yet he has very little photographic experience and does not post a lot of images, Matt K does post images and I like his off beat look at the world and the only one who give good advice. The others I have seen very little of their work.

Myself, I have stopped posting images to this forum due to the armchair experts. This used to be a good photo forum for image posting but not anymore. Posters do get tired of having their images torn apart with little or no encouragement for improvement, where has the help, encouragement, and advise gone....... where has looking at an image beyond a quick glance and evaluation of what has been taken. It is just too easy to say I do not like this image because it has no foreground or background ......... get out of your armchairs and show what you can do, and lets see if it is any better that what is being torn apart.......... then this forum may improve........

big pix wrote:Most who have made comments here do not post a lot of images, but are more than happy to tear an image apart if it is not perfect in there eyes...

umm.. ftw, have you looked at any of these peoples posts? Since you have bundled me into that category I find that particularly offensive. Please point out a post where I have 'happily teared an image apart'

big pix wrote: Surenj comes across as an expert, yet he has very little photographic experience and does not post a lot of images

again ftw? have you looked at any of his posts? I take offensive to that comment and its not even directed at me

Myself, I have stopped posting images to this forum due to the armchair experts.

maybe you should clarify what you want when posting an image.. do you want critique or do you just want some 'wow great shot' comments

I rarely comment on your images because you post the same image threads across a number of forums, additionaly for me its a give and take thing, why should I burn my time commenting and viewing your pictures when you have not done the same for me?

Having said that, I wouldn't take issue with any of the above comments which are certainly appropriate to this image and of benefit also to anyone else reading the thread. I intentionally posted it here to see what others thought of it.

And because it was a posting in the Image Reviews and Critiques forum I gave an honest opinion, even if it was an unqualified one.

Personally I thought it had some redeeming features even though it's a rule breaker but maybe not.

It has redeeming features and quite a lot, I feel. It is a lovely landscape with contrasting colours, depth of field, sharpness and a very good composition - even if I did not list them all.

Most of my Mt. Cook images were taken crammed with 4 others in a tiny helicopter in which I had virtually no control over angle/height/direction and very limited control over composition.

Ah! Now we are getting to the crux. A good picture should talk by itself, but now and then the viewer needs a visual clue to put that picture into perspective, especially if it is an unfamiliar scene or subject. It could be an element in the picture itself like a shadow of the helicopter or perhaps a short description of the circumstances in which the picture was taken to truly appreciate the effort and personal risk that went into taking it. We all have seen wonderful photographs in this forum and our admiration was further enhanced when the photographic technique or circumstances involving the shoot were explained.

So please accept my apology on this occasion, no offense was meant. However, you are all always welcome to criticise my posting constructively for it is how I learn.

I guess as I am the original poster I should clarify that I am not offended by the contributions of any of the posters here and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to comment.

I hope I didn't come across as unappreciative in my above response and say now I do have respect for the abilities of all those who posted.

Doesn't matter which photographic forum, camera club or other group we submit our photos too, we will always get a range of responses based not only on photographic experience but also on ones ability to communicate/ critique appropriately. In the end it's up to ourselves to make of it what we will and learn from it.

I know I should critique more (and that's largely what my reply post was about) but I recognise that it's not a hat I wear easily.

So guys - please continue to constructively critique my images as you see fit. I truly do appreciate it.

I am not thin skinned about it and certainly don't want to appear to be defensive.

I realise that everyone who offers comments and critique on a photograph also puts their own credibility up for scrutiny and the straight talkers as well as others deserve respect for that.

This was the very first Australian photographic forum I joined some years back and I like most others here have grown during that time, partly as a result of the critique and help from other forum members.

The photo I posted is this thread is quite an ordinary photo with little impact.
It does triggers emotions in the photographer (me) because I had such a great time on a near perfect morning. The point is well made that this isn't conveyed to an observer who wasn't there at the time and that the photo needs further elements to achieve that.

So play nice everyone. I'm cool.

Bob G wrote:I guess as I am the original poster I should clarify that I am not offended by the contributions of any of the posters here and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to comment.

I hope I didn't come across as unappreciative in my above response and say now I do have respect for the abilities of all those who posted.

Doesn't matter which photographic forum, camera club or other group we submit our photos too, we will always get a range of responses based not only on photographic experience but also on ones ability to communicate/ critique appropriately. In the end it's up to ourselves to make of it what we will and learn from it.

I know I should critique more (and that's largely what my reply post was about) but I recognise that it's not a hat I wear easily.

So guys - please continue to constructively critique my images as you see fit. I truly do appreciate it.

I am not thin skinned about it and certainly don't want to appear to be defensive.

I realise that everyone who offers comments and critique on a photograph also puts their own credibility up for scrutiny and the straight talkers as well as others deserve respect for that.

This was the very first Australian photographic forum I joined some years back and I like most others here have grown during that time, partly as a result of the critique and help from other forum members.

The photo I posted is this thread is quite an ordinary photo with little impact.
It does triggers emotions in the photographer (me) because I had such a great time on a near perfect morning. The point is well made that this isn't conveyed to an observer who wasn't there at the time and that the photo needs further elements to achieve that.

So play nice everyone. I'm cool.

Bob,
I know what you mean and that's what I was trying to say in my post. This is not one of your best and I know how good you can be.

Thanks - No worries and not necessary - I understood your point all along.