Grazing Horsesby
ladpupmoeComment by frisca: Hi Peggy!
Greetings from the Critique Club
I didn't get a chance to vote on this picture during the challenge, but I hope I can offer you some comments to help you along in your photography.
Colour, Composition, Contrast:
You got fewer comments on this photography than many pictures get, but you were lucky in that all of your commenters offered you some constructive comments.
The elements I notice in your shot are the horses and the tree in the foreground. I like that you chose to frame your shot using the trees, it adds to the country feel, but because they appear to be in shadow, their colours are more saturated and more in focus than the rest of the shot. This takes away from the horses, who are already suffering from a lack of sharpness in their focus. Indeed they appear very small in the shot, and I would have liked it if you included less tree and got a bit closer to the animals.
Focus and Lighting
I agree that the colours are being drowned out by the light. Did you consider trying this shot again when the sun was lower in the sky? Perhaps nearer to sunset? (Or even just after sunrise if you are an early riser!)
The effect of the light is to wash out the colours of the grass and the horses, which doesn't hold our attention as much as it could. The colours are washed out, and a lower, softer light would have really made this shot pop.
Overall
I liked the idea here, and your composition. The colours are not true to life, the horses are far off and the lighting is flat, all of which are easily correctable technical problems which would made this shot for you. :) Happy shooting!
Photographer found comment helpful.
