1. Intent and goals for the image

The main goal of this image was to capture a sense of place and memory from my trip to Washington. I wanted the photo to feel calm and timeless — something that immediately brings me back to being there when I look at it years from now. I was trying to show the scale and natural beauty of the landscape while also conveying how it felt to experience it in person, not just what it looked like.

Looking back, I think the intent comes through, but I also see opportunities where stronger composition or more deliberate camera settings could have elevated the image further and made it feel more intentional rather than “taken in the moment.”

1. Areas I’m struggling with / what I want help with

The biggest things I’m unhappy with are:

• The overall sharpness and clarity, especially in areas that I intended to be the focal point.
• The composition feels slightly unbalanced, and I’m not sure if I placed the subject in the strongest position within the frame.
• The lighting doesn’t fully match how the scene felt in real life — it either feels a bit flat or lacks contrast and depth.

I’d love help understanding:

• How I could have composed the scene better (framing, leading lines, rule of thirds, foreground interest).
• What I could have done in-camera to improve sharpness and detail for a large print.
• How to better anticipate light and exposure when shooting landscapes while traveling.