maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

I am a noob to the forum and have finally gotten up courage to post an image and ask for C&C. The story behind the shots fired and this picture is that while I was in the field taking some pictures of the farm equipment and hay, the guy across the road came out and fired off some shots. I guess I was getting too close to the hay!! If you decide my image could use some PP and decide to edit and repost--would you please tell how you did it and with what program? I have CS4

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

Have you ever heard of the saying "one ah shit wipes out ten atta boys"? Everytime a photographer ignores common sense, ten other photographers will pay. I was raised on a ranch, and cannot even begin to tell you all of the trespass stories over the years. If it is not your land, you don't set foot on it. . .period! I can never understand what makes a person think that they can just up and trespass on another man's land without first asking.

No photograph is worth it. If you think that it is, drive in, introduce yourself and ask. You might be surprised by the warm greeting that you receive because you showed some respect. . .hell, you might even make a new friend. Remember, these people fight the problems of trespassing all of the time. And, based upon my many years of ranching, I am willing to bet that this man's land was posted with no trespassing signs. . .making your actions all the worse.

If you cannot get the shot you want without going onto another man's land, then don't be surprised when the land owner isn't all that friendly and fires off a couple of shots! The rule is pretty simple: If it is not your land, keep off.

Now, to the images. I like the more distant of the two, giving the viewer a better understanding of the "rake". I did a hard crop and a little tweak of the levels and contrast, plus some subtle working of the sky making this image work better for my eye. I used CS2 on my laptop.

catzeye Loc: South Carolina

Maxamillion, your concept was really good and you saw the potential of a good shot, so just hang in there and keep taking photos... I am not a farmer and I still can't stand for any one to be on my little 6 acres without asking first. Whether you were tresspassing or not to get this shot, it's always a good idea to ask first to go on any ones land.

I do like the one created with the CS5 by Mooseeyes. Sometimes less sky is better and this one keep your eye focused on the subject which takes you right into the depth of the field.

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

Catzeye and Mooseyes--thank you both for your critiques. I appreciate that you saw what I was trying to do. I like the edit you did and see the point about the sky.

As to the trespassing--you are right. I was trespassing and didn't think about the land owner. There were no "no trespassing" signs at all and I know there is a snowmobile trail that goes across that land so I assumed--and you know what assume means--that it would not be a problem. There are six houses across from that field and I guess I found out who it belonged to when he stepped out with the rifle. Guess I thought the rifle was a little bit of an overkill since I was within shouting distance. Just glad he shot in the air. But lesson learned and that won't happen again. I guess I will stick to taking pictures of my dog and flowers.

catzeye Loc: South Carolina

Maximillion, Don't stop with your dog and flowers.. I see the potential for great shots from you ... don't get discouraged.

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

Thank you for your encouragement. I will try but will only do it on state owned land. It really did scare me though I tried to make light of it. What a bonehead I was.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Don't be afraid to ask land owners for permission to shoot on their land. The worst that can happen is they say no. We have a hundred acre farm and trespassing is a real problem. We have had fences cut, cattle butchered in the field and sheep shot and the list goes on, but we are more than happy to allow people who ask access to do none invasive activities on the property. A farmer or land owner can only assume that if they haven't been asked that that person is up to no good.

catzeye Loc: South Carolina

Country mama, I bet it takes a lot of work to run your farm. I know you must have some beautiful country on your farm. It is a shame some people people trespass with malicious intent.

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

I'm sorry to hear that you have had such problems with trespassers. That is awful. It is very possible that someone had vandalized this landowners equipment too. In any case, I shouldn't have been where I was.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

just remember, no photo is worth a butt full of rock salt - or worse! in most states, trespassing is NOT justifiable grounds for using deadly force, and farmer Brown would probably do jail time if he hit you, but i wouldn't want to test that...

gizzy.whicker Loc: Cumberland Co., Illinois

Hey there, maxamillion, ol' boy. That's what they make big long zoom lens' for. You stay on the road right-of-way and zoom zoom and clickity click to your heart's content. That's why I got the new Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. It'll zoom all the way out to 840mm optically, and 3,360mm digitally, and even hand held it will give you nice, sharp images. Below are two shots taken while sitting in a chair on DixieLee's back deck. In the first shot notice right in the middle of the picture an outhouse garden-tool shed on which you can barely see a copper sun affixed to the door. That was taken with the lens fully retracted. The second photo is zoomed all the way out to its maximum digital equiv of 3,360mm and frames only the copper sun's eyes and nose. And that is hand held. No one will shoot shotguns at you if you'll use one of these cameras.

zoom fully retracted - 24mm eqiv


zoom fully extended, max digital - 3,360mm equiv

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

When I grew up in the Ozarks we had a real problem with people stealing hogs and calves from our farm. Once, when I was about fifteen, my dad called me to go with him to scare off a couple poachers. My dad told me to take a shot through the trees and give them a good scare, but I guess I misunderstood his request because I leveled down on one guy and let go. I was a very good shot, but I must have missed him by a couple inches because they made a world record dash out of there.

My dad started yelling "DON'T HIT HIM! DON'T HIT HIM!" Being young and dumb, I was mostly disappointed and embarrassed that I missed such a good shot in front of my dad. :roll:

catzeye Loc: South Carolina

That is a powerful ZOOM!!!!!!!!!

gizzy.whicker Loc: Cumberland Co., Illinois

Yes it is a powerful zoom... and the whole nine yards for less that $400??? DUHHH It was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned. We have both the SX30 & SX40 and they both have the same zoom capability. The SX 40 does a little better job with the Image Stabilization, but only slightly.

That is a powerful ZOOM!!!!!!!!![/quote]

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

[quote=gizzy.whicker]Hey there, maxamillion, ol' boy. That's what they make big long zoom lens' for. You stay on the road right-of-way and zoom zoom and clickity click to your heart's content. That's why I got the new Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. It'll zoom all the way out to 840mm optically, and 3,360mm digitally, and even hand held it will give you nice, sharp images. Below are two shots taken while sitting in a chair on DixieLee's back deck. In the first shot notice right in the middle of the picture an outhouse garden-tool shed on which you can barely see a copper sun affixed to the door. That was taken with the lens fully retracted. The second photo is zoomed all the way out to its maximum digital equiv of 3,360mm and frames only the copper sun's eyes and nose. And that is hand held. No one will shoot shotguns at you if you'll use one of these cameras.

That is an awesome zoom but this old LADY has a hard time keeping anything but my lil' ole 18-55mm still and I don't think setting up a tripod on the side of a well traveled road would be much better for my health than having shots fired at me. But I have learned my lesson and have decided shooting on state land is the way to go.