Arbuckle Creek
Nov 3, 2013 09:18:32 #
One thing about Landscapes, A whole lot of nothing is a whole lot of nothing. I spend most of my time doing Macro and Wildlife, so I struggle with Landscapes. Here are two photos of a local creek with beautiful clouds and still water, with that said, is it still a whole lot of nothing?? Please feel free to play with these and try to make sense or direction of some sort.
Nov 3, 2013 09:19:08 #
Absolutely stunning cloud formation, prefer colour but monochrome also works well
The bush breaks up the foreground just right
The bush breaks up the foreground just right
Nov 3, 2013 11:02:38 #
I like the scene, and the processing in the color version. You've got some nice weedy grass on the left to give you your foreground elements. Though the photo composition is basically in halves rather than thirds, I am not in favor of any type of crop. I think the mirror effect works here. Though your own goal should be primary, I do think a slightly brighter version would display better on the web. A slight and careful brightening of the shadowed areas plus a little local dodge/burn work might also let you make more of the leading line that runs along the left side and is more visible in the monochrome version. I would be reluctant to try to tinker, as tinkering with the jpegs of artistically processed images is often disastrous. The painterly processing really brings out the beauty in those clouds. Lovely, you should do more landscapes, you have a good eye.
Nov 3, 2013 11:46:04 #
Thanks JR1
JR1 wrote:
Absolutely stunning cloud formation, prefer colour but monochrome also works well
The bush breaks up the foreground just right
The bush breaks up the foreground just right
Nov 3, 2013 11:52:19 #
The composition is great , leads the eye to the center of image, and clouds receive the eye because they are the whitest portion, but the eye then searches for a stop point (Subject - Point of interest) needs boat on far bank - bird feeding - deer drinking - picnic laid out.
Nov 3, 2013 11:55:36 #
I think it is a whole lot of something. The color IMO is better...looks like a Hudson River school painting.
Nov 3, 2013 11:58:08 #
Thanks,
I tried cropping in 3rds and really lost the affect of the sky or water depending on the crop. I did try burning the edges to lead the eye in towards the back of the scene, starting at the edge of the photo when I darken the edges leading in, the clouds became to angry so I tried to darken/shade as little as possible. I guess I could try working only on the creek banks and leaving the sky bright even on the edges, Good Ideal. I agree your left hanging and really no where for the eye to go. I wish I had a tree close by to climb so I could see further up/into the scene capture. I'm looking forward to returning as the water recedes, hopefully giving me a better chance of capturing a more leading curvy creek line back into the trees.
I tried cropping in 3rds and really lost the affect of the sky or water depending on the crop. I did try burning the edges to lead the eye in towards the back of the scene, starting at the edge of the photo when I darken the edges leading in, the clouds became to angry so I tried to darken/shade as little as possible. I guess I could try working only on the creek banks and leaving the sky bright even on the edges, Good Ideal. I agree your left hanging and really no where for the eye to go. I wish I had a tree close by to climb so I could see further up/into the scene capture. I'm looking forward to returning as the water recedes, hopefully giving me a better chance of capturing a more leading curvy creek line back into the trees.
minniev wrote:
I like the scene, and the processing in the color ... (show quote)
Nov 3, 2013 12:00:35 #
Thank You,
A lone large Great Egret landing in the back of the creek would do this photos wonders.. Yes, no where for the eye to go.......
A lone large Great Egret landing in the back of the creek would do this photos wonders.. Yes, no where for the eye to go.......
Photoman74 wrote:
The composition is great , leads the eye to the center of image, and clouds receive the eye because they are the whitest portion, but the eye then searches for a stop point (Subject - Point of interest) needs boat on far bank - bird feeding - deer drinking - picnic laid out.
Nov 3, 2013 12:01:53 #
Thanks Charryl
charryl wrote:
I think it is a whole lot of something. The color IMO is better...looks like a Hudson River school painting.
Nov 3, 2013 12:11:53 #
Here is a good example of when to break the "rule of thirds" when shooting landscape. The composition here is symmetry created between the sky and the reflections with the horizon cutting the photo in half. What is important to achieve this symmetry is that the color saturation of the sky and reflection be as close to the same as possible. It wouldn't work if the sky were brighter than the reflection or visa versa. The pattern created is better seen in the black and white photo. I prefere the result of the color. Don't know how I could improve on this shot. Maybe I would attempt to remove some of the grass in the pond at the left of the photo by stirring the camara more to the right or by moving more to the right side of the pond to improve the symmetry on the left side of the photo. It's a nice shot.
Nov 3, 2013 17:38:09 #
Is this a rorschach test? I like both but find the B&W more interesting.
Nov 3, 2013 17:53:09 #
Do you see something in the clouds?? Friendly clouds right??
magicray wrote:
Is this a rorschach test? I like both but find the B&W more interesting.
Nov 3, 2013 17:55:46 #
Thanks Pebbles, plan on going back as the water recedes. Have made a few trips up the creek this rainy season, but only one trip resulted in blue skies, popping clouds and still water. Might be a while before I get a chance again at least on this creek.
pebbles wrote:
Here is a good example of when to break the "... (show quote)
Nov 4, 2013 10:49:52 #
I agree, this was the time to toss out the rule of thirds. To me, you had some very interesting clouds some attractive tree clusters, and a great reflection going for you. What I didn't find as interesting was the whole tree pattern on the left hand side of the photo, not crazy about weeds in the water, and another bunch on trees out on the right that didn't add a whole lot to the story. And then, to my eye at least, I don't know if I detected a greenish cast, or just a preponderance of green that affected all the surroundings.
In the variation below, I corrected colors more to a neutral white, put some structure in the clouds, and did a judicious crop to capture what drew my eye to this photo in the first place - the clouds and their reflection. Between the downward "V" in the clouds and very prominent tree with it's reflection, the eye is drawn squarely to the center of the photo. But that's OK .... it's a peaceful place to rest.
In the variation below, I corrected colors more to a neutral white, put some structure in the clouds, and did a judicious crop to capture what drew my eye to this photo in the first place - the clouds and their reflection. Between the downward "V" in the clouds and very prominent tree with it's reflection, the eye is drawn squarely to the center of the photo. But that's OK .... it's a peaceful place to rest.
Variation on Arbuckle Creek
Nov 4, 2013 14:31:01 #
So many great comments and a beautiful crop on a lovely scene. Nothing more to contribute from here. Is this useless comment superfluous? Only kidding. (No biting comment required from you JR.) Well done everybody.
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