Cemetery: The cemetery in Decatur, IL where all the members of my immediate family are at rest, including my three younger brothers. And, my wife's parents also. As for me, I have left...

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

The cemetery in Decatur, IL where all the members of my immediate family are at rest, including my three younger brothers. And, my wife's parents also.

As for me, I have left instructions for my ashes to be scattered in the Alabama Hills of California.

IR photograph.

Cemetery

(Download)

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

jim hill wrote:

The cemetery in Decatur, IL where all the members of my immediate family are at rest, including my three younger brothers. And, my wife's parents also.

As for me, I have left instructions for my ashes to be scattered in the Alabama Hills of California.

IR photograph.

Always find your IR work interesting Mr. Hill. You have not asked so I am hesitant but will reply anyway as I feel you have posted here for more than just statement. If I'm wrong I truly meant no harm. The headstones draw my eye in. The intrusion of the lighter tree leaves on the right dont work for me. Cloned not cropped to match the tree behind I feel would be more pleasing.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Frank2013 wrote:

Always find your IR work interesting Mr. Hill. You have not asked so I am hesitant but will reply anyway as I feel you have posted here for more than just statement. If I'm wrong I truly meant no harm. The headstones draw my eye in. The intrusion of the lighter tree leaves on the right dont work for me. Cloned not cropped to match the tree behind I feel would be more pleasing.

No Frank - your are not in error. I am always appreciative of others eyes and ideas as to how to improve the strength of my work. I don't have to agree but that's beside the point as the offering is that which is important. I have learned a lot from some of the work of others that I thought could have been improved in that I see myself making some of the the same corrections in my own seeing.

I had considered cloning over that area but decided not to based on some reasoning regarding the edges of photographs being as important as the rest of the image and thus I wanted something there that was a part but not integral. Or, maybe it was an attempt to break up a larger dark mass or maybe it's just stubbornness.

That being said, I do hope that you are never "timid" about offering your ideas, especially to me. If I made "perfect" photographs every time I would probably lose interest quickly.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Fascinating shot, Jim. I love how your mind works!

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Linda From Maine wrote:

Fascinating shot, Jim. I love how your mind works!

Thanks Linda. A reality check before I get out of bed and remove the bar of soap which cancels my leg cramps and I'm ready to try once more to make something of the day - that includes trying to make my brain work before my third cup of coffee.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

jim hill wrote:

The cemetery in Decatur, IL where all the members of my immediate family are at rest, including my three younger brothers. And, my wife's parents also.

As for me, I have left instructions for my ashes to be scattered in the Alabama Hills of California.

IR photograph.

Like it Jim, like the differing tones of the various trees scattered through the scene with the biggest/brightest up front. Also like the dark stones, find myself wanting to see more of them but perhaps that is part of them mystery. Cemeteries always convey such irony.

The Alabama Hills would be a fine place to have oneself scattered.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

minniev wrote:

Like it Jim, like the differing tones of the various trees scattered through the scene with the biggest/brightest up front. Also like the dark stones, find myself wanting to see more of them but perhaps that is part of them mystery. Cemeteries always convey such irony.

The Alabama Hills would be a fine place to have oneself scattered.

Yep! Between the Mighty Sierra and the White Mountains at the western edge of the Owens Valley where I have led many a photographic workshop in the 70's and 80's.

Thanks for your review of the image. I too, would like to see the face of the markers but too late for that now. And like you say, maybe it does add a little to the mystery.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Like it Jim. Still have no understanding of the "why" behind IR so can only look and see if it meets with approval or not. This one does. I have a morbid fascination with graveyards for some reason and used to have my lunch sat on a bench in one when I worked in London!
In Phils the headstones are small and laid flat like a paving slab. Not the same drama as a row of headstones at all.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Billyspad wrote:

Like it Jim. Still have no understanding of the "why" behind IR so can only look and see if it meets with approval or not. This one does. I have a morbid fascination with graveyards for some reason and used to have my lunch sat on a bench in one when I worked in London!
In Phils the headstones are small and laid flat like a paving slab. Not the same drama as a row of headstones at all.

I have an inkling of your feeling about IR. It has been with me ever since viewing IR work by Minor White way back in the 70's. I'll see if I can find a copy in my files to add to this thread. I was blown away by the image. I knew I had to work with that film.

Thanks for the review and the information regarding you experiences with cemeteries. Kinda strange don't you think?

Owens Valley Poplar Trees by Minor White

(Download)

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

jim hill wrote:

The cemetery in Decatur, IL where all the members of my immediate family are at rest, including my three younger brothers. And, my wife's parents also.

As for me, I have left instructions for my ashes to be scattered in the Alabama Hills of California.

IR photograph.

I don't know anything about IR photography. This photo is not in focus Is it due to IR process or is it just OOF?.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

boberic wrote:

I don't know anything about IR photography. This photo is not in focus Is it due to IR process or is it just OOF?.

Some of my IR is out of focus on purpose. The ethereal added to the ethereal. Other IR work, especially when used for architecture, its is amazingly sharp.

It's like any other process and depends upon the use for which a photographer wants it used. I have both very sharp and unsharp images in IR, colour and B/W. I am not a supporter of the "sharp at all costs" school preferring to be free of any constraints such as that. That topic has been discussed ad nauseum ad infinitum in UHH.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

boberic wrote:

I don't know anything about IR photography. This photo is not in focus Is it due to IR process or is it just OOF?.

Every lens exhibits some degree of chromatic aberration...a greater or lesser inability to focus all color wavelengths at precisely the same plane. Infra-red photography is attended by the greatest potential sharpness with whatever lens is is used because of the greatly restricted number of close wavelengths needing to be focused. Hence, a high proportion of the sharpest images you'll ever see will have been made using infra-red imaging.

If O.O.F. is a feature of an infra-red image, it is usually by specific intent of the photographer.

Dave

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Uuglypher wrote:

Every lens exhibits some degree of chromatic aberr... (show quote)

Couldn't agree with you more. And, IR is an amazing tool.