Shutterbug57

I was out shooting lighthouses, but keeping my eyes open for interesting stuff while driving. This barn grabbed my attention as it was clearly losing its struggle with the tree. Shot with an Intrepid 4x5 with a Nikon 150/5.6 lens. HP5+ developed in HC110 (B). Interested in yall’s input.

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Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

Old dilapidated are always a good subject for photographers and artist. It seems that nostalgia from days past are intriguing.

mcmama

Rough New Year’s Eve!

I love captures like this! Good find, and well done.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

A criticism I have with images like this is that they tend to center the subject (barn, shed, house, what-have-you) in the frame and all but eliminate foreground, side-ground, background and/or sky. The inclusion of one or more of those non-barn elements often provides a context --the thing in its setting-- that strengthens the overall composition, not to mention the image's overall impact. This is, of course, just my opinion, but its an opinion shared by many. With regard to your image as presented, seems like its contrast could be bumped up a bit, or the blacks made deeper and the whites made stronger while detail was retained in each. Defined tree shadows on the roof indicate there was direct sunlight, and those, along with the shadowed side of the structure, seem weaker than might've been seen in actuality, no?

Again, these are little more than my opinions, and how you --or anyone-- choose to shoot/process an image should be entirely up to them, not me. But I take it on faith that those who shoot (or have shot with) large format b&w are often more exacting.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Well that is a limitation with using 4x5 film. With digital, you've got a lot more options for cropping and framing.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I disagree, rg. Large format shooters can take 20 steps forward or backward, right or left, or use a wider or a shorter lens, the same as a digital shooter can do. The only difference is that once the neg has been (wet) processed, it has to be scanned, and any (or no) further processing/cropping can be done as one chooses.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Good find.

Shutterbug57

Here is the full shot. This is the same negative, just not cropped. I have jazzed up the blacks and contrast as you requested. It presents a different scene with less obvious detail on the barn and more blank sky and tree, as well as the plowed field in the foreground right. I thought the road, while eventually turning toward the barn (behind it) was leading the eye away from the barn. I prefer the more intimate look at the barn, but I also understand why some might prefer this view. I do, however, appreciate the input.

As for croppability of a 4x5 negative, there is tons of data from which to choose (depending on how it is scanned or printed). There is enough detail in the picture I originally posted to digitally print it 19" wide and have a good looking print - and that is taking up about 20% of the negative.

Thanks to all for looking and further discussion is appreciated.

ETA - I don't know what the web site software does to uploaded images, but the second shot looks much more contrasty in Lightroom, on the same monitor. On the web site, it appears to be essentially the same as in both shots.

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DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

Keep the first one!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I love those old buildings. I hate to see them falling into disrepair, but I understand why.

Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

I like the 2nd one. It really captures the setting and feel of the land.

dvblair2003 Loc: Blountstown Fl

Ditto

tomcat

Now, this uncropped 2nd image is a much more interesting photo composition. Notice how the path in the lower left corner pulls you right into the building's entrance. This is much better than "just another old building". Also the tree tends to overshadow the building, like a sentinel standing guard---as a matter of fact that could be a good name for this image---"the old oak sentinel"...... I could list another 10 or so things about how much better the composition is in the 2nd photo, but you get idea that sometimes more is better.

tomcat

I just had to play with this in Topaz and popped on a couple of Adjustment layers. I really like your 2nd image so much better. Now this image is not "just another old building", and it has character with that path.....

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tomcat

oops. I forgot to straighten the horizon, but you can do that too