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A Man and His Cow
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May 24, 2019 21:49:16   #
ediesaul
 
In other photos, I would have deleted the towers and wires. My instinct in this image tells me not to do so. And, it's not "because that's what was there in reality," a philosophy of photography that some adhere to but I do not. I think I like them here because the structures add a a physical dimension and perspective since they are closer than the trees. Also, the towers/wires enhance, for me, the dichotomy of man-made vs. the more natural setting of the lower part of the image. I also did not contrast and saturate as much as I might have done in other images. Just saturated the man and cow a bit. Overall, I like the simplicity of the composition and the subtlety of the colors.

However, I am very eager to hear your opinions. Please don't be swayed by mine. You won't hurt my feelings if you disagree with me.

Thanks very much.


(Download)

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May 24, 2019 21:57:43   #
ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore
 
ediesaul wrote:
In other photos, I would have deleted the towers and wires. My instinct in this image tells me not to do so. And, it's not "because that's what was there in reality," a philosophy of photography that some adhere to but I do not. I think I like them here because the structures add a a physical dimension and perspective since they are closer than the trees. Also, the towers/wires enhance, for me, the dichotomy of man-made vs. the more natural setting of the lower part of the image. I also did not contrast and saturate as much as I might have done in other images. Just saturated the man and cow a bit. Overall, I like the simplicity of the composition and the subtlety of the colors.

However, I am very eager to hear your opinions. Please don't be swayed by mine. You won't hurt my feelings if you disagree with me.

Thanks very much.
In other photos, I would have deleted the towers a... (show quote)


This is a challenging composition because of the relative size of the cow and the man. Your title indicates that they are your subject. That's fine. You also mentioned that the towers are appealing to you for several reasons. I agree with you. Since the tower is a very vertical element, I would think that a portrait rather than landscape orientation would be more appropriate. There is not too much on the left side of the composition that is essential to your story. Would you consider a crop from the left toward the center of the photo. You would still have the right side that indicates the surroundings that the man and the cow find themselves in. Just a though.
Erich

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May 24, 2019 22:07:13   #
NJFrank Loc: New Jersey
 
I viewed your shot in download. When I came back to make my comments I read Erich comments. He basically took my words out of my mouth. I wholeheartedly concur with his assessment. The man and cow seem to be lost in the image. The crop IMO would make it a stronger presentation.

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May 24, 2019 22:20:02   #
ediesaul
 
ebrunner wrote:
This is a challenging composition because of the relative size of the cow and the man. Your title indicates that they are your subject. That's fine. You also mentioned that the towers are appealing to you for several reasons. I agree with you. Since the tower is a very vertical element, I would think that a portrait rather than landscape orientation would be more appropriate. There is not too much on the left side of the composition that is essential to your story. Would you consider a crop from the left toward the center of the photo. You would still have the right side that indicates the surroundings that the man and the cow find themselves in. Just a though.
Erich
This is a challenging composition because of the r... (show quote)


As per your and NJFrank's suggestion, do you think this is better?


(Download)

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May 24, 2019 22:35:52   #
artBob Loc: Near Chicago
 
I get what you did with the original post, and think it works as you wanted it to. Given the vastness of that scene, and even to some extent the cropped version, I wonder if a little boost to the man and cow, and perhaps even to the nearest wire, might let viewers understand your viewpoint better.

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May 25, 2019 07:37:43   #
NJFrank Loc: New Jersey
 
ediesaul wrote:
As per your and NJFrank's suggestion, do you think this is better?


For me this crop works. You get everything you were trying to achieve. The stars of the shot (man & cow), surrounded by nature and man made.

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May 25, 2019 09:14:12   #
Stephan G
 
ediesaul wrote:
In other photos, I would have deleted the towers and wires. My instinct in this image tells me not to do so. And, it's not "because that's what was there in reality," a philosophy of photography that some adhere to but I do not. I think I like them here because the structures add a a physical dimension and perspective since they are closer than the trees. Also, the towers/wires enhance, for me, the dichotomy of man-made vs. the more natural setting of the lower part of the image. I also did not contrast and saturate as much as I might have done in other images. Just saturated the man and cow a bit. Overall, I like the simplicity of the composition and the subtlety of the colors.

However, I am very eager to hear your opinions. Please don't be swayed by mine. You won't hurt my feelings if you disagree with me.

Thanks very much.
In other photos, I would have deleted the towers a... (show quote)


At first glance, I was reminded of a sketch by Andrew Wyeth.

The below crop is to my interpretation.

(My apologies for the upload. I take no ownership for the image. It is for demonstration only.)


(Download)

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May 25, 2019 09:36:19   #
ediesaul
 
artBob wrote:
I get what you did with the original post, and think it works as you wanted it to. Given the vastness of that scene, and even to some extent the cropped version, I wonder if a little boost to the man and cow, and perhaps even to the nearest wire, might let viewers understand your viewpoint better.


I'll try that. Thanks for the suggestion.

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May 25, 2019 09:37:06   #
ediesaul
 
NJFrank wrote:
For me this crop works. You get everything you were trying to achieve. The stars of the shot (man & cow), surrounded by nature and man made.


Thanks for sharing your vision.

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May 25, 2019 09:38:26   #
ediesaul
 
Stephan G wrote:
At first glance, I was reminded of a sketch by Andrew Wyeth.

The below crop is to my interpretation.

(My apologies for the upload. I take no ownership for the image. It is for demonstration only.)


Thanks for sharing your vision. I like all the wild weeds surrounding the man and the cow. Maybe in this version I would have deleted the tower. I will try that. Again, thanks.

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May 25, 2019 10:07:25   #
ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore
 
ediesaul wrote:
As per your and NJFrank's suggestion, do you think this is better?


I think it is a stronger composition; but more importantly, I think it is more in line with what your stated intent for the photo was. Nice work.
erich

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May 25, 2019 10:36:27   #
AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!
 
I frequently focus on very small subjects that are located in a huge surrounding. I get it. And frequently people want me to crop down to the subject. While that is, perhaps, good, in a way if defeats what I'm "saying." I like your "man and cow" being in an open area filled only with huge, inanimate objects (the towers, poles and wires). The crops offered are certainly nice, but I think they subtract from what you are wanting to portray.

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May 25, 2019 11:17:10   #
Stephan G
 
ediesaul wrote:
Thanks for sharing your vision. I like all the wild weeds surrounding the man and the cow. Maybe in this version I would have deleted the tower. I will try that. Again, thanks.


The presence of the tower, I think, emphasizes the man-made element intrusion. Just a thought.

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May 25, 2019 11:56:56   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
My opinion is that Edie's cropped version strengthens her opening viewpoint, while Stephan's changes the story significantly (interesting, for sure, but different).

Other aspects of Edie's crop I like are the slightly angled parallel lines made by the wires. There's a pleasing contrast of order against messy tall grass.

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May 25, 2019 14:11:23   #
ediesaul
 
ebrunner wrote:
I think it is a stronger composition; but more importantly, I think it is more in line with what your stated intent for the photo was. Nice work.
erich


Thanks!

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