2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Early December shot in eastern Wyoming on our little ranch, weather has been really nice with no snow.
The horizon is level but the old mower sits on a slope, does this take away from the shot? I'm still trying to improve on composition

(Download)

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I like it but would have tried a little light from the front, perhaps the flash at 40%??

peekaboo

Nothing wrong from my point of view.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

It always helps when the photographer's intention is clear. The mower is well off to the side which suggests it's not the main subject, but on the other hand the hills are obviously the background so they can't be the subject either. The sky could be the subject but it's being partly occluded by the mower's cutter. The tilt of the mower and the cutter isn't a problem but the lack of a clear main subject is. If the mower was the intended subject you could try placing it not so far off to the side.

clickety

I certainly am not qualified to critique anyones work, but IMHO, divide the image at the raised sickle bar. I see two interesting images, on the left (sans the mower) you’re led down an appealing valley with a very interesting sky and placing the mower on the extreme left creates another interesting image gazing off to the right. You captured a great landscape with wonderful terrain and a gorgeous sky. Hopefully this comment was worth what you paid for it😇.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Thanks, I would have not thought of that.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Thanks for your input, I knew something could be improved with this shot.
The sky was to be the main focus, but wanted something of interest in the foreground.
So in this situation, would the proper composition be not to have the mower but let the hills and valley be the foreground interest? In other words there is too much foreground competing with the sky right?

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Thanks for commenting, this is what I was looking for. With your comment and others I believe I have to much foreground interest competing with the beautiful sky.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Thanks for commenting.

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

I think it is great.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Thanks

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Foreground interest is OK as long as it's not too intrusive. Having the mower cutter not only in the centre but also partly occluding the sky is perhaps just a bit too intrusive. If it was over to the left hand side instead of the right the cutter would be close to the edge of the frame and not vying for attention.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

Thanks I really appreciate your insight, it makes sense.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

You're welcome.

Hip Coyote

First, I am jealous of you having a ranch in Wyoming! What a great thing.

On to the shot...sloped landscapes are tough because people obviously like a straight horizon unless it is a mountain. In my photo club one judge downgraded a desert shot only to be told that was actually the landscape slope..but it was an awkward shot in any event. Darned difficult to make those shots look normal.

You have two competing exposure needs...the sky and the foreground. I think the sky is most beautiful...What a great day!

The foreground is heavily shadowed and your subject, the mower, is partially obscured by grass and by dark shadows. Thus, the viewer does not see the mower as the subject of the shot...it almost looks like an artifact that may or may not need removal.

I downloaded and messed around wit this shot in LR. Upped the exposure and reduced the shadows in the foreground. The shot looks better, but still, the mower is not really recognizable as a mower...there is also a fence post sticking up in the middle of the shot which needs to be removed (IMO). I also warmed the foreground a bit. I also played with darkening the edges to force the viewer to see the mower.

So, I see this image as a great memory of the sunset and of your ranch. I also see it as something that I would do more post in and display at the ranch.

With your permission, I can upload my interpretation of your shot...