Dead Wood: Need coments
Dec 7, 2022 10:15:28 #
Funks Grove, in Central Illinois is about a 600 acre heavily forested area. I started a personal project during the covid shutdown to photograph the fallen trees. After the undergrowth has died off and before the snows is about the best time to do this. The problem I am finding, is how to give some dynamics to the images. The trees are so close, even using a 10mm or 16mm it is still difficult to isolate one subject. I also decided to convert to black & white. I have attached 2 photos, one color and one b&w. This is a recent photo. I am open to any comments.
Dec 7, 2022 10:20:00 #
Interesting.
Have you looked for stuff that looks like "things"? Many dead trees do so.
Have you looked for stuff that looks like "things"? Many dead trees do so.
Dec 7, 2022 10:23:14 #
Longshadow wrote:
Interesting.
Have you looked for stuff that looks like "things"? Many dead trees do so.
Have you looked for stuff that looks like "things"? Many dead trees do so.
Yes - for example the section of the root in the upper right hand corner, resembles a face with an upturned nose. And a bird head just below it.
Dec 7, 2022 10:23:59 #
rcorne001 wrote:
Yes - for example the section of the root in the upper right hand corner, resembles a face with an upturned nose.
Dec 7, 2022 10:28:31 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Zooman 1 wrote:
Funks Grove, in Central Illinois is about a 600 ac... (show quote)
In my opinion, the color shot is the stronger of the two. A long lens with a wide open aperture may have isolated the tree stump from the background more. I like both shots but enjoy the color more. Also, possibly a close-up of the stump may have some other possibilities.
Dec 7, 2022 10:38:17 #
rcorne001 wrote:
Yes - for example the section of the root in the upper right hand corner, resembles a face with an upturned nose. And a bird head just below it.
I think rcorne001 has a good take on it. I have tried making photographs of dead falls and stumps a bunch of times. For me, getting something worth keeping has proven to be way more difficult than I thought. I have found that shots of whole large pieces seldom yield anything I like.
Dec 7, 2022 11:13:54 #
Zooman 1 wrote:
Funks Grove, in Central Illinois is about a 600 ac... (show quote)
I'm from my Vernon, but left at 18, and had to look up the grove as I had not heard of it. It's farther north from me.
Anyway, of you can not get a good comp with your feet, crop in post. If you loose detail, that can also be fixed.
Dec 7, 2022 11:56:55 #
For starters, the vegetation in the lower-left corner presents a distraction from the main subject, the deadwood, in both photos. Remedy for the future: Study and apply the concepts of image composition.
Zooman 1 wrote:
Funks Grove, in Central Illinois is about a 600 ac... (show quote)
Dec 7, 2022 11:57:21 #
Looks dead. Needs light to bring out texture and details.
This subect isnt going anywhere, so you can revisit many-many times. Keep it up.
This subect isnt going anywhere, so you can revisit many-many times. Keep it up.
Dec 7, 2022 14:03:26 #
Zooman 1 wrote:
Funks Grove, in Central Illinois is about a 600 ac... (show quote)
This looks like a fun project. I like both photos, but I agree that the color one has more punch. In my experience, going from a color image to a grayscale (black and white) requires more contrast for the correct parts of the image to pop out. Here is an attempt from me to do that. I also cropped it a bit more to make the composition more interesting, in my opinion. And I actually like the green leaves at the bottom left providing a balance to those at the top right.
One more thing. I agree with the suggestion to use a long focal length lens wide open so that your depth of field is more shallow. Then the backgroound wwill be blurry instead of competing with your point of interest.
Just my thoughts. --Richard
Dec 7, 2022 14:36:06 #
Thank you for your comments. This photo was just an example of the project. I was just using it as an example of the type of subjects I am interested in. Right now hunting is allowed is some areas of the Grove, so I stay out of the woods.
I appreciate your time,
John
I appreciate your time,
John
Dec 8, 2022 05:45:00 #
Zooman 1 wrote:
Funks Grove, in Central Illinois is about a 600 ac... (show quote)
LongShadow said it all!!
You could also process your B&W as Quad-Tones to give them more "snap"
Dec 8, 2022 06:58:05 #
rcorne001 wrote:
Yes - for example the section of the root in the upper right hand corner, resembles a face with an upturned nose. And a bird head just below it.
The entire root looks like a dragon head to me.
Dec 8, 2022 07:30:27 #
Longshadow wrote:
Interesting.
Have you looked for stuff that looks like "things"? Many dead trees do so.
Have you looked for stuff that looks like "things"? Many dead trees do so.
pareidolia - an interesting phenomenon
Dec 8, 2022 07:52:48 #
In the images you presented, the colour one is far more distinctive and separates the subject from the background more than the B&W one does. I looked at the redo posted by a viewer of the B&W, and it had a lot more separation.
I grew up in central Illinois, and I'll admit to having to Google this location to know where it is! It's sort of like an old-growth forest near my farm that I never knew was there until just a few years ago!
I grew up in central Illinois, and I'll admit to having to Google this location to know where it is! It's sort of like an old-growth forest near my farm that I never knew was there until just a few years ago!
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