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Sept. 2016 GOTM

Gallery: Gallery of the MonthPosted July 18, 2016642 views16 comments

Spark Lake Pond + alt

Last week we had a nice overcast day with the sun pearing through the clouds with various intensities. I had initially thought of making a shot similar to a favorite Winslow Homer painting of mine. That was to have dark water with saturated lilly pads protruding upwards. However the lighting beckoned me to do it differently and so I chose an expression that featured the reflections with differing intensities. I shot several compositions, most of which were simpler, but this last one is my favorite.

Please let me know what you think of this and how it can be improved.

The larger version is a tad sharper than the 720 so could you please look at it.

Canon 6D, 24-105mm@73mm, iso 100, f16.0, CPL(partly opened), tripod

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Jake Alletson on July 18, 2016 at 8:46 AM

<div style="margin-left: 40px;">I really like what you are doing with this. In my view the picture is in the centre of the frame and the vegetation at the top and bottom is a bit distracting. As an experiment perhaps you could crop a bit off the bottom first and then maybe some off the top. Both crops should be minor and perhaps a square format with that strong diagonal might work well.</div>

Registered on May 3, 2016, 12 Posts, 163 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on July 18, 2016 at 9:02 AM

I can see Jake's point. But I like the bottom area, so wouldn't crop much from it. Just my 2 cents.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on July 18, 2016 at 10:54 AM

I think you are going to get some varying opinions on this wonderful image, Igor. The subdued lighting is gorgeous and I like the arrangement of elements about the scene. My only suggestion would be a crop from the top down just far enough to get rid of the lily pads on the top. I think that places more of an emphasis on the strong diagonals of the remaining lily pads and FG vegetation. Either way this is superb.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on July 18, 2016 at 12:25 PM

I love this, Igor. The lilies have a wonderful glow along with the grasses protruding through the surface in the foreground. My first impulse is in line with Ed's suggestion of cropping the top lilies, but that would probably make it a bit tight on top. I think you have a very fine image here just as it is.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on July 18, 2016 at 12:35 PM

Looks good to me. No changes.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on July 18, 2016 at 5:41 PM

Sweet! I might clone out the very top lilly pad and burn down the bright piece of reed coming up from the bottom. Minor stuff though. Very well done.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 18, 2016 at 6:59 PM

This is such nice work, Igor. Wonderful composition and a very pleasing feel for me. I really can't see any need for improvement. Makes me think I need to pay more attention to areas like this and see what kind of compositions could be made. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock,WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 18, 2016 at 9:21 PM

Very nice, Igor. It would have been interesting to see this done with full CPL and darker water, and then compared the results. Different and well done as is, however.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on July 18, 2016 at 9:50 PM

The image with the polarizer maxed out is so bad I'm frankly embarassed to show it. The composition is bad and many leaves have started to age. Here is an image that came in 2nd that morning. I thought the composition was too simple, however, and the light didn't have that mystique about it. Hopefully you agree that the original was superior. Incidentally, the images seem to not look as good as on my computer. The best copy seems to be when you click directly on the main image. The others are a bit fuzzy.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on July 19, 2016 at 2:27 AM

This has turned out really well, IMHO. I find myself immediately drawn to the complexity of this tiny scene, which is quite ordinary yet immensely beautiful at the same time. The illumination is charming too - a little on the dark side but with a lovely soft glow to it that really brings out the wetness of the lily pads and the grass.

There is so much to see and appreciate here... The image is growing on me and that is a good thing in my book because it demonstrates its lasting value. A real gem, if you ask me.

Regards,
Anil

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 19, 2016 at 7:01 AM

The 2d image is excellent also, Igor. I especially like the look of the reeds and the water sitting on the lily pads.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on July 20, 2016 at 5:49 PM

Very nice. I like this one a lot, subtle tones and nice reflection in the water which is just slightly translucent rather than polarised too heavily. Both work but I prefer the subtlety and textures of the first.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 21, 2016 at 6:54 PM

Definitely the first image for me Igor. The light on the lily pads is very nice along with the reflection of the clouds. I like this a lot.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on July 22, 2016 at 12:08 AM

Love the mix here Igor. I like them both, but prefer the first.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on July 26, 2016 at 10:43 AM

Beautiful intimate scene. Has a very serene feel. I really like the subdued processing and the only partially turned CPL which retains a natural reflective look to the water. Well done.

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 27, 2016 at 11:15 AM

Excellent. Wouldn't change a thing. Love the subdued reflections of the moody clouds. The second image is also very fine.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments