Posted by Cory Freeman on February 27, 2007 at 3:48 AM
I have spent the last few days shooting wind, and the storms that produce them. I've also been blown around by some very strong winds! So tonight I went with shooting the little sierra wave which formed over the Owens Valley. Well after the color faded and the light was growing dim, I stowed the camera and tripod in the jeep. Just as I was about to close the door, I saw this little tree right next to me with the moon above it and the clouds beginning to roll in. I had to shoot this, so out came the gear and several minutes later.....
About this image: Yeah, it's a bit underexposed, I was trying to get some "grain" in there to supplement the feeling of an old photograph. Which was one of the reasons I converted to a duotone. I hope the mood and the lighting help create that feeling of an old photograph taken on a windy night. Oh, those little white spots are stars, I was on the fence about keeping them, but just decided to leave them in. And yep, the branches are blurry due to the several wind gusts during the exposure. Not too strong though.
I think I'll soon be taking my eos3 with some provia, and kodak film for some of my night shots. Though, the underexposed look of digital capture is a medium in it's own right I suppose.
I think this is cool, Cory. I like the dynamics a lot. I'm not sure about the duo-tone, though. I think I'd like to see it in B&W. The implied motion of the tree and the clouds is very strong.
Your recent unusual images have been very interesting. Keep it up!
-PB
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 27, 2007 at 5:51 PM
Cory,
Quite an interesting effect here; from the graininess near the top, the color treatment and then things getting sharp near the bottom. Other than the moody effect, I can't quite get a hold of this one.
Lon
Posted by Michie Wong on February 27, 2007 at 7:31 PM
Cory -
I love the photo - I personally would have taken out the stars (reminds me of sensor dust but in reverse) - I really like the branch movement and the fast moving clouds in front of the moon - I sense lots of wind...I'm undecided about the two-tone rock - can't decide whether or not it helps the image....I also like the high contrast in the tree trunk - lots of texture...
nice work!
Posted by Cory Freeman on February 27, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Thanks for the comments everyone. For those who don't particularly like the duotone, what about it don't you like? The color I used or...? I struggled with choosing a color last night.
Michie: re: the "dust" That's what I was afraid of. I just might take them out in the end. Not sure if this image will go much further than a web desplay, we'll see.
John, could you elaborate on your comment about the tree being too sharp. Do you mean as over sharpened in PS? Just curious.
edit: Here is the color version for those who might be interested.
LON: sorry to hear of your trip getting a bit of a rough start last weekend. Thanks for commenting on this image even though it isn't working for you.
Posted by Michie Wong on February 27, 2007 at 11:48 PM
Cory,
I almost like it better in color - really cool dreamy thing going on with the pink clouds and the darkening sky - the only detractor may be the blue-ish moon halo in the upper left clouds (maybe make it darker magenta?)- but i'm sure you could fix that to something suitable to you
and then the stars also make sense too - i don't read them as "dust".
Posted by John W. Wall on February 28, 2007 at 8:00 PM
Cory, I didn't mean too much sharpening. Just that there's something about the quality of reproduction that said modern to me. Now that I view it again, though (on a crummier monitor), it does look kind of old-timey.
Posted by Cory Freeman on March 2, 2007 at 11:02 AM
My 2 cents... Interresting idea, nice presentation, but I don't like the fact the tree's top i blurred by the movement. I would've preferred it ultra sharp to the tips, with the motion blur on the sky/clouds for the effect.
Also I don't thin the format works well for the comp there. It's too long vertically for the amount of information in the photo.
I would see the moon re-placed in the composition nearer to the foliage to allow cutting 1/6th of the sky. That would feel more balanced... And achieve the same goal for you seem to want for the photo (at least as I see it).
Discussion
10 repliesAbout this image: Yeah, it's a bit underexposed, I was trying to get some "grain" in there to supplement the feeling of an old photograph. Which was one of the reasons I converted to a duotone. I hope the mood and the lighting help create that feeling of an old photograph taken on a windy night. Oh, those little white spots are stars, I was on the fence about keeping them, but just decided to leave them in. And yep, the branches are blurry due to the several wind gusts during the exposure. Not too strong though.
I think I'll soon be taking my eos3 with some provia, and kodak film for some of my night shots. Though, the underexposed look of digital capture is a medium in it's own right I suppose.
canon 5d
400iso
bulb @ 45sec @f16
tripod, and remote shutter release
Thanks for looking.
Your recent unusual images have been very interesting. Keep it up!
-PB
Quite an interesting effect here; from the graininess near the top, the color treatment and then things getting sharp near the bottom. Other than the moody effect, I can't quite get a hold of this one.
Lon
I love the photo - I personally would have taken out the stars (reminds me of sensor dust but in reverse) - I really like the branch movement and the fast moving clouds in front of the moon - I sense lots of wind...I'm undecided about the two-tone rock - can't decide whether or not it helps the image....I also like the high contrast in the tree trunk - lots of texture...
nice work!
Michie: re: the "dust" That's what I was afraid of. I just might take them out in the end. Not sure if this image will go much further than a web desplay, we'll see.
John, could you elaborate on your comment about the tree being too sharp. Do you mean as over sharpened in PS? Just curious.
edit: Here is the color version for those who might be interested.
LON: sorry to hear of your trip getting a bit of a rough start last weekend. Thanks for commenting on this image even though it isn't working for you.
I almost like it better in color - really cool dreamy thing going on with the pink clouds and the darkening sky - the only detractor may be the blue-ish moon halo in the upper left clouds (maybe make it darker magenta?)- but i'm sure you could fix that to something suitable to you
and then the stars also make sense too - i don't read them as "dust".
Also I don't thin the format works well for the comp there. It's too long vertically for the amount of information in the photo.
I would see the moon re-placed in the composition nearer to the foliage to allow cutting 1/6th of the sky. That would feel more balanced... And achieve the same goal for you seem to want for the photo (at least as I see it).
I am not too fond of the white specs (stars) but its not a big deal in any case.
I am glad to see that you are continuing to experiment with your photography.