This was taken a number of weeks back during a trip into Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Over the course of the night, a storm front had come through and had dropped a significant amount of rain, as well as lowering the temperature by over 40 degrees from the previous day's high temp. Since I didn't have winter gear with me, the decision was made to leave a day early. Good thing since the next morning it was even windier and a few snow flurries appeared! Still, there were a few photo ops to be had on the way out, partially because the weather was heavily overcast. This particular spot was located near an extended portage the bypasses some rapids. This composition hadn't occurred to me before when I passed by on the way into the wilderness, but the light and mood caught my eye. While I realize this won't be for everyone, it's probably one of my favorites of the trip at the moment.
Posted by Chuck Beatty on June 11, 2007 at 9:37 PM
Nice composition, Joel. Really like the detail and colors on the trunk of the pine and the way the branches lead my eye in from the right. The tangle of branches in the middle left makes me wish for a bow saw so that I might see more of the creek.
Posted by Jack Graham on June 11, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Joel,
What is working here for me is the contrast between the static tree ( and the lichen is wonderful!) and the movement/ business of the background. If you memorized all the books that tell us how to shoot, you probably wouldn't have shot this image. However, there that contrast the makes it work for me. Does that make any sense?
Jack, yeah, that does make sense. I hadn't thought of it like that, good point. While you certainly wouldn't find this type of composition in a book from John Shaw for example, it is pretty heavily influenced by Eliot Porter. While I realize that there's drawbacks to this type of image, I generally find these "organized chaos" shots to be to my liking in a good print - where the details can be studied and considered over time. I have more shots of this area that are much cleaner compositions, but I keep coming back to this shot as I find it to have captured the "essence" of the place a bit more. I'd guess that others would probably prefer the other shots...funny how that works sometimes. Thanks again.
Joel - I love that tree - it's gorgeous. I do find the composition just the tiniest bit busy, but not so much that I wouldn't hang on to this one. It's lovely and I bet a large print would be really fun to see.
Did you crop this - it looks a bit skinny for 4x5 to me? I still don't have all my spring stuff back, but I'm getting there!
CJ - Yeah, it's busy for sure. I don't know that it will make the portfolio cut, but I guess I like it for what it is (at the moment - these things can change). It's a straight 4x5 image, no special crop. Thanks for commenting.
Discussion
5 repliesThis was taken a number of weeks back during a trip into Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Over the course of the night, a storm front had come through and had dropped a significant amount of rain, as well as lowering the temperature by over 40 degrees from the previous day's high temp. Since I didn't have winter gear with me, the decision was made to leave a day early. Good thing since the next morning it was even windier and a few snow flurries appeared! Still, there were a few photo ops to be had on the way out, partially because the weather was heavily overcast. This particular spot was located near an extended portage the bypasses some rapids. This composition hadn't occurred to me before when I passed by on the way into the wilderness, but the light and mood caught my eye. While I realize this won't be for everyone, it's probably one of my favorites of the trip at the moment.
Thanks for looking.
Tech Stuff: Tachihara 4x5, Provia 100f, Fujinon 135mm
What is working here for me is the contrast between the static tree ( and the lichen is wonderful!) and the movement/ business of the background. If you memorized all the books that tell us how to shoot, you probably wouldn't have shot this image. However, there that contrast the makes it work for me. Does that make any sense?
JG
Jack, yeah, that does make sense. I hadn't thought of it like that, good point. While you certainly wouldn't find this type of composition in a book from John Shaw for example, it is pretty heavily influenced by Eliot Porter. While I realize that there's drawbacks to this type of image, I generally find these "organized chaos" shots to be to my liking in a good print - where the details can be studied and considered over time. I have more shots of this area that are much cleaner compositions, but I keep coming back to this shot as I find it to have captured the "essence" of the place a bit more. I'd guess that others would probably prefer the other shots...funny how that works sometimes. Thanks again.
Did you crop this - it looks a bit skinny for 4x5 to me? I still don't have all my spring stuff back, but I'm getting there!
CJ