I am finally scanning some of the 4x5's from October. I would really like your thoughts on this image as regards the composition, and also how the apparent movement of the leaves in the water affects you.
Tachihara 4x5
180mm Fujinon
Astia 100-F
Thanks, as always, for your comments!
-PB
Posted by Reno DiTullio on October 31, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Preston, the movement of the leaves in this one bothers me and the highlights in the rocks seem too bright/glossy, maybe reflecting too much ambient light; I don't know if toning them down would help any. I really liked the digital image you posted earlier.
Posted by Lon Overacker on October 31, 2007 at 3:51 AM
Hey Preston,
I'm going to have to agree with Reno. The composition is solid - I would say perfect. The movement of the leaves is one of those, either more, or none situations. I do like the glossy sheen on the rocks, although the brighter portions could be burned down a tad. In the end though, this is a striking image and the midnight blues in the water compliment this very well. I also like the straight-down view.
Can't wait to see more!
Lon
Posted by Dan Baumbach on October 31, 2007 at 10:14 AM
I'm with Reno on this too. Perhaps if I hadn't seen your earlier digital version, I wouldn't find the blur disturbing. I also find the color of the leaves a little flat. If it were me, I'd try to increase their saturation a little to bring out the yellows.
The more I look at it, the more I like it. Perhaps it's just the comparison with the sharp digital version.
- Dan.
Posted by Ed Cooley on October 31, 2007 at 11:29 AM
I tend to agree with the consensus the movement of the leaves takes away from the feel. The stark contrast in the rocks looks good to me and I like the composition.
Posted by Richard Wong on October 31, 2007 at 1:37 PM
I like it though I agree with Dan on this one. It would be cool though if all of the leaves were blurred. All or none.
Preston, after seeing the digital version earlier, I guess seeing the movement in this one tends to throw one off a bit. Other then that aspect, I find the image to be excellent.
I reworked this image: Cropped and made some color changes. I am most interested in your thoughts.
Thanks, as always,
-PB
Posted by Anil Rao on November 2, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Hello Preston,
Sorry for the late resposne. Here are some of my thoughts on this photo.
I prefer the original composition - looser but more appropriate for my taste. It really grabs me and forces me to look into the scene; may be because my brain is working extra hard to comprehend what is being presented. By comparison, the 2nd composition is very straightforward and IMHO not as compelling.
I find that I also prefer the color in the 1st version. I would recommend reducing the brightness a little though.
The movement you have captured in the leaves is a nice touch. Unlike the countless picture-perfect (still and sharp throughout) scenes that we come across everyday, this one makes me pause and refect - two activities that make studying a photograph so very enjoyable.
Regards.
Posted by Lon Overacker on November 2, 2007 at 4:55 PM
Preston,
Gotta be honest and say that I like the original. In the second one, you've lost the deep blues around the rocks and the nice colors and sheen. I also think the broader view of the first leaves more room for the effect and movement of the leaves.
I like Anil's last sentence; kinda made me pause and reflect to. The motion of the leaves is less bothersome that when I first saw this and actually create a different kind of focal point.
I still really like the straight-down perspective. You had the camera pointed nearly straight down right? Those are always precarious positions for the camera/lens and fun focusing. :-)
My thinking on the composition was that there was too much mass on the left and so it felt a bit out of balance. I am going to experiment with different crops that provide balance and also the sense of 'abstraction' to which Anil refers.
I would have liked to use a polarizer to reduce some of the sheen on the rocks, but not all. When I reworked the image in PS, I went a bit too far in reducing it. Also, I see that the saturation of the yellows is too low. I did run a proof print of the second version and the blues of the water is still there, but not as intense.
Thanks for your comments on this, as I have been in a quandary about this photo. This is a rather unique image for me, and is worth working on. So...Research continues.
-PB
ps: Lon, the position of the camera was nearly straight down and I had to use some rather odd movements (both back and lens tilt and swing) to get the shape and focus I needed. The tripod legs were on three rocks in the middle of the creek with me standing on a fourth. I also had to tie back a rather bothersome alder branch that was sticking me in the back. Ah, the trials and tribulations of using a view camera!
-P
Posted by Dan Baumbach on November 5, 2007 at 11:21 AM
I'd pick something in between both images. I definitely think this is worth working on.
Discussion
13 repliesI am finally scanning some of the 4x5's from October. I would really like your thoughts on this image as regards the composition, and also how the apparent movement of the leaves in the water affects you.
Tachihara 4x5
180mm Fujinon
Astia 100-F
Thanks, as always, for your comments!
-PB
I'm going to have to agree with Reno. The composition is solid - I would say perfect. The movement of the leaves is one of those, either more, or none situations. I do like the glossy sheen on the rocks, although the brighter portions could be burned down a tad. In the end though, this is a striking image and the midnight blues in the water compliment this very well. I also like the straight-down view.
Can't wait to see more!
Lon
The more I look at it, the more I like it. Perhaps it's just the comparison with the sharp digital version.
- Dan.
Beautiful Comp.....
I reworked this image: Cropped and made some color changes. I am most interested in your thoughts.
Thanks, as always,
-PB
Sorry for the late resposne. Here are some of my thoughts on this photo.
I prefer the original composition - looser but more appropriate for my taste. It really grabs me and forces me to look into the scene; may be because my brain is working extra hard to comprehend what is being presented. By comparison, the 2nd composition is very straightforward and IMHO not as compelling.
I find that I also prefer the color in the 1st version. I would recommend reducing the brightness a little though.
The movement you have captured in the leaves is a nice touch. Unlike the countless picture-perfect (still and sharp throughout) scenes that we come across everyday, this one makes me pause and refect - two activities that make studying a photograph so very enjoyable.
Regards.
Gotta be honest and say that I like the original. In the second one, you've lost the deep blues around the rocks and the nice colors and sheen. I also think the broader view of the first leaves more room for the effect and movement of the leaves.
I like Anil's last sentence; kinda made me pause and reflect to. The motion of the leaves is less bothersome that when I first saw this and actually create a different kind of focal point.
I still really like the straight-down perspective. You had the camera pointed nearly straight down right? Those are always precarious positions for the camera/lens and fun focusing. :-)
Lon
My thinking on the composition was that there was too much mass on the left and so it felt a bit out of balance. I am going to experiment with different crops that provide balance and also the sense of 'abstraction' to which Anil refers.
I would have liked to use a polarizer to reduce some of the sheen on the rocks, but not all. When I reworked the image in PS, I went a bit too far in reducing it. Also, I see that the saturation of the yellows is too low. I did run a proof print of the second version and the blues of the water is still there, but not as intense.
Thanks for your comments on this, as I have been in a quandary about this photo. This is a rather unique image for me, and is worth working on. So...Research continues.
-PB
ps: Lon, the position of the camera was nearly straight down and I had to use some rather odd movements (both back and lens tilt and swing) to get the shape and focus I needed. The tripod legs were on three rocks in the middle of the creek with me standing on a fourth. I also had to tie back a rather bothersome alder branch that was sticking me in the back. Ah, the trials and tribulations of using a view camera!
-P
- Dan.