The Gap fire recently burned through sections of the Santa Barbara front range. I was wandering around in some of the burn area last weekend when I found some manzanita that caught my attention. I was drawn to the combination of black charcoal and the areas of red color.
I would be curious to hear your take on the image, good, bad or indifferent. It is not your typical NPN take on nature.
Harley, the detail here is perfect. The composition with the three crossed branches is excellent too. Having the somewhat solid backdrop also helps outline and emphasis the stems too. No doubt manzanita has got to be the toughest wood ever. I have always found it to be natures perfect walking sticks. A simple but very affective scene.
Seeing the red underskin here, do you know if this is on the mend and will return to life?
Harley, I really like the concept, here! The composition is quite nice. I do find the background a tad distracting, though. You might consider either adding some blur or darkening it down somewhat so that the manzanita pops. The contarstin red and the char is intriguing.
-P
Posted by Steve Sieren on August 26, 2008 at 4:57 PM
The brown portions of the rock mimic the reds in the manzanita. They blend into eachother as if the manzanita is trying to camiflouge itself. I would have to agree w/ Preston in emphazing the difference in the brown on the rock and red in the branches for that pop but I still like it just the way it is Harley. I wonder if those 2 sticks can still used to make fire? I don't find it unusual either since there are so many fires in California.
I've been wanting to post an image showing the effects of fire and I think when I saw this earlier it sub conciously reminded to post something similar.
I tried the suggestion of darkening the background and I like it. I always appreciate the input on NPN. It lets me take a look at my work from another perspective.
Posted by Lon Overacker on August 27, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Harley,
Yes - the repost works very well with the darkened background. As I had mentioned to you, this comp has a natural "tension" to it with the diagonal of the back branch. I also really like the graphic nature of this and your crop. Man, whoever suggested that crop must be brilliant!
Seriously... this works for me and tells a great nature story - all be it a devasting one if you extract out the consequences of these fires. Very nicely captured Harley.
Yeah! That's the ticket, Harley! Definitely one for the printer!
Good Job!
-P
Posted by Nelcha Cross on August 30, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Well... I was gonna see if I could add anything....
but I can easily see that with the help of the excellent crew here
you have masterfully massaged this baby into a Completed Piece of Art.
Good eye followed by great PPing.
Yes, there are many forums I do NOT waste time on
because of the talent and friendly truth spoken here
Well done, Harley...
Discussion
7 repliesI would be curious to hear your take on the image, good, bad or indifferent. It is not your typical NPN take on nature.
Canon 5D
70-200 4.0
Seeing the red underskin here, do you know if this is on the mend and will return to life?
-P
I've been wanting to post an image showing the effects of fire and I think when I saw this earlier it sub conciously reminded to post something similar.
Yes - the repost works very well with the darkened background. As I had mentioned to you, this comp has a natural "tension" to it with the diagonal of the back branch. I also really like the graphic nature of this and your crop. Man, whoever suggested that crop must be brilliant!
Seriously... this works for me and tells a great nature story - all be it a devasting one if you extract out the consequences of these fires. Very nicely captured Harley.
Lon
Good Job!
-P
but I can easily see that with the help of the excellent crew here
you have masterfully massaged this baby into a Completed Piece of Art.
Good eye followed by great PPing.
Yes, there are many forums I do NOT waste time on
because of the talent and friendly truth spoken here
Well done, Harley...