The Stairs Up

This was taken on Sunday the 16th at Shore Acres State Park. It was actually an unusually warm and calm morning for this time of year, but the uneven stairs and crooked fence reminded me of something from a Tim Burton movie. I had also in the span of about 30 minutes managed to break my much loved 12-24mm lens and my ballhead in separate incidents, so this was taken with a sub-par canon 17-85 and a flimsy monopod that I keep in my truck for some reason. I was in a bit of a foul mood, so that might have contributed to the gloomy feel to the photo. Its not nearly as sharp as I'd like it to be, but seems ok for the web version.

The moon is a composite image and upsized a bit. It was in the original photo, but seemed too small because of the 17mm focal length. hopefully it looks OK.

Feels just fine to me, Aaron. I'd do the same with that moon. They never look right at 17, even if everything else does. I wouldn't consider it among your better images though, probably more than anything because of the scattered focus - not one element really grabs me, and the eye moves around a bit without a clear visual path. Maybe if you stregthened the path up to the moon by reducing the brightness of those grasses?....but still, that fence kinda blocks it off a bit.

The moon looks great, as the steps and fence leading to it. I like it. :)

Man, sorry to hear about the wreckage of the much beloved.

I totally agree that you have to composite the moon to have any effect with a wide angle, and I'm totally cool with it if disclosed. I do agree with Marc that there's just not quite enough to grab and focus, although I do like the fence.

I think it's a great shot. You definitely achieved a Tim Burton-like effect, particularly with the crookedness of the fence and stairs. B+W was a nice choice as was the placement of the moon. You can probably add to the effect with some dodging and burning but I think there's plenty of visual interest as well as a great mood.

This is a fascinating image, well executed, and needs a clever title to cap it off. I'll bet you were in a bit of a foul mood - quite understandable!

This is sort of weird and wild, Aaron, I like it.

I love it Aaron. Nothing like breaking some of your gear to get some moody inspiration.

I like the wonkiness of it all Aaron, I find the image fun and whimsical.

David M. Cobb

I really like it. Its kinda funky and different, ya know? I think the grasses are distracting my eye from the moon a littlem could just be me though. Well done!

Love the moon...I do not feel it is overdone and it looks very natural to me.