Posted by Brett Deacon on January 15, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Hi everyone. It has been months since my drum scanner stopped working, and as a result I have dozens of 4x5 slides sitting around lonely and unscanned. In a fit of impatience, I scanned a few today on my Epson 4870. I don't know why I waited so long - the results are perfectly respectable. Anyway, I'm posting four images, the first three of which were taken maybe a mile away from Maroon Lake near Aspen, and the last of which was taken near Laramie at the Vedauwoo area. I'd appreciate any feedback on these regarding post-processing, composition, and overall impact and quality. Thanks!
P.S. - I really wish I could attend the shindig this weekend. As an alternative, I'd like to try to set up a gathering in the Snowy Range sometime this July. More on this later.
Posted by Brett Deacon on January 15, 2009 at 10:51 PM
#2 from the Maroon Bells
Posted by Brett Deacon on January 15, 2009 at 10:53 PM
#3 from the Maroon Bells
Posted by Brett Deacon on January 15, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Last one, from the top of a rock formation in Vedauwoo looking very much *straight* down on a small aspen grove.
Posted by Phillip Noll on January 15, 2009 at 11:22 PM
I LOVE #1!!!! Really beautiful shot!
Posted by John Mumaw on January 15, 2009 at 11:56 PM
#1 & #2 are unique and excellent!
Perfectly respectable indeed.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on January 16, 2009 at 12:02 AM
I like #1 and #4 best. Very nice.
I'm definitely looking forward to my first trip to the Snowy Range this year.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on January 16, 2009 at 12:26 AM
#1 is my favorite. Beautiful lines, nice emphasis on the aspens, Nice layers in the background, and overall good balance in the composition.
#2 is too tight on the aspens and feels cut off compared to #1, maybe because of having seen #1.
#3 doesn't put enough emphasis on the aspen boles since the concentrations are on the edges.
#4 is neat for the perspective and color but feels too busy to me, with no clear subject.
It's cool that you're getting to some of your 4x5 stuff though! We'll miss you at the shindig.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on January 16, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Personally, I like #2 the best as it eliminates the area where the leaves have dropped. I really like the "seeing the forest through the trees" concept.
Posted by John Zinn on January 16, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Brett, my favorite is #3 - I like that the frame is filled with a through the forest view, and like the thin aspen forest on the opposite mountainside because it seems less cliche. All of the shots are nice!!
They're all excellent, but #1 has that special feel of soft line and great lines. Nice!
Posted by Don George on January 16, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Great job on #1. Different perspective than you normally see. It is pleasing to the eye and should make a great blowup.
Posted by Jim Caffrey on January 16, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I like the contrast and sense of depth in #2.
Posted by Don Grall on January 16, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I like #2 the best, but #1 is a close second. Love the framing aspects of using those aspen trunks.
Posted by Brett Deacon on January 16, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Hi everyone. I really appreciate the comments! It looks like there is a slight consensus for #1 as the best, which is probably where I stand. The film holder for my Epson scanner covers the image area a little bit which is the reason for the bottom of the right tree being cut off on #2.
Posted by Jesse Speer on January 16, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Really, really nice stuff Brett. I'm partial to #3 and #1 - although they're all great, and make a nice series.
Not a bad one in the bunch, Brett. All keepers and wall hangers. Good job.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on January 16, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Those are all really nice Brett. The processing is great.
You're comment is what makes me nervous about getting a drum scanner of my own.
Mel-
Posted by Brett Deacon on January 16, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Mel, your nerves are well-founded. Unless you own a Howtek/Aztek, getting these things serviced can be difficult or impossible. Having said that, with the ability to make 700MB scans of 4x5s and 6x17s my drum scanner has paid for itself many, many times over despite the light use I gave it and it has been the best photographic investment I've ever made. I'd have to pay at least $150 a pop for the scans I do with all my large film. I would stop shooting large format straight away if I had to spend this kind of money to get a professional quality scan. If I can't get my drum scanner working again I may well yet say adios to the 4x5 given the image quality of my Sony a900.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on January 16, 2009 at 9:44 PM
All four are stunning. Very nice work!
Posted by Erik Aagaard on January 17, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Isn't it interesting to see the wide range of opinions and favorites from fellow photographers? I like them all, but I find myself coming back to # 2, and then to # 4.
As already mentioned, the sense of depth in #2 is great, and I like tighter composition of it compared to # 1. Did anyone else notice the two aspen boles in the distance in the middle, echoing the near ones? I also like the contrast between the stunning fall colors and the white trunks in the foreground.
# 4 is also really nice. I don't think it's too busy at all. Wouldn't it make an AWESOME jigsaw puzzle?
Erik
Posted by Jack Brauer on January 20, 2009 at 3:07 AM
Discussion
24 repliesP.S. - I really wish I could attend the shindig this weekend. As an alternative, I'd like to try to set up a gathering in the Snowy Range sometime this July. More on this later.
Perfectly respectable indeed.
I'm definitely looking forward to my first trip to the Snowy Range this year.
#2 is too tight on the aspens and feels cut off compared to #1, maybe because of having seen #1.
#3 doesn't put enough emphasis on the aspen boles since the concentrations are on the edges.
#4 is neat for the perspective and color but feels too busy to me, with no clear subject.
It's cool that you're getting to some of your 4x5 stuff though! We'll miss you at the shindig.
John
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John Zinn
Enduring Light Photography
"A moment in time... experienced, captured, preserved."
Site Updated 10/27
You're comment is what makes me nervous about getting a drum scanner of my own.
Mel-
As already mentioned, the sense of depth in #2 is great, and I like tighter composition of it compared to # 1. Did anyone else notice the two aspen boles in the distance in the middle, echoing the near ones? I also like the contrast between the stunning fall colors and the white trunks in the foreground.
# 4 is also really nice. I don't think it's too busy at all. Wouldn't it make an AWESOME jigsaw puzzle?
Erik