Posted by Lon Sharp on February 13, 2009 at 9:45 PM
I would like some opinions on this one... This is an older burn in a pondorosa forest. Grasses are regenerating, but the trees are wiped out. In this moonscape setting, animals continue to thrive and this young bull is doing his best to blend into a busy background. I was hoping for an interesting landscape with the bonus of a large mammal in the frame.
This was taken today during light snow and fog conditions. After white balance adjustments, I tried some selective tweaks in contrast and then sharpening, leaving the majority of the image as soft as possible. The problem I see is that the fine snow takes away resolution without it showing as snow in the image. Does this work, or is it just mushy? 400mm, 1/1000, f4, iso 250
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 14, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Hi Lon,
I can see what you state as your concern. I think your image conveys the sense of an environment in transition quite well. In this case, even though the viewer can't distinguish the snow falling, it does add a softness to the "stark" reality of the trauma and rebirth that the area has experienced. The presence of the bull adds that extra element and primary subject needed.
My only specific suggestion to give this more impact is to add a bit (just a bit) more contrast to the bull and overlay the softness of the scene onto the downed tree to the right of the bull. The contrast of that tree pulls the eye and becomes a point of focus I expect you don't want.
Just some thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Brad Mangas on February 14, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Hi Lon,
At first glance this does have the soft look as you described. And I agree it doesn't appear initially (for the first second or two of viewing) to be beneficial. I can tell though that it very likely from the fact that it is snowing just from the scene in general and this is appealing to me. The view of the elk looking straight at the viewer along with the appearance of land/tree destruction provides a powerful environmental feel to this scene. For me its one of those "the longer I look the more I like it" type of images. I think it is well done.
Posted by Bill Dark on February 14, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Kinda hard to make the bull stand out when he's trying to blend in...
I think your processing's fine, Lon, I would only suggest a crop from the top to eliminate some of the white sky and truncated tree tops that want to pull me up there. Nice work.
Posted by Darren Huski on February 14, 2009 at 3:47 PM
I think it is a very good image that really tells a story. Well seen.
I'll agree about the tree in the LR corner needing to be softened up.
Posted by Daniel Loomis on February 14, 2009 at 6:28 PM
I appreciate the tip of the hat to the positive aspects of fire ecology. To my eye, the softeness of the image works against its power. I think a "harder: image with sharper contrasts would have communicated more powerfully the enduring resilience of nature.
Posted by Scott Bean on February 14, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Beautiful composition! I think I would maybe prefer a touch more contrast to the entire image (but I tend to like really contrasty images). Would be interesting to see what this would look like with some watercolor or other type "painting" affect applied to it.
Posted by Lon Sharp on February 15, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Thanks all for the feedback. It helps a lot! I will continue to tweak this one some, but it probably won't get much if any public viewing... Thanks again.
Discussion
7 repliesThis was taken today during light snow and fog conditions. After white balance adjustments, I tried some selective tweaks in contrast and then sharpening, leaving the majority of the image as soft as possible. The problem I see is that the fine snow takes away resolution without it showing as snow in the image. Does this work, or is it just mushy? 400mm, 1/1000, f4, iso 250
I can see what you state as your concern. I think your image conveys the sense of an environment in transition quite well. In this case, even though the viewer can't distinguish the snow falling, it does add a softness to the "stark" reality of the trauma and rebirth that the area has experienced. The presence of the bull adds that extra element and primary subject needed.
My only specific suggestion to give this more impact is to add a bit (just a bit) more contrast to the bull and overlay the softness of the scene onto the downed tree to the right of the bull. The contrast of that tree pulls the eye and becomes a point of focus I expect you don't want.
Just some thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
At first glance this does have the soft look as you described. And I agree it doesn't appear initially (for the first second or two of viewing) to be beneficial. I can tell though that it very likely from the fact that it is snowing just from the scene in general and this is appealing to me. The view of the elk looking straight at the viewer along with the appearance of land/tree destruction provides a powerful environmental feel to this scene. For me its one of those "the longer I look the more I like it" type of images. I think it is well done.
I think your processing's fine, Lon, I would only suggest a crop from the top to eliminate some of the white sky and truncated tree tops that want to pull me up there. Nice work.
I'll agree about the tree in the LR corner needing to be softened up.