I'd like your opinions on this. It's a 10 second exposure with the ISO at 100 although it still appears quite noisy.
Another local patch image after the sun had gone down. The majority of the pond was frozen with only a small area left open for feeding so subjects had to stick around all evening. The orange glow was provided by an outside building light.
Hi Chris. I'm sorry but if you hadn't said it was a Swan I wouldn't have known what it was. I'm sure some people will really like it but I'm afraid it doesn't do anything for me.
Posted by jack chapman on January 5, 2010 at 4:09 PM
quite like this, the colours really lend themselves to the softness of the image, giving an intimate feel, the shape of the swan is excellent too, doesn't matter to me that it doesn't immediately look like one as the image is fairly abstract and goes beyond swan illustration
Posted by Nigel Blake on January 5, 2010 at 4:10 PM
Really sorry Chris, it don't work for me neither; not knowing it was a Swan I would probably have guessed at it being a screwed up tissue!
Sorry but this one has sunk my boat, it doesen`t do anything at all for me. I dont think its helped by the really noisy background and the fact that the white blur could be almost anything.
Absolutely love the colours and the overall mood and atmosphere that this image evokes, but would prefer the swan to be more...well...swanny I suppose. Just tipped too far over the abstract edge for me on this occasion. But the effect you've captured here is really magical. If I were you I'd be having another go at this and hope that the swan stayed swanny long enough to be a swan! Great bit of experimentation though.
Chris - interesting reactions to this. I see it as a very close near-miss. The rich colours are great and the glow is transfixing. I agree that the subject needs to be a little better defined (It's more like a christmas turkey at present ) I really hope you will go back and have another go at this, because I would love to see it work - potential for a real winner here.
It's a close one this Chris, been back couple of times just to see if it'd grow on me. But it didn't. Although I'd say it so nearly did. I don't know how you can improve on abstract but sometimes it just works while other times not. I think keep going is the only advise anyone can give.
doesn't do anything for me Chris I'm afraid. Colours are nice but there needs to be more definition in the swan IMO i.e. it needs to have a recognisable swan-like shape I think.
As you'd guess I took many shots at this location. It was a fine balance to get the definition but maintain some 'stillness'. If the swans' heads were up, they were moving about creating just a blur across the frame. It seemed the only time they were still enough to create a decent image was when they were roosting or preening as with the one above.
I've give it another go when I'm back that way again.
Thanks again,
Chris
Posted by David Sewell on January 6, 2010 at 5:10 AM
You seem to have got mixed reactions with this one, Chris. I like the idea, and think there is a lot of mileage in it. I think you do need to get the head into the picture so that we know what the subject is. I'll look forward to seeing your next efforts.
David
Posted by Mark Sisson on January 6, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Nice idfea, lovely mood/lighting would never have known it was a swan though - really needs the head/neck up and I'm sure a shorter exposure would then have goven a better balance.
Sure you tried all the options though and good on you for that.
Well top marks for trying something different but to be honest I just think this is a terrible image. I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can possibly think this is worth keeping (unless of course my monitor is totally b------d and I'm not seeing what I'm supposed to be seeing). The huge expanse of blackness at the lower end is what exactly? There may be a suggestion of atmosphere in the 'swan' and the golden area at the top but ....... come on Chris, with all the great stuff you have posted in the past please tell us this is a New Year prank.
Robert
No prank I'm afraid, Robert. A genuine experiment with long exposure and a contrasting subject and background. The huge expanse of black is to give a depth to the image. I can see it, but then again, I was there which gives me a biased 'view'.
I'm not surprised it's not to everyone's taste but that's to be expected. Part of the long learning process.
Discussion
16 repliesI'd like your opinions on this. It's a 10 second exposure with the ISO at 100 although it still appears quite noisy.
Another local patch image after the sun had gone down. The majority of the pond was frozen with only a small area left open for feeding so subjects had to stick around all evening. The orange glow was provided by an outside building light.
Cheers,
Chris
Sorry but this one has sunk my boat, it doesen`t do anything at all for me. I dont think its helped by the really noisy background and the fact that the white blur could be almost anything.
Still I suppose there is always the Tate Modern
Lee
Des
Keep at it
Matt
As you'd guess I took many shots at this location. It was a fine balance to get the definition but maintain some 'stillness'. If the swans' heads were up, they were moving about creating just a blur across the frame. It seemed the only time they were still enough to create a decent image was when they were roosting or preening as with the one above.
I've give it another go when I'm back that way again.
Thanks again,
Chris
David
Sure you tried all the options though and good on you for that.
Mark
Robert
I'm not surprised it's not to everyone's taste but that's to be expected. Part of the long learning process.
Thanks for your responses.
Chris