Trip to the Woods

Sorry to not have been posting much. It's been an eventful month--some good and some not so good. I have been getting out lately though and doing some more shooting. Just wanted to share a few over the next week or so and see what you all think.


Any suggestions, comments are always welcomed.

Lynn

Nice B&W, Lynn, i love simple winter scenes like this.

I'm on the fence on this. I like the idea and I like the leading lines in the shot, but the lighting doesn't quite work for me. The trees are too much in the shadow and therefore lack detail or separation from one another and the shadow across the bottom kind of distracts me from the leading line.

What Grant said.
I like the vegetation in the lower left corner a lot, but you placed your 'signature' there.

Thanks Stan.

Grant--How could I have made it better? The original was lighter but thought it didn't have enough contrast so I added a little. That would lighten it some. On both sides were big trees--shooting in the first morning light and in the evening light both would have created shadow issues. Full bright daylight would have brought other challenges. Is just the whole setting just the wrong one and should look for something a little more open?

Just trying to figure it all out :) So much to think about and consider. It makes a guys brain hurt :)

John--Not sure why I put the signature there :) Both my wife and I liked the blured pine branches in the corner. Thats an easy fix :)

thanks guys for your insight and help--much appreciated even if it makes my brain hurt a little. I want to get this down!

thanks

Lynn

I like the lead in lines and I typically like higher contrast b&w, but I'm an aberration nowadays. You can make your image slightly smaller and add a border to equal the 720 pixel size and put your copyright and signature in the border. I do this myself, and I feel like I am putting in some added protection as well keeping the image clean. Although it's only an illusion that it is protection of course, but it makes me feel better about posting online.

Lynn, without being there, I'm not sure if you could have improved this or not. The composition is solid and it's hard to say if the lighting ever would have been much better at this spot. But I found your web site and it looks like you have several really good shots. It sounds like you're fairly new to this and your shots are definitely better than what I had starting out. So a lot of it is just shooting a lot...the more shots you have, the more you'll be able to weed out the weaker ones and put together a really solid portfolio.

For me, photography is about practice, planning, patience, and persistence (and I need to improve on all four). You'll always improve with practice and experimenting with different shots in different light. As for planning, someone like Todd Caudle is the about the best I know for planning to be in the right spot when the weather is just right. Patience is always hard, but sometimes waiting for just the right light can pay off. And persistence may be the most important thing. For example, someone with no talent like Erik Stensland is so darned persistent that he's able to give the illusion that he's a really good photographer.

Hi Morris
Appreciate the comments.
I have often wondered how people make the borders and do that kind of stuff :) I could have put it towards the top corner and would have been better I think. I do things most times late late at night and do things different than one would normally at times. That and being new--self taught which hasn't always been a good thing :)

Thats why I like this site--I like the help and suggestions :) Now to figure out the border thing :)

Hi Grant

I appreciate you finding the blog and the kind words. I'm working on the patience part!!! I want it all now :) It's not all bad as it pushes me to me presistant!

On the shot--Im not sure anything could have been done differently due to the trees being situated the way they were. Like you say shoot alot and learn. I do alot of expermentation and trying different things. Since you looked at the blog you seen my latest endeavor of shooting flowers. This was my second attempt. I have been back several times to the Gardens here. It took me forever to figure out to get a good shot of the mostly red funky flower. Finally on the last trip I think I got it to come out about right.

I don't mind the mistakes and the learning--part of it is fun. I get frustrated like anyone but I'm having fun. I have two deseases fly fishing and photography. :)

thanks again for the pointers and suggestions

Lynn

Like the simplicity in the image.

Hi Dan

thanks for taking a look and glad you liked it. It's really my first black and white. When I got it home on the computer it just said B&W. I'm not sure tones worked but I still like the picture overall. I'm still working at it.