Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: James Clark on February 04, 2018, 10:31:51 pm

Title: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: James Clark on February 04, 2018, 10:31:51 pm
Four equal sides, two pylons, one bird.  The bird sat like this for quite awhile - long enough that I also have a long exposure version with no texture in the water, but in this case I really like the water and the reflection of the pylons.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 04, 2018, 10:33:03 pm
Perhaps overly high-key?
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: James Clark on February 04, 2018, 10:36:30 pm
Perhaps, but the day was overcast and grey so the alternative is a mess of 50%grey midtones.  I envision this on a wall in a rather stark space - the kind of home where *everything* is overexposed and the difference between the white walls and the light grey of the image is more impactful.   
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: James Clark on February 04, 2018, 10:43:14 pm
The long exposure version for comparison.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 04, 2018, 11:52:47 pm
I much prefer your first post.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: MikeReevesPhotography on February 05, 2018, 01:34:27 am
I do prefer the first. The subject seems better separated and the textures in the water are more defined. I will say that it does seem a tad bright to me but considering the conditions, it is better presented than overly gray tones.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 05, 2018, 09:57:30 am
I suspect that a black frame around it might help, without having to make the whits go gray.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 05, 2018, 10:40:38 am
I suspect that a black frame around it might help, without having to make the whits go gray.

The same thought occurred to me as well.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 05, 2018, 01:24:21 pm
The same thought occurred to me as well.
Oh, oh! Does that mean neither you nor I think?   :D
(Referencing your slogan, of course.)
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: James Clark on February 05, 2018, 02:23:27 pm
Good idea, gentlemen!   8)
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Telecaster on February 05, 2018, 04:46:43 pm
Good idea, gentlemen!   8)

Yep, that makes it work. I'd put it up in my White Room (if I had one).  :)

-Dave-
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 05, 2018, 05:30:25 pm
Oh, oh! Does that mean neither you nor I think?   :D
(Referencing your slogan, of course.)

When it comes to photography and art, it is all about feeling, Eric, not thinking  ;)
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 06, 2018, 12:36:44 am
When it comes to photography and art, it is all about feeling, Eric, not thinking  ;)
Then shouldn't your motto be: When everybody feels the same... nobody feels!    :D
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Rob C on February 06, 2018, 04:19:34 am
When nobody thinks or feels, they are dead.

So many of them around. Movies and tv have nothing on the wasteland that's real life.

Rob
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Bart_van_der_Wolf on February 06, 2018, 05:03:00 am
Good idea, gentlemen!   8)

James, with a dark frame, it's a winner.

Cheers,
Bart
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Rob C on February 06, 2018, 02:22:18 pm
Yes, a black line does it, but I would have used a much finer one and around the actual image itself; I don't think that leaving a white border has solved the problem at all. I believe that all that's been achieved is the isolation of the picture within the monitor, not from its bland, white surround as within the printed space. For me, that's the crucial difference between solving and tinkering.

:-)

Rob
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Telecaster on February 06, 2018, 03:18:28 pm
I'd print with a black line directly around the image but then frame it using a thin-ish white matte. For screen display I like it as James has done it.

-Dave-
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: 32BT on February 06, 2018, 03:22:45 pm
I'm trying to imagine my disappointment if the merit of one of my images hinges on the peculiarities of framing with a white matte and the placement of a small black border...
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: James Clark on February 06, 2018, 03:24:05 pm
Yes, a black line does it, but I would have used a much finer one and around the actual image itself; I don't think that leaving a white border has solved the problem at all. I believe that all that's been achieved is the isolation of the picture within the monitor, not from its bland, white surround as within the printed space. For me, that's the crucial difference between solving and tinkering.

:-)

Rob

Hi Rob! I thought the same, but I ended up not loving the result.  Definitely the white isolates from the monitor, which is  huge help here, but to me it also does isolate the subtle shading of the water and sky just enough.  YMMV, of course, and I appreciate the input.  Ultimately, I'll print this one and see what really works on a wall I suppose..
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: James Clark on February 06, 2018, 03:25:56 pm
I'm trying to imagine my disappointment if the merit of one of my images hinges on the peculiarities of framing with a white matte and the placement of a small black border...

:)  I'm not bothered.  I unashamedly shoot for "over the couch" (or mantle) effect, and in my experience the presentation is as important as the image itself. 
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 06, 2018, 04:11:48 pm
I'm trying to imagine my disappointment if the merit of one of my images hinges on the peculiarities of framing with a white matte and the placement of a small black border...

I wouldn't say "hinges," Oscar, as presentation matters. Ultimately, a print is rarely seen in isolation (at least by the public). A print is one thing, and the print on the wall quite another. The peculiarities of framing are quite important. Knowing that you are from Holland, I'll offer this anecdotal evidence: when visiting Van Gogh museum, I bought two books. One was about his work (duh!) and the other was about the art of framing through centuries. Artists themselves were often quite involved and picky about how to frame their work.
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: BradSmith on February 11, 2018, 02:38:45 pm
I'd print and frame like this.
Brad
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2018, 03:24:34 pm
I'd print and frame like this.
Brad

Yep, that's how I see it working best.

Rob
Title: Re: A Question of Symmetry
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 11, 2018, 05:01:34 pm
Yep, that's how I see it working best.

Rob
Me too.

It is certainly an image that is worth spending time and effort to do a good presentation.

Eric