Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: dalethorn on June 10, 2009, 12:36:26 am
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Each time I take a walk I try to photograph some plant life along with the usual birds and animals, but I rarely get anything that has a look I immediately like. The sun was getting low and casting some light between the bushes and weeds in the wetland area, and when I saw the light on the yellow leaves, I knew I had a keeper. Panasonic G1, 45-200, ISO 100.
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Great work. Love the lighting! And sumacs are so soft...
Mike.
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Apparently the sumacs were so soft that they, and the rest of the picture disappeared.
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Apparently the sumacs were so soft that they, and the rest of the picture disappeared.
Alas, a lot of things have disappeared. Maybe if we just say a little prayer, they'll come back.
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Alas, a lot of things have disappeared. Maybe if we just say a little prayer, they'll come back.
So, what are you saying? That you changed your mind and you're embarrassed for people to see it?
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So, what are you saying? That you changed your mind and you're embarrassed for people to see it?
Many things are deleted here that are beyond my control. One of the mysteries of life.
Just repeat to yourself, Russ - "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change."
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Many things are deleted here that are beyond my control.
Really? I've never seen anything just vanish.
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Really? I've never seen anything just vanish.
Doesn't happen very often.
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Many things are deleted here that are beyond my control. One of the mysteries of life.
So while you're praying, why don't you just re-post it?
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So while you're praying, why don't you just re-post it?
There - it should show now.
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It's the best thing I've seen you do, Dale. I agree with Mike.
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I think it's actually one of your better images. I like the lines, and the color contrast. The space at the top of the frame doesn't add anything IMHO though; I think if you crop from the top, so that the yellow leaves are closer to the edge of the frame it will add a little visual tension and create a more interesting image.
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Hi Dale,
I agree that this is a keeper. What I like about this shot is the quality of the light, which was lacking in other shots of yours (for instance, the pastoral shot of the horses). While I am convinced the composition works, it could have been even better if the camera were shifted slightly to the left during capture. I like the details that the in-focus leaves provide, but directly to the right of it there is empty space that could be sacrificed to improve the overall composition. If you had shifted slightly to the left, the yellow/orange leaf would be in an ideal spot regarding rule-of-thirds. Nonetheless, as it stands, this shot is probably the most beautiful that you've posted here with respect to quality of light.
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Hi Dale,
I agree that this is a keeper. What I like about this shot is the quality of the light, which was lacking in other shots of yours (for instance, the pastoral shot of the horses). While I am convinced the composition works, it could have been even better if the camera were shifted slightly to the left during capture. I like the details that the in-focus leaves provide, but directly to the right of it there is empty space that could be sacrificed to improve the overall composition. If you had shifted slightly to the left, the yellow/orange leaf would be in an ideal spot regarding rule-of-thirds. Nonetheless, as it stands, this shot is probably the most beautiful that you've posted here with respect to quality of light.
I too like the light in this shot. But I think that it looks "straight on." If you had changed the angle of the shot as Oldcsar suggests, I think it would be an even stronger shot.
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Hi Dale,
I agree that this is a keeper. What I like about this shot is the quality of the light, which was lacking in other shots of yours (for instance, the pastoral shot of the horses). While I am convinced the composition works, it could have been even better if the camera were shifted slightly to the left during capture. I like the details that the in-focus leaves provide, but directly to the right of it there is empty space that could be sacrificed to improve the overall composition. If you had shifted slightly to the left, the yellow/orange leaf would be in an ideal spot regarding rule-of-thirds. Nonetheless, as it stands, this shot is probably the most beautiful that you've posted here with respect to quality of light.
I certainly agree with all of this - I took this through a fence, and on the other side of the fence, through a gap between two trees. I took several shots with slightly different perspectives, but couldn't move much either way, left or right. Within the past few months, my LLVJ education is enabling me to move my focus and ability to "see" in a better direction, which interestingly enough, isn't so much technical as it is just having things "sink in" to my brain. So thanks for the tips.
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Dale, You're not going to be able to improve it by changing the shooting angle. If you'd moved to the right or the left, the way the light falls on the leaves would be very different and probably not as good. I see what Jeff's saying about cropping but I don't agree. I think the yellow leaves, which are the focus of the picture are right where they belong. The location even fits the rule of thirds. It's a very good composition just as it stands, and the slight softness of the green leaves in the background is exactly what you want. Good job.
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Dale, You're not going to be able to improve it by changing the shooting angle. If you'd moved to the right or the left, the way the light falls on the leaves would be very different and probably not as good. I see what Jeff's saying about cropping but I don't agree. I think the yellow leaves, which are the focus of the picture are right where they belong. The location even fits the rule of thirds. It's a very good composition just as it stands, and the slight softness of the green leaves in the background is exactly what you want. Good job.
Thanks for the different perspective. I learn best (when I learn) by comparing different viewpoints. Now if I can only take this advice and actually apply it at capture time, then I'll have really learned something.
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Unsurprisingly, I can't agree with the perspective that adjusting the shooting angle by x degrees is going to change the light- this really depends on the direction of the light source, and shouldn't be too affected unless the photographer were directly between the light source and focal object. You are entitled to disagree with me, but I only ask that you consider the real-estate of the captured frame, and what you can do to maximize the drawing power of the focal object and minimize the amount of unused space.
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I hope you do not mind me cropping one of your pictures again, but I think the light is lovely, and just needs the eye to be kept into subject.[attachment=14446:Leaves10.jpg]
Jim
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I hope you do not mind me cropping one of your pictures again, but I think the light is lovely, and just needs the eye to be kept into subject.
Jim
Looks good. This is one of those cases where I'd print both, with the portrait-oriented version one paper size smaller, and hang them on adjoining walls. I see references here often to cropping for a different perspective, but don't recall anyone suggesting they'd display alternate crops in the same gallery. Just one of those things I'd like to hear more about.
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I hope you do not mind me cropping one of your pictures again, but I think the light is lovely, and just needs the eye to be kept into subject.[attachment=14446:Leaves10.jpg]
Jim
Jim, Sorry to sound negative, but this is a fine example of the fact that it's almost impossible to improve a properly framed and composed picture by cropping it. The crop turns the thing into a routine macro shot of some yellow leaves. The picture loses balance by losing those soft green leaves pointing out toward the right. Also, in order for this to work the yellow leaves have to be very sharp while the green leaves have to be somewhat soft. The crop has softened the yellow leaves and eliminated the contrast between the elements that made the picture striking. In addition, the crop has eliminated whatever extra punch the original got from the "rule of thirds." Dale's first impression was the right one.
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Jim, Sorry to sound negative, but this is a fine example of the fact that it's almost impossible to improve a properly framed and composed picture by cropping it. The crop turns the thing into a routine macro shot of some yellow leaves. The picture loses balance by losing those soft green leaves pointing out toward the right. Also, in order for this to work the yellow leaves have to be very sharp while the green leaves have to be somewhat soft. The crop has softened the yellow leaves and eliminated the contrast between the elements that made the picture striking. In addition, the crop has eliminated whatever extra punch the original got from the "rule of thirds." Dale's first impression was the right one.
And I will add my 2cents that I much prefer Dale's original photo to the cropped photo. Coming from a "cropping junkie," this is saying a lot about the original.