Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: William Walker on July 15, 2012, 02:58:36 am

Title: Sani Shepard
Post by: William Walker on July 15, 2012, 02:58:36 am
I took this on a cold late afternoon at an altitude of about 2900m.

I would be keen to know what you think.

Thanks
William
Title: Re: Sani Shepard
Post by: popnfresh on July 15, 2012, 03:00:47 am
It works for me. I might have added a bit of vignetting but that's about it. Where did you take this?
Title: Re: Sani Shepard
Post by: Tony Jay on July 15, 2012, 03:58:46 am
William, I can feel the chill.
I can just imagine the watery sunshine doing nothing to warm the cold.

For Pop - the Sani Pass is the highest road (track) in South Africa and is the (only) southern road connecting South Africa with Lesotho (AKA "The Mountain Kingdom").

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Sani Shepard
Post by: amolitor on July 15, 2012, 06:52:06 am
This is great. My first reaction was 'oh god, another overcontrasty mess' but after a millisecond that passed. The contrast serves the image, as it should, giving a real feeling of chill. I especially dig the relatively harsh feel of the foreground against the soft hills in the distance, that gives a fantastic feel to the thing.

The expression on the shepherd's face, the body language, all really great.
Title: Re: Sani Shepard
Post by: michswiss on July 16, 2012, 09:12:45 am
I'm close to thinking the contrast is too hot as well.  But I have no room to complain given my own preferences.  I think the overall image works really well. 

Title: Re: Sani Shepard
Post by: RSL on July 16, 2012, 09:32:42 am
+1. At this tiny size I'd probably have dodged the face a very, very small amount, but at normal size it's close to perfect.
Title: Re: Sani Shepard
Post by: William Walker on July 16, 2012, 02:14:45 pm
Thank-you for the comments, I am happy to blame the "hot contrast" on Slobodan for his "symphony in grey" comment on another post of mine. I was determined to try and avoid that again.

I have included two other pictures taken on the same day.

The first one to add a bit to Tony's reply to Pop's question, and the second as a point of interest: the man carrying the wood - who is mute - goes down every day to collect firewood because there are no trees at the top. A tough life indeed.

Thanks again,
William