Industrialized Tree

[Jens Peermann]

This morning at dawn in the harbor area of Stockton, CA. Low contrast and the only bright areas are reflections of the sunrise in the window.

A7II, 100/2 ZE @ f/8

[RMW]

Thanks Jens.
Very nice.
Surviving almost anything.
Richard

[polaris-14]

I did not notice the window had you not told us about that in the post. I think it's a very clever concept. I am wondering if you have a more vertical composition without the graffiti on the left. I thought it kinda competes with the window. The (pine?) tree makes a really nice frame on the window.

[MattBurt]

Interesting shot but I agree about the graffiti. A square crop might work well. Love the light on the glass.

[maddogmurph]

This could be a pretty interesting self portrait with your reflection in the broken window. (if it was there)

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Interesting shot but I agree about the graffiti. A square crop might work well. Love the light on the glass.

+1

[Jens Peermann]

Thanks to all of you for commenting.

During the shoot I was on the fence about the graffiti, thinking about the square crop solution just like some of you did. But ultimately I decided against it to keep the image authentic looking. Graffiti on decaying industrial buildings have become so common that an image of such property without them loses credibility.

However, the rainwater pipe between the window simply doesn't belong. Not only does it attract attention, it divides the image and thus brings more attention to the graffiti than it should get. So I simply removed that thing, straightened the image and cropped the right side off a bit to move the window out of the smack center position. Now the tree/window combo gets the attention it deserves and the graffiti is no longer a distraction.

[Jens Peermann]

This could be a pretty interesting self portrait with your reflection in the broken window. (if it was there)

That window actually does show my portrait. But since you've never seen me there's no way for you to know. An easy mistake.

[Jens Peermann]

The (pine?) tree makes a really nice frame on the window.

It has scaled leaves, so it must be a juniper. I just have no idea what exact species.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Much better.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Much better.

+1.

[Jeremy Roussak]

Much better.

Better, certainly, but now there's a rather large and uninteresting gap between the window and the graffiti, which makes the image unbalanced. Since you're editing the scene so heavily by removing the drainpipe (and I don't say that with any disapproval), why not move the graffiti a bit to the right?

Jeremy

[Paulo Bizarro]

Interesting image, with lots of potential for alternative takes.