View allAll Photos Tagged ramble
Cygnus atratus - Black Swan
Seagers Rd,
Timber Creek
Murray Lagoon
Kangaroo Island
South Australia
duck://player/M_lIKui5FhY
Long winding dirt road of the Bernese Oberland region between Alpiglen and Grindlewald, Switzerland.
Mid-October and already the weather was shorning the trees of their leaves.
I have studied this image to try to determine why I think it works and hence worthy of being published and my thoughts are below to those of interest.
Wanring: As long a ramble as the actual walk on the morning of this image! ;-)
I recently commented on a SImon Burns vlog about the lack of published self-analysis photographers provide with their images, and how I have so enjoyed Charlie Waite's new book in which he provides great insights into each image as he saw it and took it at the time and in processing.
In my comment to Simon, I said I think there is great value for us all to seek to understand our own compositions, in our own words, to narrow down why we like it, what works, and what does not work.
We can take that library of thought processes forward into future compositions on different days.
I also stated I thought we can objectively assess what appears to be a subjective art form, assessing the subject, the composition, the light and the technical aspects. This comes from the vlog of Josh Cripps where he critiqued images on these aspects. A fifth aspect to assess is the developing/post-processing skill.
Each photographer is taking images for themselves, not for likes by others, or fame and fortune and it is important I think to understand if you are happy with the images you are taking, in order to identify weaknesses you need to improve on.
The above all said, critiquing others images on a similar framework is not something we should pursue, unless invited to do so.
The sole arbiter of your images must be yourself. And if just one person likes that image, or 1000 people, the number itself is irrelevant.
This is why I would agree with the removal of likes on social media as it may encourage more thoughtful comments compared to the superficial insta-like measures which can be erroneously mood-changing.
If you like your own image, that is the most important and sole "like" you should given credence too, based on your abilities and knowledge at that point in time.
Background story of the image:
This was the very last shot of a three hour wander on a new path at a now regularly visited local woodland that was an enjoyable due to the changing scenery.
A mix of streams, fallen leaves on pathwats, mossy stone walls, coupled with higher ground vista views over the valley amongst browning ferns, with views across to autumnal looking hillsides.
But, I had struggled to find strong compositions despite the leisurely pace.
My thoughts on this image:
The immediate eye-catcher here for me were the three strong trunks, with equal spacing, and the golden colour of the background ferm.
Then the finer details stood out, in particular I liked the left trunk with the ivy (?) hugging it, and I also liked the rugged texture of the bark of the middle silver birch.
The right sided trunk was less interesting as a subject, but provided a strong frame, helped by the soft focus background birch to its right.
On the right side of the composition I thiink that background tree was essential to be included for interest. Its lightness and being out of focus, and so not causing a distraction, brings a subtle interest to completing that side of the frame.
On the left side, the background is more subtle with spot-lit leaves,
but this allows the interest to be focused on the ivy hugged tree itself, without which, the composition would not warrant this trunk's inclusion in the shot, it being quite unremarkable. Here, the trunks darkness contrasts nicely with the green leaves hugging it.
On the left corner, the thin trunk helps keep the eye from falling out of the frame, and actually brings the eye back up to the extended branch.
Essential to the composition for me are the horizontal branches of each trunk. Each branch connects the whole image together, linking as they do from side to side across the full width of the frame.
They also alternate from high to low to high again from left to right, providing a symmetrical balance.
Overall, what initially looks like a complex image, was technically simplified by a shallow depth of field at f/6.3.
And finally, in terms of colour, the saturation is kept in check to ensure the eye is not distracted to a hot-spot.
The right-side mass of yellow fern is small enough not to spoil the harmony, and is balanced by some of the discrete green & yellow leafage on the left side.
And finally, I liked the neural network of twigs, with a density light enough to be not distracting, but noticeable enough to provide structure in front of the soft background.
/The End
If you have read this far, then thank you and I welcome your thoughts on any aspect of the above ramble.
Until next time and thanks for the views.
Reading & Northern SD50s 5019 & 5018 tow the Iron Horse Ramble back into Jim Thorpe after turning the train on the wye here at Nesquehoning Jct, August 13, 2022. Two steam locomotives double headed the train from Reading to Jim Thorpe and return-#2102 & 425-with the diesels following behind lite. The fans were out in droves for this special Iron Horse Ramble. This was the first time the 2102 and the 425 doubled on a train.
Ilford HP5+, Rolleicord lll
Reading & Northern’s T-1 2102 races through Tamaqua with the first Iron Horse Ramble for 2023 on July 1.
Colas Class 60 No. 60087 CLIC Sargent crosses Batty Moss Viaduct, Ribblehead with 6J37, the Carlisle – Chirk Kronospan logs on 16th February 2018.
A rather worn out barn, sits forlorn, on a farm in rural Grundy County Illinois. Three exposure HDR processed with Photomatix
Leaves are falling all around,
It's time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged
For such a pleasant stay.
But now its time for me to go,
The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain,
And with it pain,
And its headed my way.
Ah, sometimes I grow so tired...
But I know I've got one thing I got to do...
__________
For those who might enjoy listening...for Zep fans, the slide show is excellent...
One of the purposes of the walk was a good view of the steam train - but it came early, so just a grab shot.
Balcony Bridge (L), Oak Bridge (C) and a lakeside path along the Ramble in Central Park, New York City.
Three frames merged in Photoshop and taken with the Olympus E-M5 and a m.Zuiko 25mm f1.8 lens.
Taken 27 Feb 2011 @ Kippure, (near the Sally Gap crossroads) Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Canon 7D, Sigma 10-20mm.
5 exposures @ f/16.
Tone mapped in Photomatix. levels & curves in Photoshop CS5.
Pearsonville Junkyard
Night, moonlight. Pink, yellow, and natural LED flashlight.
2 min 40 sec F8 ISO200