Taken with a Canon Rebel G and 28-105mm lens (at about 90mm). A warming filter was used as it was a cloudy day. If I remember correctly, the exposure was 1/30th at f8.

I'm really new at this... I like the subject (the stump), however the image just doesn't jump out at me. Any suggestions would be appreciated -- even if it's just to tell me I should put away the camera forever.

-- Casey Barber (barber@mindspring.com), October 03, 1998

Answers

well, what the hey...i think it's a fairly interesting image, very good composition. in view of its abstract quality, i suggest that b&w film would have been the better choice, printing on high contrast paper.

-- wayne harrison (wayno@netmcr.com), October 03, 1998.

Casey no reason to put away the camera for ever your exploring texture and you haven't done that bad of a job of it, just next time use B&W to emphasize the texture. Also your framing of the image is distracts from the image very much, next time make the framing match the photo a little better or just don't put it on.

-- Tait Stangl (taits@chemsite1.com), October 03, 1998.

I like the picture overall, but I don't really like the beat-up blades of grass (what kind is that, St. Augustine or something?).

The stump almost looks like reptile skin of some kind. It's a neat bit of texture/color.

-- Brent Hutto (BHutto@InfoAve.Net), October 03, 1998.

Casey, your choice of subject matter shows that you have an eye for something beyond "snapshots" so that's good. The stump is interesting but the chewed up grass and the elaborate frame are killing it. It might not be a bad way to frame it on a wall, but in this case it's digital fluff surrounding something that might be meaningful. Also, lighting might be more interesting at a different time of day. Good luck on the next one!

-- Mike Green (mgprod@mindspring.com), October 03, 1998.

Would be better if you focus on the stump, leaving all the half dead grass out of the picture for an abstract pattern. The way it is it looks boring - like something I pass by on the streets on my way to work every day and wouldn't bother looking at, let alone photograph it. Now if you showed us a close up of the stump with some stunningly beautiful pattern, you would show that it's something worth not to passing by.

-- (andreas@physio.unr.edu), October 03, 1998.

Thanks for the comments. I ditched the digital "fluff". I'll return and try a few shots with B&W film as I have time. There's not a lot I can do about the grass. This is Texas, folks -- that's the way most of the grass looks. I agree it would be nicer if the stump were on a putting green!

My first thought was to concentrate on the texture of the stump. However, I don't have any macro equipment. So, I thought showing a bit of the stumps environment might be interesting. I'll try again when I get that shiny new 100mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Again, thanks for the comments.

-- Casey Barber (barber@mindspring.com), October 04, 1998.

You don't need a macro lens. You can do this with extention tubes. Very inexpensive, but you'll need a tripod because you'll loose alot of light.

-- Jim DeLuco (j.deluco@neccsd.com), October 15, 1998.