Another photo that happened on the way to work. Taken with a Minolta 800si, ProMaster AF 28-200mm Aspherical Lens, Kodak Max 800, Program mode, Adjustments were made to correct color and contrast to equal 8X10 print. Comments and help, please.

Thanks Ben

-- Ben Lanterman (benl@anet-stl.com), December 21, 1998

Answers

ben, it's a great sky, but it cries out for a foreground. Since that obviously was not possible, i would crop out the tops of the trees in the foreground. They don't add much for me and if anything are distracting. by the was are you a physician? your name is very familiar.

-- richard mittleman (gon2foto@gte.net), December 22, 1998.

Richard - The forground is a problem that I havn't solved here in the city. If I went down in framing the image I get telephone poles, buildings, usual city garbage. I need to scout out a place that I can get to quickly that doesn't have buildings but has something in it to give a sense of size and space. The great plains would be nice :-)

Thanks for the comments, I agree on the trees. It would look better if the clouds were either tied to the ground or no trees at all. The bumps are distracting. Next time I guess I should include the city stuff since its mostly in dark shadow (but does tie the sky to the earth) and see what I could crop off later. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. No, I am a retired Engineer (retired early to do this kind of stuff) and starving artist (oils and acrylics) but not a doctor. My son is a Doctor of Science in Electrical Engineering, that is about as close as I come.

Ben

-- Ben Lanterman (benl@anet-stl.com), December 22, 1998.

The tree tops are extraneous and undesirable (especially the little tip in the lower right corner), but I also don't like centered subjects as the result is, to me, unbearably static.

Finally, seeing accidental shapes in images like this ruins the image for me entirely. When someone points out something like the bird-shape in the clouds to me in one of my own photos, I usually trash it: it's ruined for me. I say this to let you know that I may be more than a little extreme on this subject, so you can discount my remarks in advance.

Frank

-- Frank Kolwicz (bb389@lafn.org), December 22, 1998.

Good Morning Frank -

Good to see you had your cup of coffee first.

- especially the little tip in the lower right corner - I had actually not seen that tip until you pointed it out. I need to learn to look at the corners.

- I also don't like centered subjects as the result is, to me, unbearably static. - Normally I agree with you, it is a definite no in painting but you have more control there. For this photo it's a difficult problem. Since the sun was making the rays, as you go off center they decrease and there is, in this case, not much of interest left or right. Do I go off center and bring in blandness or stay centered where most of the interesting stuff is happening? The previous posting I made at least had some nice dark clouds coming in from the right to balance the composition.

- Finally, seeing accidental shapes in images like this ruins the image for me entirely. - Well the shape was accidental as far as the clouds were concerned but the intent to photograph it as a shape was definitely on purpose. I saw the animate shape coming together and shot a series of which this is the most defined. If it is on purpose can I keep it? :-)

- When someone points out something like the bird-shape in the clouds to me in one of my own photos, I usually trash it: it's ruined for me. - Next time send them to me! I would enjoy seeing more of your work. I do understand what you are saying, especially when you had something else entirely in mind and that is all they see. Someone managed to find a face in a painting I did of a sailing ship and it was disaster as it was hanging on someone elses wall!!

- I say this to let you know that I may be more than a little extreme on this subject, so you can discount my remarks in advance. - A little extreme, perhaps, more likely a lot- most of my artist friends seem to be a lot on the extreme side of normal when it comes to artistic tastes. I have also learned never to discount any of their comments, I might get defensive (after all it's my ego being discussed) but I always remember and it has made me a better artist. I will remember the next time I push the shutter and just maybe make a better photograph.

Thanks for your comments. I wish I could get more from others. This new media is quite addictive. Ben

-- Ben Lanterman (benl@anet-stl.com), December 23, 1998.

Centered images tend to be static, but I have to disagree with this particular picture. The rays of some emanating from behind the cloud make the picture very vibrant to my eye.

The trees are somewhat of a distraction, but they don't ruin the picture. Good shot!

-- Kirk Nelson (nelsonkk@gte.net), January 08, 1999.