A good day in NJ?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Nature Photography Image Critique : One Thread

I wasn't sure about submitting this. The print looks much better than the scan. I suppose that's always the case, but it seems especially true for B&W images. I tweaked the scan to resemble the print in terms of tone and grain as best I could. There's a slightly larger scan here

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), January 27, 1999

Answers

I think dreary weather is a great time to shoot b/w, and this shot has contrast under control. Even with the backlighting, it seems to have detail in the dark of the trees. I think the bent, broken tree adds interest but I'm not sure why; probably because it makes me ask the question. It may not be the most interesting subject, but hey, not bad for jersey.

-- Mike Green (mgprod@mindspring.com), January 27, 1999.

I should add it was taken in (or near) the Great Swamp. I guess they called it "the Great Swamp" because someone else had already taken the name "The Dismal Swamp". It was raining and foggy when I took the shot - which is better than sleet and ice I guess. It was shot on fast film and pushed to develop grain which adds texture to the image, though it doesn't really show in the scan I'm afraid!

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), January 27, 1999.

It really looked drerry at first. But the more I look at it the more I like the dark trees in the forground shifting to the almost frosted trees in the background. I like the reflections.

-- Micheal F. Kelly (Kellys@alaska.net), January 28, 1999.

I'd say this was a very good day in NJ. This shot is beautiful! I love the dark, bold trees in the foreground (and where you've "placed" them in the image) fading to the fog-enshrouded trees in the background. And I love the stark but very detailed and delicate-looking branches that to me give this shot an oriental feel. (And hey, watch those NJ jokes! I grew up in New Jersey, about a 10-minute drive from the Great Swamp. IMO the Swamp is a beautiful and enchanting place.)

-- Barbara Kelly (kellys@alaska.net), January 28, 1999.

The composition seems to draw me into the swamp. The framing of the strong vertical trunks and the soft, misty background create just the right feeling. The broken-off trunk just off centre completes the scene. Very nice!

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), January 28, 1999.


Hi Bob,

I like this shot as well. The graininess really adds to the foggy/misty atmosphere. The composition really does draw you into the swamp. The tangle of branches and the darkness of the bottom right corner stick out as a distraction and, to me, it is an improvement to crop this area about halfway up (even though I like the bottom left of the image.)

Regards,

-- Jim Harrison (Hphoto@earthlink.net), January 28, 1999.


The strong elements for me are the "texture" of the branches, the feeling of depth given by the different tones of the near and far trees and I like the subject matter. For me, the lower 1/5 (esp. right side) seems to break the swampy/foggy mood. A day in the field exploring with your camera is always a good day.

-- Larry Korhnak (lvk@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu), January 28, 1999.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ