After the Burning ll . . .

[gahspidy]

Same place.
What do you think?
Thanks

[readingr]

Gary,

I really like the textures, lighting, and composition of this picture and the subtle tones work really well with the subject.

Do you use a polarizer to get the sky? or is this filterless?

Roger

[Seb]

Same place.
What do you think?
Thanks

Gary, technically this is excellent but I can't say that this picture has the visual impact of the first one on me. The composition with the diagonals is well thought but something seems to be missing.

Seb

[Overbeyond]

The diagonally placed and nicely charred tree is just too prominent for me Gary. The other branches add to an "untidyness" in the right side of the tree. Again though, in the series, this will fit comfortably.
How often have I heard an isolated piece of music that initially did not grab my attention until I hear it in the context of the complete album? Best analogy I can think of just now.

[swmdrayfan]

Gary, I wonder if this might have more impact if the tangle of branches weren't in the shot, as Overbeyond previously stated. If it was possible to have just the charred trunk, the bare tree in the background, and the new growth, you'd have the powerful image of regeneration. I like the series though.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Gary I have been back to this post and the other several times. I feel there is something missing in your two shots. The concept and composition I feel are top notch to say the least. I love the way the tree trunk is in your face on this one. I just can't put my finger on whats not right here. I am after all a firefighter and have fought many wild land fires. I am trying to view this from a photographer's point of view but I can't. After a true wild land fire this is not what you see, the color is all wrong I think. I know this was a controlled burn but the elements are off.

Composition A+
Subject A+
Lighting B+
Color Needs work

B&W doesn't work on this one for me.

[Xia_Ke]

HI Gary. I think I like this one better than the first one. It gives you more of the feel of "After the Burning". I agree with the others on the tangle of branches though. I'd like to see this shot panned over just a hair to the left to show more background and eliminate some of the branches.

[Frog]

Due to our tendency to look left to right, I would suggest flipping this horizontally.

[mtbbrian]

I agree completely with Seb.
This one just have enough to hold me visually.
Brian

[GB1]

Gary - Very interesting photograph. I feel there's something missing however.. not sure exactly what - maybe a scarecrow in the left-center field between the foreground tree and the background one? The contrast is outstanding, and the diagonals add a creative twist. The B&W is a big success. Too bad there's not a tad more fog. Sharpness is good, but could be even sharper. The black frame works.

GB

[freygr]

The thing that strikes me is there should be color, yes color is the missing thing. the foreground the tree is naturally B&W but the background is missing the green of life.

[gahspidy]

I have included a link to a slightly larger and edited version at the bottom.

Roger . . .I had a polarizer on one of my lenses that day, but not this shot. I try to get the right exposure, and then bring out the cloud definition in post processing. I'm glad this seems to work for you. . .

Seb . . .thanks as always for your thoughts. This is one of those shots that I, as the photographer feel strongly about but seems that I was not successful in bringing the composition home to most viewers. I'm going to try somethiong in pp to see if it strengthens the image.

Tom. . .great analogy. . .gives me hope for this lol. This image is really about the detail in the charred branches, especially the main one. In this web image, it just is not coming across. I'm going to post a larger version in my gallery to see if it helps. Thanks, Tom

John . . .thanks for the comments. The tangle of branches were so intentional to add to the "chaos" of the fire and afterrmath that it is not easy for me to let it go. . .apparently though something needs/needed to be done differently to make this stronger for most viewers. Thanks very much for your time to share your thoughts, John.

Tyson . . .glad to have your experienced eye of a fire fighter viewing this. I certainly appreciate your points about it not looking like an "after the burning" as you know it. I was really going for more of an artistic abstract type feel with the tangle of branches and the main ingredient being the texture of the charred trunk, which is not coming acoss in this web version very well. As for the "colors", this was done as a sepia tone with the artistic approach in mind. Thanks for sharing your insight with me. Helps me more than you may know.

Aaron . . .So this one seems to work for you more than the first one. Interesting diversity of views on this one . . . I see a problem in the upper right corner of the image. There seems to be an area of sky that is framed by the tangle of branches that has no clouds and is a darker sepia tone. It looks "wrong" or like a mistake. I am going to try to remedy this situation and post a larger version in my gallery. I would like to know if you feel it improves on the overall aesthetic. Stay tuned. . .and thanks.

Frog. . .very goood point and interesting suggestion. I will play with flipping the image, but my feeling is that I wanted the space to be the starting point. .so to speak. I will be experimenting with that notion. Thank you.

Brian. . .It's always great to know you are around. . . your comment. . does that mean that althougn you feel it has some faults it still works well as a picture for you? btw. . .hows it going? I have not seen anymore pictures with Bessa lately. .
thanks

Gb . . .thanks so much for your anaylsis. I can tell you that the sharpness in the image is not coming across here, but the 17-40L lens at a foot or so away from the trunk really captured every detail in this charred tree. Hopefully, it will be more apparent in a larger version which i will post in my gallery. I'm going to try something in pp and hope it will soften the "something is missing" notion that seems to be the overwhelming consensus here. Thanks for taking the time to lay out your thoughts on this.

GRF . . .The green would be in the newly growing reeds below the tree( yes , background)
I wanted the "series" to have the same uniform appearance, sepia tone, and so did not want to offer this one with muted color. I will experiment with that, though.
Thanks.


Ok, I have tried flipping the image. . .and I like the result. I have also treated some issues I had with the previous version. This one is also a bit larger ( vertical pics cannot be too large or most of us have to scroll to see) I realize this will not solve alot of the "something is missing" issue that was noted, but do you feel this is better than the first post?
thanks everyone.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0507-1409x.jpg

[Greg McCary]

Gary, I have came back to this picture several times and haven't completely made up my mind on it. One thing I do see, if you look at the small trail just to the right of the tree it looks as though you are leaning slightly to the right. I think the reeds just grow taller as they go to the right? I think the composition is very good but wish there was a little more sky in the shot. All in all I feel this is a nice addition to the series.
Greg

[Tyson L. Sparks]

You know I finally put my finger on it, lightning strike, thats what it reminds me of. Not a burn off, a lightning strike, there isn't enough chard ground.

[Frog]

I think your gallery version is a bit better.

[gahspidy]

Thanks Greg, Tyson, and Frog.
Actually Tyson, your right as the ground cover has already had about a week to grow and cover over what was burnt off on the ground.
Frog, I like the flipped suggestion and felt it improved. Good idea, and thanks again.