Fernwood Cottage Revisited

[PhoebeG]

I posted a summer version of this a few week ago. I just shot this yesterday after an early snowfall. Converted to BW.

Phil G.

[GB1]

Phil - This one has potential. I see a few issues with it, mostly compositional.

- Under-exposure. This can happen in snow as the meters often get fooled. This one looks about about 1 or so f-stops under, maybe 1.5.

- The big out of focus drift at the bottom left: that definitely needs to go!

- A lot of stuff obstructing what I see as the subject - the stream and house. Even then, there is not a clear shot of the house and it is almost out of the frame.

- I do like the curve of the stream, but the two trees on its left, they seem to intrude rather than complement. The thing is that they could complement, but they don't. I think there are simply better angles that you could get here.

Perhaps shooting it from farther up, where your camera is going between the two trees, and that would show a more straight on angle of the house and water wheel.

My hindsight, anyways

G

[PhoebeG]

Thanks much. Lot's of helpful observations.

Phil G.

[Greg McCary]

I think you are just to far away from the wheel to give it any justice. I think you should move up the creek and shoot from a closer vantage point.

[readingr]

All I was going to say has already been said, Nice location.

When I do landscapes I end up with a minimum of 12 shots and normally about 40 taken from various locations and different settings. So when your there move around, unless your just out for a walk.

Roger

[LeeIs]

Phil, I like the composition and the starkness of the black areas here. although the snow suffers a bit from being too grey. if you look at the histogram of this shot, you'll see that there isn't a true white spot. u need to bump up the highlights to introduce some white in the snow. There's also this thing in the bottom left that's out of focus that you might want to crop out.

[PhoebeG]

I've got some others I shot, I'll see what I can do to incorporate the suggestions made.

Thanks,

Phil G.

[PhoebeG]

OK, tried to soak in all of the great suggestions and re-worked this a bit. I think its better. Thanks everyone for all of the help.

Phil G.

[GB1]

Phip - It's different than the original, no doubt. But now it looks over-processed, and I am not sure how close you should put that house to the top of the frame. Indeed, it seems that the stream is the subject here, but there is really nothing all that interesting about the stream other than its curve, which isn't IMO enough to put it over the top. Sometimes you just have to cut bait.

Try going back and seeing what you can do with a different composition. I think the actual scene is worthy, but it needs a totally new perspective.

G

[PhoebeG]

GB, I think you're right about sometimes just cutting bait. Just seems like there ought to be more here (in the way of a good photo), and I just don't get it. I tried shooting it from the side, but there's a bunch of commercial looking stuff visible from that angle (bronze name plates, christmas lights, accent lights, etc).

Oh well, this picure gold mine is not coming in.

Thanks,

Phil G.

[caleb]

getting closer from this same angle would reduce distracting twigs/branches/etc... i like the scene and subject. you could try to also take it from maybe 5-10 steps to the left and a little closer to get the water wheel showing more?