Barn II

[Greg McCary]

Does the composition and post processing work better on this version?

[EOSThree]

This is better Greg as it de-emphasizes the cut up tree in the foreground, but it's still distracting having that tree there in the foreground. The cut up old tree is just kind of ugly, making for a poor FG subject. I think this would be much stronger without the logs in the frame, ie wider lens with your composition much closer to the barn. If it were me, I think I would try to use the small cottage on the right as my foreground element, or even a portion of it like the rail from the porch. How's that new digital set up working for you?

[gahspidy]

Greg, this is pretty good and alot better than your first attempts. Still hard to get a good clean balanced composition when trying to get so much of the scene in, but i think you handled it well. The image appears somewhat soft, though and I'm thinking that you may not have applied any unsharp mask ( a must when presenting for the web or prior to printing, but never a part of the permanent process) I really like the left side of the picture with the barn surrounded by the trees. I'm wondering if you could try once just moving up next to the wood and just getting the barn and trees. The wood pile really does not do anything for the picture, imo. Good work, Greg.
btw, you can bring up your side to 640, which will give us a better view of a bigger image.

[Greg McCary]

Thanks EOSthree I guess the wood has got to go. I think as Gary stated I was trying to put to much in the picture. I was trying to avoid just another barn picture.
One of the things that I have found that I enjoy about photography as a hobby are the people you meet. The people that live here are slightly leary of me and my camera. Even though I live in a fairly educated city I had to explain to one of them what the word photography meant. I will probably take them a copy of the picture with a thanks for letting me on the property.
I also think the digital world will suit me just fine. It's going better than expected.
Greg

[starriderrick]

What do you think of these. ? I think # 2 turned out o.k.
Just an Idea.
Rick

[Greg McCary]

I really like what you did to the second one. I thought about trying that but didn't know if I could pull it off. Did you just clone stamp it? I actually tried the first one as well.

[starriderrick]

Yes, clone stamp, unsharp mask. I like it.
I grew up in N.Dak, this reminds me of my old stompin' grounds.
Rick

[Greg McCary]

Thanks Rick, It's something to work on on rainy days, I'll give it a try..
Greg

[Greg McCary]

I went back to the original file and came up with this exposure. Is this an obvious removal of an ugly pile of wood or is it ok?

[EOSThree]

I like this one the best Greg. If I didn't know about the pile of wood, I probably wouldn't notice the cloning. Since I knew it was there, I concentrated on that spot and I can see a few straight lines that look maybe slightly unnatural. I think you did a very nice job removing the woodpile though, like I said, the only reason I looked for evidence is because I knew what was there originally.
The shed and the roof of the structure in the distance are a lot more interesting than that old nasty pile of wood.

[Greg McCary]

Thanks EOS, I am not through playing with it. But I'm close.
Greg