A bridge, a bridge, and a bridge.....

[dwaugh]

I didnt realize until now that all the photos I took on this outing are all bridges. Anyway, you'll see that on two of them I couldnt decide which I liked better, so you can help me with that if you like.

(hard to tell if it is crooked due to the state of the structure)
CLICK HERE FOR OLD VERSION OF #1




(next...)


(and the last bridge...)

[Ronnoco]

Some good shots. The problem is that the colours blend in a little TOO well, together, making it difficult for a centre of interest such as a bridge to visually stand out from the background.

Ronnoco

[Frog]

I like the angle of #! but the light in #2.
I see ronno's point about the color in #3 especially but I like the shot anyway as that is probably very dang close to how it did look.
I'd pick #5 over #4 and find this the most interesting shot.
Where were these taken? I'm in Washington, too.

[dwaugh]

Number 3 looks pretty realistic, most of the fall colors are gone so there isnt too much to make it pop out right now.

As for the first two, I dont know why the color is so different between the two. Personally I like the second best for the color. I can tell you that on #1 I was using my 28-80mm automatic lens (at about 50mm), and on #2 I was using my fully manual 135mm lens for the closeup. I also wish the colors were as good in #1.

Also, I like #2 over #1 mainly for the reason that there is less unused background in the photo and it shows more up close detail.

All the shots are in Bellingham, within 2 miles of each other. The old tressel is in Whatcom Falls park, and so is the old bridge. The ladder bridge is an old biking bridge on a trail on Galbraith.

These shots probably would have been better had I been able to take them a week or more ago where there was more color, but I was buried in homework. :mad2:

EDIT: I did what I could to #1 and it looks much better - you can compare it to the old version and you will see the difference. It was too bright before, etc.

[Chunk]

Very nice David. It seems to me that the whole point of these shots is the way nature is recovering her own territory. The blending of the subjects into the background reenforces the concept rather than harming it.

Would it be possible to get the path of the ties in the last two shots at more of an angle in the frame rather than leading straight away from the viewer?

You don't, by chance, have a closeup of that little tree growing next to the righthand rail in that second shot, do you?

[dwaugh]

Thanks. I may be able to get a view from a different angle for the last shots. I may try that next time I have my camera in the area.
Now that you bring it up I wish I had a lens big enough to get a closeup of the small tree on the tressel. The second pic was taken with my 135mm lens and that is my biggest lens so far.

[Coastal Flyer]

I like shot 3 the most. The colors, the dramatic size of the bridge, it all says something to me. I live in the southwest, we do not have wooded forrests like this, the colors, etc. It looks like you went out for a walk and found ready made fun photography.

Pretty dramatic.

Thanks for sharing.

CF

[dwaugh]

I was actually out on my bike. Funny thing is, right when I got to the spot I took the bridge pic from, another photographer was just finishing picking up his stuff and walking away. I wonder if we got the same shot.

[swmdrayfan]

Dave,
This spot cries out for more investigation. You must show us more.
John

[GB1]

Very powerful shots. They're quite sharp and the colors are harmonious. The subjects do blend into the background/surroundings, but I cant decide if that's a bad thing. Frank Lloyd Wright sure liked it like that, right?

# 3 is my favorite but you should have taken an axe to that tree cutting across there (am I joking? I dont know.......) The frame is also tilted CW a bit. The shot seems like it was taken in somewhere in China,

GB

[dwaugh]

Very powerful shots. They're quite sharp and the colors are harmonious. The subjects do blend into the background/surroundings, but I cant decide if that's a bad thing. Frank Lloyd Wright sure liked it like that, right?

# 3 is my favorite but you should have taken an axe to that tree cutting across there (am I joking? I dont know.......) The frame is also tilted CW a bit. The shot seems like it was taken in somewhere in China,

GB

I also noticed the slight tilt in the photo... I have actually kept away from doing that shot for so long just because of that darn tree that's in the way. I have every other angle covered almost (on my website).

I do plan on seeing if I can figure out more shots on the tressel in the future.

[GB1]

Recruit a beaver and be within the law. It's a really nice photo, I really want that tree outta there ....

[photo101]

Hey nice job.

Too me, #3 seems a bit "flat" ? I am not really an expert but it just seems like there is very little dimension to it. The other shots seem to have a bit more depth to them and are a bit more visually appleaing to me anyway. I don't really know what you could have done to change that tho so maybe someone else would have a suggestion?

Cheers,
Jared

[readingr]

David,

I really like the first 3 and number 3 is my favourite even though its a little washed out.

I looked at this really closely and you can get the bridge to pop out a bit more if you adjust your levels just lightly, I mean the middle adjustment (forgotten what its called). The tree would be nice to get rid of but it doesn't bother me too much.

Rotation of the bridge needed.

#1 I like as is

#2 shame you didn't get all the left rail in the shot

the other 2 need a little more tilt to make the photos more interesting.

Roger

[Chunk]

Another thing you could try is adjusting the color balance. The light has been filtered by passing through the upper leaves and gives an overall yellowish/greenish cast to the whole scene.
I duplicated a couple of these shots on a new layer - did an Auto Color adjustment and then adjusted the opacity of the new layer. I liked it around 50%. You might get even better results with a manual color balance.

[dwaugh]

I'll check them out somtime and post back here if I can find the time someday...Thanks for the critiques!

[photo101]

David, I had a quick question about one of your photographs in your gallery. Under the Water sports section, you have the water skiing pictures. My question is how do you get the person to be in the shadow in one shot and not the other? (the first 2 in the third row specifically.)

Thanks for letting me ask a noob question.

Jared

[dwaugh]

Well, it really just depends on which direction we are going and I am shooting. All of the waterski shots were taken in two outings, both at about the same time in the morning as the sun is coming up. On the way out I am shooting away from the sun, hence more light, and on the way back the sun is rising and I am shooting toward it (but not into it) which makes for the shadowed look, which I love.
Hey, it was a worthy question.