Perseverance

[PlantedTao]

Not a highway this time, but close

Comment and critiques appreciated.

[zrfraser]

Tao-

I think you nailed the contrast on this one even though you can tell the day was overcast, But it seems to be lacking something. Perhaps a different angle or a wider shot; it just seems to be too closely cropped. By the way...how did the last photo turn out, or did you just give up?

[Loupey]

Love the tree and the pavement. I'm not sure that the building adds to the shot though. Do you have any other angles? If I may suggest, an even closer angle/crop of just the pavement and tree trunk. I think that the image is there - the interface between those two elements.

Good eye seeing an image here.

[PlantedTao]

Loupey and Zack - The reason I choose this composition was to show the amount of pavement compared to the tree. All other directions to shoot would be heavy with distraction. I would like to go back and shoot at a lower angle...that may give it a more dynamic feel.

Zack -
This photo was from the weekend, so no time to get back to the darkroom. Since I rent I generally have to have several free hours.

Damn, it always seems overcast in Seattle
Thanks for the comments.

[zrfraser]

I just had this thought, how about shooting from the tree at the encroaching pavement. I don't know if it would work, but it would be a different perspective.

[CLKunst]

I think zrfraser has made a very good suggestion for this one. I used to have a little pocket tripod, about six inches high. It was very fun for setting up long exposures of Washington D.C. Memorials at night because of the altered perspective on these over photographed subjects and it gave some awesome texture to the pavement leading up to the monuments. I just had to make sure no one kicked my camera while I was doing it!

With a wide angle lens to make the tree really loom up above the pavement this could be a really neat idea. If you do decide to re-shoot please post it so we can see. Good luck!

[OldSchool]

Hey PT,

It looks to me like you did a good job on the technical side of things here. Nice going. My hat's off to you for all the work required for each image.

I do agree with the others here and would like to see a bit more to the right of the trunk. I also agree that the building doesn't really add much in the bg.

Is this not far from home? If you can re-shoot, maybe work the tree breaking through the pavement theme w/o much else in the composition.

BR,
Tim

[Sebastian]

The only thing I am looking at is the area where trunk breaks through the pavement. I think a tight crop on just that area, part of the trunk and some of the cracks, is all you need to get "perseverance" across.

[Tuna]

In the latest images you have posted, I have noticed a certain random feel to your thought-out compositions - this one included. Friedlander became quite famous with that approach.

I think the tight crop in this image, where the tree is bursting out of your frame, adds to the tension you are trying to convey.

Tuna

[PlantedTao]

Zack and CL - thanks for the suggestion. This location is close by. I will have to go pay it another visit and try some different lower angles...

Ol'school -
Yeah, this was a much easier negative to work with than my last posted image...so the work was much faster with a little dodging & burning.
I will try to take your and Sebastian's suggestion and do a close up.

Sebastian -
Sometimes less is more - thanks.

Tuna -
Thank you...I'm glad you like it. This is a image that was (I thought) carefully composed with regard to what I wanted convey...it seems not to be obvious or to the liking of most people.

Cheers.