Salton Stumps

[GB1]

The Salton Sea, Bombay Beach. I think these might have been column supports for a dock a long time ago.

Which do you prefer, the first, second or neither version? They're pretty much the same, one's just more colorful.

G

[srblough]

Hard to choose, like them both but think I'd go w. #1. Would be interested in what a shot from a lower angle would have looked like.

[AgingEyes]

Well, since you asked...the more colorful one.

[LeeIs]

really nice ones man. love the reflections, beautiful colours, nice composition. even the green algae thing ads to it.

[GB1]

Thanks fellows. I like both of them myself, in different ways, but I guess I prefer the less-colorful one simply because it's more relaxing on the eyes. Too colorful = too extreme, I think.

I am not sure about 'four' objects. Seems that odd numbers work better.

Srblough, I think I did scope it out at a lower angle and it looked a bit flat, where all the stumps are at the same level, hence, less depth.

Thanks too, AE and Liban.

g

[armando_m]

#1 for me

if the even number bothers you clone one out

[jetrim]

I think the composition works with 4 here. Like you, I like them both for different reasons. I'd be tempted to do an "orton effect" on the more colorful one

[Annada]

really nice ones man. love the reflections, beautiful colours, nice composition.

[GB1]

Armando, too much cloning for that

Jet, I'll consider that Orton. I've never done one.

[jetrim]

Orton with clone...

The effect is easy - 2 duplicate layers. One set to screen the other set to multiply then Gaussian Blur the multiply layer.

[sparkwang]

really nice background and colour! Maybe you should only focus on one stump to make the picture clean. Don't forget the rule of thirds.

[daq7]

First one is better. The sky is not adding a lot either to the composition or the image detail.

[shootme]

I like the first one, softer and there seems to be more depth in the water visibility, at least on my screen and slightly stronger colour to differentiate the phases of the shot to the horizon.

[GB1]

Thanks folks. I think it's all personal preference; some people like a powerful experience, and that's where strong HDR, saturation or other effects come in, whereas others just want a peaceful scene.

Daq, yeah, the sky isn't very interesting, but unfortunately I don't think I can crop it out w/o making the image look like a chop job. If the stumps were a little lower in the scene and not so near the horizon, maybe. Ahh.

sparkwang, I think I have a few shots w/ one stump. It doesn't quite work as the stump isn't an interesting enough subject in itself, and makes the picture look odd (like, why is this crazy photographer brain locking on a stump?). Sometimes it works better as a multiple of objects incorporated into an entire scene. Macro photography seems to be the opposite of this, btw.

Jet, I like your cloning but that Orton effect may be a bit much. Again, it's personal preference, but for me, I think I like having more definition on the subjects than that soft fuzzy effect. I'm thinking, where would the Orton work best? In an abstract for sure, ... maybe even w/ a model in a bedroom, in black and white .............

Thanks too Shootme. Welcome back also.

G