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  1. #1
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Tree stump & barn

    An older photo that I had revisited because I despised my previous edits.
    I think I have this where I'm ok with and would like some feedback.
    Thanks
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Tree stump & barn-20090810-0153-.jpg  
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  2. #2
    Love + Music + Photography = Life CLKunst's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    I really like the texture and sharpness of the wood in the stump but think the composition is a little weird. The stump keeps leading me off frame away from the barn which is more like a competing element in the scene. Personally would have preferred a close up of the stump in better detail, but I'm an old stump and tree freak so I'm biased.
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  3. #3
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Photo looks good...has a bit of HDR feel to it. IMHO, the colour of the sky and the clouds could be darker and more saturated. I think that would give it a bit more punch and moodiness.

  4. #4
    Junior Member Master Kraftsmann's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    The stump keeps making me think the picture is crooked. Really amazing editing though. I love the look of the wood.

  5. #5
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Thank you Cindy and MK for the thoughts on it. Yep, I've always had a somewhat strange approach to compositions at times.
    MK, the crooked picture is really in my mind :P

    Thanks again
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  6. #6
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Love the content of the image but like others have said, the stump keeps leading my eye away and out of the frame, drawing away from the barn. Don't know if it was possible (not knowing what was in the background) but maybe moving yourself to take the picture so the stump was leading into the frame and drawing eye to barn would have worked better?

  7. #7
    Senior Member jetrim's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Thought I recognized this one I do like this edit, odd composition and all

  8. #8
    Senior Member draymorton's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Love it. Perfect sky, subtle dof, great illumination on the stump. Fill flash?

  9. #9
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Looks nice. The tree stump looks like it's striking a pose. the only thing that i see as a bit of a negative is that the stump is very overpowering, throws the composition out of 'equilibrium' other than that, it's very good.
    Liban

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  10. #10
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by tamiam View Post
    Love the content of the image but like others have said, the stump keeps leading my eye away and out of the frame, drawing away from the barn. Don't know if it was possible (not knowing what was in the background) but maybe moving yourself to take the picture so the stump was leading into the frame and drawing eye to barn would have worked better?
    Thanks for the time....I happen to have one as you suggest in my bag O' Tricks
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  11. #11
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    So Jet and Dray, you feel the comp is ok, as quirky as it might be?
    Thing is, I thought the comp worked well.....but if most everyone else feels otherwise than I have to rethink this one.
    D, no fill flash but I can see how it looks as if there were....would have to tone that down a bit.

    Thanks Liban, yeah no question its a strong fg element especially as its framed.

    Ok, so I have another composition of this one (I always try to hit a subject from various angles if time allows). I feel more strongly about the first version, but this other i thought was also a possibility.

    So of the two, what thinks ye's?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Tree stump & barn-20090810-0157-.jpg  
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  12. #12
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Gary I like both. Is the silo leaning in real life or is it distortion? I am kind of 50-50 with it leaning as the trunk. Maybe let us see an edit with it straight?
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  13. #13
    banished Don Schaeffer's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Great use of wide angle. The sky in the second image is more dynamic.

  14. #14
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Yes gary. I think the 2nd shot is a lot more balanced compositionaly.
    Liban

    "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have." Nelson Mandela

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  15. #15
    GB1
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Ha ha.. good shot. but a textbook example of conflict/tension, where the viewer doesn't know where to look: stump, or house? Even without the nice greenery, clouds and subjects, it's a very interesting shot for that reason alone. I tend to like the bottom one better than the subsequent post.

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  16. #16
    Senior Member armando_m's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    I found myself comparing both versions the first one the barn looks smaller than the stump and the sky is not too atractive, while on the second one prportions look better and I like the cloud across the frame

  17. #17
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    I'm a fan of the first - it makes me fight to keep looking at it. Maybe it's all wrong, but it's not blah. - Terry
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  18. #18
    Senior Member arne saknussen's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    One of the things I look for is story. The first shot does tell a story. We see a tree cut down, not by humans, but by nature, due to the uneven break. However, the man made structures are intact, though aged. Factor in the sky which forecasts a storm, and it could all change.

    Nice irony.

    The second shot could tell the same story. but not as powerful.

  19. #19
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg McCary View Post
    Gary I like both. Is the silo leaning in real life or is it distortion? I am kind of 50-50 with it leaning as the trunk. Maybe let us see an edit with it straight?
    Now that you mentioned it it does seem to lean a bit. I'm sure the barn is not straight anymore and the two together probably look a bit lopsided.
    Thanks Greg.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  20. #20
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Schaeffer View Post
    Great use of wide angle. The sky in the second image is more dynamic.
    Thanks Don. Second image you mean smaller stump? I thought the sky was more dramtic in the first even though there is more blank areas, the storm clouds dropping in from above had me feeling a tension that I felt worked well with the dynamic angle of the stump.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  21. #21
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Thanks Liban and GB. I agree the second is probably better balanced, but I still think the first offers a dynamic that is unmatched by the other. Interesting to see how these seem to fall almost 50-50 in regards to preference of composition.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  22. #22
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by armando_m View Post
    I found myself comparing both versions the first one the barn looks smaller than the stump and the sky is not too atractive, while on the second one prportions look better and I like the cloud across the frame
    Thank you, Armando. I actually had to add some cloud formation and streaks to the dark area of the sky in the second because it was just a blank dark mass and looked odd and distracting.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  23. #23
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by OldClicker View Post
    I'm a fan of the first - it makes me fight to keep looking at it. Maybe it's all wrong, but it's not blah. - Terry
    lol, by this your saying that it seems to break some "rules" but still somehow works for you?
    Thanks for the feedback, Terry.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  24. #24
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by arne saknussen View Post
    One of the things I look for is story. The first shot does tell a story. We see a tree cut down, not by humans, but by nature, due to the uneven break. However, the man made structures are intact, though aged. Factor in the sky which forecasts a storm, and it could all change.

    Nice irony.

    The second shot could tell the same story. but not as powerful.
    Thanks Arne for the vision. The uneven break in the trunk is what i was trying to emphasize in the first and the ominous sky creeping down I felt added to the tension. I had been trying to outrun that storm behind me for an hour when I came upon this stump and barn. It had started raining on me as I finished up with the second comp.

    So, aside from the narrative and dynamic of the first, you feel the unorthodox composition is not a deal breaker here?
    Thanks much.
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  25. #25
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
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    Re: Tree stump & barn

    Quote Originally Posted by gahspidy View Post
    lol, by this your saying that it seems to break some "rules" but still somehow works for you?
    Thanks for the feedback, Terry.
    Exactly. I guess tension is the term I'm looking for. The only 'tension' in the second shot is wondering if the silo is going to fall over. Terry
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