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I find what looks like a GND filter on the white of the gate at the top distracting.
The clouds look rather muddy and too dark a grey.
It also doesn't look much of a secret
I always associate a secret garden with a door in a wall, rather than an open gate.
Comes from reading the story I suppose.
I think I'd like a bit more of the right hand gate, and the left hand gate closed a bit more.
Gary, it's a very interesting capture in that the background fades out and seems magical. But, I think it would have more impact if the fence wasn't so contemporary. The photo seems to scream for an old medieval or Victorian style fence. The white wouldn't be my first choice either (not suggesting that you paint their fence though!). The lighting catches my eye. Might have been an ideal spot for a model to be standing there looking outward to the distance.....
G
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Gary,
I really like this shot. I like the effect of the gate being so prominent in the foreground (close & large) - it gives the feeling of being a little intimidating or mysterious. I think that goes along with the "mystique" effect further down. The only change I might consider would be to clone out the right side of the gate. I think exposing more of it would give the image a different effect, and for some reason seeing a small piece of it distracted me.
At any rate, you've gotten quite a few different perspectives here. It's a fine image IMO.
ETA: I took a 3rd look - I may be wrong about the right side of the gate..... might miss it not being there.
Personally, I see no negatives. Perhaps the name is misleading to some but I just like the image for what it is. It does have a magical feel and reminds me of some of the art work in my set of My Blue Book I had as a child.
Gary. I like the nice moody feel with the sky and the mist. The shadowing in the left hand side also helps with the mood. The saturation is perfect and certainly has your signature on it. My only suggestion would for it to be a bit wider on the right with the inclusion of the lock, not so much the chain. But cropping it out I feel would be a mistake because I think what you have on that side adds much to the composition. You also have a twig right center at the top the needs cloned. I like it Gary, very much.
I am like Barney Fife, I have a gun but Andy makes me keep the bullet in my pocket..
Thanks all for your comments. I do believe the title is probably not right for this one, might change it to "gardens gate", or something .
Yep, had to save this with a bit of post processing, and Paul you are right about the GND filter skimming the upper fence areas. I had selectively tried to correct it by brushing it back out, but there really was no exposure there much to begin with. i think adding a slightly warmer tone to the upper areas of gate will hep.
Including the right side gate was a must, I feel, but I think a bit more would have been best.
Thanks as always for your thoughts.
Gary, I would like to have seen more of the right gate (if not all) and perhaps none of the structure to the left of the left gate which might give a sort of grand entrance to the secret garden. The mist in the distance is effective and does provide the mystery of the secret garden. I think Entrance To A Secret Garden might be another option for the title.
I like the closeness of the gates to the camera if you like and that gives the great sense of depth along the path.
I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan
I really like this picture. I think it definately has a mystical look to it. I think it would look cool with Mt. Fuji in the background. Yeah I know that's crzy but just an idea. Good pic
Snap it up
Naz
You have the photo here that's shows why I never have used ND Grads, choosing always to take two photos and then merger them in olden times with pp with the enlarger and now with photoshop.
The blown out area on the path before the ND grad kicks in ruins it for me and I find it totally distracting.
The composition I find spot on with the just an incling of the open gate leading you nicely into the garden beyond. It does have a magical feel but I think a retake is in order, to get the technical aspects to complement the composition.
Roger
"I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass."from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson
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Chunk,what a great surprise. Always good to see you around. I think your right it is almost an View from Within. . .but . Yep nature always wins.
thanks for the comments.
Roger, actually there was no ND filter on the lens, but rather an effect given to in PP afterwards. The middle highlighted area in the garden is not quite blown out and shows detail on my screen. I do understand what your feeling about this though. I have since lightened the upper area again some so that there is not that effect of a cut off of light as you describe.
I will see how it goes in the print. Thanks for the thoughts on it.
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Originally Posted by gahspidy
