On the Road Again

Traveling back to Somerwhereville, Missouri, I'm on a not-so-major state route, and just outside of the town ahead I see this old house that might work. I didn't, but on the way back to the truck, I see me this cow. She spies me from over her haunches and then turns around for a heads on photo shoot. I thanked her appropriately, and I and her went our separate ways. I sometimes wonder what animals think of us humans.........?

The cow is small in the frame, but I wanted the tree overhang in the photo. I cropped big time from the left to remove an unflattering tree stump. The rest is Simplify BZ, Tonal Contrast and some grung-it-up work. This is one of those photos just makes me smile no matter how many times I look at it. Hope it makes you smile............................:S3:. If this fits the theme please include, if not let 'er sit.

It works for me and I love the composition and processing!

I really enjoy your backroads Missouri images, and the content of this one appeals to me, too. The framing with those leaves is very effective, especially because it's curving right and down.

Here's an idea for further cropping, but I'm not sure if it's a good one. The intent was to accomplish two things, both involving the cow. She became proportionately larger. It also put her on the intersection of a horizontal and a vertical divine proportion line. (Had I taken a sliver more off the left, the whole image would be a golden rectangle, but I didn't want to crop too close to the fence post. However, close is good.) I liked what the changes did for the cow, but I really didn't want to lose the additional vegetation along the fence on the left or the leaves and curve of the road on the bottom. It was a tough compromise. Losing your nice foreground was a bummer. I'd be interested in what you and other viewers think about it.

Hey Dennis, thanks for taking the time, it is an alternative:S3:..............I just happen to like the foreground a bunch, so it was a bit of a trade-off for the smallness of the cow. I'll wait a bit and check other feedback. Thanks again.

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Originally Posted by Jay Sheinfield

Hey Dennis, thanks for taking the time, it is an alternative:S3:..............I just happen to like the foreground a bunch, so it was a bit of a trade-off for the smallness of the cow. I'll wait a bit and check other feedback. Thanks again.

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I like it a bunch, too. My guess is that the original post is the winner.

Good eye for this scene, Jay! Love the elements and the processing really compliments the image. Well done. :S3:

I agree, Jay, another nicely seen, composed, and tastefully processed image. See what Dennis doing with different crop option, but fine with OP. The cow looking at you is a great touch, liked the background story.

Wonderful "backroads" pic. I can almost smell the distinctive odor of Autumn. Very evocative.

Wonderful composition and colors, Jay. The cow's posture and the look certainly made me smile. I just wish it was a bit closer. No matter which way I look at it, my eyes go straight to the cow. This is where Dennis's crop works better for me. Did you take another frame with the cow slightly closer. I like the fg a lot and would not want to lose it. Excellent framing using the leaves!

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Originally Posted by Indranil Sircar

Wonderful composition and colors, Jay. The cow's posture and the look certainly made me smile. I just wish it was a bit closer. No matter which way I look at it, my eyes go straight to the cow. This is where Dennis's crop works better for me. Did you take another frame with the cow slightly closer. I like the fg a lot and would not want to lose it. Excellent framing using the leaves!

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Indranil, Thanks for the feedback. The other frames I took are essentially the same. I didn't have a loner lens with me. The only option is Dennis's take, less road more cow, but its already cropped a fair amount. I think the move would have been to get closer to the cow and a smaller aperture, to keep the tree limb in focus. Still would have lost some road.............;).

Jay, I am going with the OP but I do see why Denni went for that crop. When I first saw this I wished the cow were lower in the frame. I like the inclusion of the FG, especially the little grouping on the left that was cut off in Dennis' repost. Nice processing.:S3: I like the added dimension of the leaves at the top.

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the feedback.

Hi Jay, very nicely processed and I love the autumn leaves across the top edge of the frame. I prefer the comp with a sliver off the bottom, but that's just me. It can be hard to make cows look good...but you did :S3: