The Camargue

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Topaz Impression Charcoal settings with adjustments, 2nd layer also charcoal settings for detail, and original overlaid for the head and bird. Original image was a bit too small in frame and dominated by green all around (and a shadow of an unseen overhead wire across the horses back). Nik Silver Efex in there and touch up cloning, too. I was struck by the initial Impression pass which made the Chiaroscuro impact.

The Camargue is a wetlands area in the south of France near Arles. It is home to these white horses (that take the name Camargue) some of which roam free.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Dvir Barkay]

very nice, really like what you did with this.

[Diane Miller]

Lighting on horse is wonderful, and the BG and reflection are just spectacular!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Great feel and mood, love this one Michael!

[Nancy Bell]

Very moody and mystical! Great applications of filters! The toning on the horse is awesome, showing the strength, grace and beauty of these animals. The charcoal effect is very interesting, especially how it appears in the bkgd behind the horse, like a magical forest. You might consider reducing the size and/or whiteness of that largest part of the reflection. These horses are on my bucket list.

[Paul Lagasi]

Nothing more to add, I agree with all above comments. Very, very nice image. TFS

[Anita Bower]

The focus is definitely on the horse and bird. I like the surrounding darkness, with shapes and textures to make it interesting. The upper left area might benefit from lightening, so that it looks more like the rest of the bg. The bird might use some toning down. I'd like to see the head of the horse be more of a focus point, maybe making it lighter? Effective image. Mysterious. Other-worldly. Nice work.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Michael, I'm sorry I'm so late to comment but this is just simply gorgeous. I love your choice of charcoal and the bird is an extra bonus

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Dvir, Diane, Jackie, Nancy, Paul, Anita, Cheryl,

Thanks much for your comments. They are much appreciated. I had worked on a color version of this a few times without arriving at something that worked for me. I was very happy with what I saw in the, well, first Impression pass... glad I tried that.

I'll be around here less through the end of the year... busy time.

Hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Hazel Grant]

As Michael said, ditto. Magical.

[Dennis Bishop]

The composition is wonderful, and I can't imagine this in anything but black & white. You've done a great job of capturing the magic of the Camargue region and its horses. (By the way, the horses have evolved to have wide hooves for better support of their weight in the wetlands.) Unless they've seen photos of the horses running through the water, I doubt most people passing through the region realize how great it is, but this image sure shows it.