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Nice. I like the lines of the wires both at top and bottom left...keeps it from being just a rectangle. The textures add depth but there seems to be a large streak on the right that looks a bit muddy to me.
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I like the wide angle shot because it makes the horse's head relatively larger, and it includes more of those utility wires. The texture -- including the darker brown along the right side -- works for me. The verticals in it are consistent with the horse, the posts, and the utility pole. If this were mine, I'd flip it horizontally so those strong lines would be on the right instead of the left and act as a stopper, keeping the eyes in the image.
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Originally Posted by
Hazel Grant
Nice. I like the lines of the wires both at top and bottom left...keeps it from being just a rectangle. The textures add depth but there seems to be a large streak on the right that looks a bit muddy to me.
I see what you mean. I'll look closer. Thanks!!!
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Originally Posted by
Dennis Bishop
I like the wide angle shot because it makes the horse's head relatively larger, and it includes more of those utility wires. The texture -- including the darker brown along the right side -- works for me. The verticals in it are consistent with the horse, the posts, and the utility pole. If this were mine, I'd flip it horizontally so those strong lines would be on the right instead of the left and act as a stopper, keeping the eyes in the image.
Thanks for your comments. I worked on having verticals be consistent: Correct Camera Distortion filter, Skew, other. Perhaps i should have included that info in the description. I never know how much to include. I'll try flipping it as you suggest. I thought the school building helped frame the image, but I may need more on the right side than on the left, which I believe is your point. I appreciate your thoughtfulness about composition. It is a good check on my working from feel.
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Originally Posted by
Anita Bower
. . . I thought the school building helped frame the image, but I may need more on the right side than on the left, which I believe is your point. I appreciate your thoughtfulness about composition. It is a good check on my working from feel.
Long ago, a graphic artist told me that a professor in maybe an art history class spoke of the importance of elements that would lead the eye in a circle within the painting. It didn't sound like she bought the idea, but it stuck in my mind. Later, my own reading, observations, and exploration led me to firmly believe it. In another chapter of my education, I learned that Ansel Adams used dark vignettes to keep the viewer's eyes in the image. Consistent with that was something that I've read probably a couple times about having stoppers -- some part of the image that keeps the eyes from wandering off the right side.
It was a combination of those things that made me flip my ice & snow image horizontally. That long line would've otherwise carried the viewer's eyes right out of the image through the bottom right corner. Your image, here, doesn't have anything that leads the eyes out of it. However, the utility lines, pole, posts, and fence wire, which nicely cradle the horse and guide the eyes clockwise when on the right side, to some extent block their entry when on the left side. The utility lines point out of the frame when they're on the left, but into it when on the right. All that, of course, assumes that we're reading from left to right. The schoolhouse is one of those elements that helps to guide the viewer around the image. It's a great addition. I think the darker brown part of the texture helps to do that, as well.
I do think a lot about composition when I'm working on an image (as well as when making comments). However, I very much believe that working from feel can be quite effective. After all, these guidelines are meant to produce something that's appealing. Several times, a photo perfectly fits divine proportions right out of my camera. It's not a reflection of anything except that divine proportions (the rule of thirds is a close approximation) are pleasing to the eye. It makes sense that -- even without consciously trying -- we frame our shots to be as pleasing as possible.
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Originally Posted by
Dennis Bishop
Long ago, a graphic artist told me that a professor in maybe an art history class spoke of the importance of elements that would lead the eye in a circle within the painting. It didn't sound like she bought the idea, but it stuck in my mind. Later, my own reading, observations, and exploration led me to firmly believe it. In another chapter of my education, I learned that Ansel Adams used dark vignettes to keep the viewer's eyes in the image. Consistent with that was something that I've read probably a couple times about having stoppers -- some part of the image that keeps the eyes from wandering off the right side.
It was a combination of those things that made me flip my ice & snow image horizontally. That long line would've otherwise carried the viewer's eyes right out of the image through the bottom right corner. Your image, here, doesn't have anything that leads the eyes out of it. However, the utility lines, pole, posts, and fence wire, which nicely cradle the horse and guide the eyes clockwise when on the right side, to some extent block their entry when on the left side. The utility lines point out of the frame when they're on the left, but into it when on the right. All that, of course, assumes that we're reading from left to right. The schoolhouse is one of those elements that helps to guide the viewer around the image. It's a great addition. I think the darker brown part of the texture helps to do that, as well.
I do think a lot about composition when I'm working on an image (as well as when making comments). However, I very much believe that working from feel can be quite effective. After all, these guidelines are meant to produce something that's appealing. Several times, a photo perfectly fits divine proportions right out of my camera. It's not a reflection of anything except that divine proportions (the rule of thirds is a close approximation) are pleasing to the eye. It makes sense that -- even without consciously trying -- we frame our shots to be as pleasing as possible.
Dennis: Thanks for sharing. Very clearly expressed. Makes so much sense. I will look for both the idea of elements leading the eye in circles within the frame, and leading the eye into but not our of the image.
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Anita, from the "feeling" part of the process you have a great ability to portray everyday country images! Love the close-up of the backyard horse, with his nose stretched towards the camera and ears cocked in different directions. The grungy brownish texture adds to the mood and fills that blank sky with interest. I think I would remove those two small diagonal lines in each upper corner. Dennis, glad you are back and surely appreciate your discussions.
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Since I'm outvoted on the "muddy streak, I'll concede. I wasn't saying to remove it, just that it seemed a bit dark and therefore muddy. It bothers me, especially where it affects the house, but that's just my view.
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Originally Posted by
Hazel Grant
Since I'm outvoted on the "muddy streak, I'll concede. I wasn't saying to remove it, just that it seemed a bit dark and therefore muddy. It bothers me, especially where it affects the house, but that's just my view.
I intend to work to remove it. Once you mentioned it, it bothered me also. :-)
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BPN Member
Hi, Anita. A very soulful image - you can tell he's seen a lot of work by looking at his knees. And Dennis' explanation is very interesting - lots to digest. I am conflicted about the darker smudge - maybe not quite so prominent? At first it bothered me and then it didn't. I'm not so fond of the lighter vignette on the left side - it seems brighter than the right. Also the line on the left seems too prominent. I love the perspective.
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I love both versions. This looks like a very hard-working horse that deserves Sundays off.
Don't you just love what we can do with images these days?! How can people be happy with snapshots anymore?
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Originally Posted by
Diane Miller
I love both versions. This looks like a very hard-working horse that deserves Sundays off.
Don't you just love what we can do with images these days?! How can people be happy with snapshots anymore?
Thanks Diane. I appreciate that I can take a picture like this on my morning walk. I do think snapshots have an important role in the lives of people who are not photographers.
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Apologies for not being clear -- I didn't mean this was a snapshot!! I should have said unprocessed images. We can now make an image (almost any image) into so much more than what was captured, as you have done here.
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Originally Posted by
Diane Miller
Apologies for not being clear -- I didn't mean this was a snapshot!! I should have said unprocessed images. We can now make an image (almost any image) into so much more than what was captured, as you have done here.
I understand. I didn't think you were talking about this image. I love what I can do with photos on the computer!!!!
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Thumbs up! It's nice having the brown vertical subdued in the flipped version.
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Anita, a great original image made better with the groups input. Well done all.
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yes, I like the repost much better. I think the lighter treatment of the house plus the flip makes a big difference. The flip visually makes the horse more imposing in my eye, and that's a good thing. One of those details that I wouldn't say, oh, that horse needs work in the OP, but now that you've flipped it....what a difference. Love his glare. Well done.
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Originally Posted by
Hazel Grant
yes, I like the repost much better. I think the lighter treatment of the house plus the flip makes a big difference. The flip visually makes the horse more imposing in my eye, and that's a good thing. One of those details that I wouldn't say, oh, that horse needs work in the OP, but now that you've flipped it....what a difference. Love his glare. Well done.
Thanks. I wouldn't have thought of flipping it. I've learned a lot from the comments on this image. :-)
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