Freedom...

[Morkel Erasmus]

I created this shot over the weekend on a farm close by. We have been experiencing thunderstorms every afternoon here on the South African Highveld, and this one was no exception. I actually had to clone out a raindrop that fell on my lens as I took this.

This is a 3-image HDR processed in Photomatix and details punched in on the horse from the original 'zero' exposure in CS3 using masking.

Would love to have your thoughts!!

Techs:
Canon 1000D with 18-55mm IS
f16 @ ISO-200
3 exposures created from one RAW file, HDR in Photomatix and further PP in CS3

[Harshad Barve]

Morkelbhai
This is such a beautiful image , lovely effects and great BG
TFS

[Patti Edens]

Beautiful sky colors and drama! I like the vertical composition, but maybe a little too much grass? I also like the thought provoking title. My first impression was that the rope and fence didn't really say "Freedom" to me, but after a bit of thought, I see that the rope is hanging free and possibly that fence is not an obstacle for that horse? I don't know, but I enjoyed thinking about it.

[denise ippolito]

Morkel, At first I agreed w/ Patti about the vertical and the grass-but the more I look at it the more I feel it adds to the sense of drama because you are looking up to the horse. I love the sky! The HDR work looks good and believable.Nicely done.

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and application, Morkel.

I like the effect of the sky and the HA. Might add a little to the left border area to move the horse a little more off center. But ...

Your image ... your vision.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Harshadbhai, Denise & Patti.

@ Patti - I'm glad you caught the duality in the title. It's the longing for freedom, the possibility of freedom, the proximity of freedom, versus the struggle of being able to cope with the freedom which is desired...:)

@ Denise - thanks for the comments, that's also how I see the grass and the angle of view...

@ Mark - thanks, but as mentioned I was shooting into the rain and wanted the shot whichever way I got it. Personally I think the half-central placement of the horse works well enough here and I don't really want to crop the image.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Morkel,
I think the wa perspective works very well here. Very cool!

[Morkel Erasmus]

thank you, Roman San :)

[Christopher Miller]

Very nice pose and perspective, and the HDR looks very natural. Well done!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Morkel, I really like everything about this image - the natural look of the HDR, the perspective, the sky and
your interpretation of freedom. Or as Janis Joplin says - "freedom's just another word for nothin left to lose".
(The horse is beautiful - is he yours?)

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Christopher & Cheryl...

no the horse isn't mine :(