Theme: Snow Storm

[Paul Lagasi]

Today we were getting a dusting of snow...a friend and I drove around looking for Owls..It was just a terrible day for photos, overcast, snowy, dull.
We happened on 1 of the largest flocks of Snow Geese, I've ever seen locally..between 5-7,000 birds.
I didn't take many photos ( wanted to try some blurs), at one point, the farmer came by with his tractor and plow...ask him for permission to walk along with his tractor as he plowed, so I could get close to the birds..he said no problem, I walked along beside his tractor. I managed to get really close. I stopped walking at one point, tractor kept going..I was within 10 feet of them, one bird saw me, up they went ..what a sight and what a racket...none of the blurs I tried really worked. So I tried a CS4 blur.
Did a motion blur, added some snow..pasted original back in at 50% opacity...What do you think?

p.s. don't laugh to hard....:cool:

[denise ippolito]

Paul, I think you did a great job creating the blur. The keeper rate on blurs is very low so don't be discouraged. Keep at it. The grainy look caused by the snow and the pp blur (I am assuming)is the only element I find distracting. The amount of blur is good and the overall composition is good.The colors are good.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

I really like this Paul. Nice abstract look to it. and you seem to have three distinct layers which balance it. Might try and get rid of some of the grain (just a bit).

[Paul Lagasi]

Thank you....lolol..the grainy look is my attempt at a snowstorm..blurs haven't heard the last of me

[Paul Lagasi]

Tried again, only used different snow making technique...quite less grainy..

[denise ippolito]

Does look much better Paul!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Paul, I really like the second version. It has an abstract, oriental feel to me. I like it a lot.:)

[Craig Markham]

Paul, I really like the intensity you brought out in the 2nd post. I found the diagonal streaking in the 1st post somewhat distracting, and the speckling a bit overwhelming. You struck a fine balance in the 2nd, and reinforced the feeling of an ascending cascade of birds. The composition works well for me as a stand-alone, meaningful piece.

Using the farmer's tractor as a moving blind was a terrific idea! Interesting how birds perceive a roaring tractor as part of an innocuous landscape, but instantly see a separate human form as a predatory threat -- usually a good idea, unfortunately.

--Craig