* Winter - Structure & tonalities *

Here a three of my winter pictures. Proof that even cloudy days can offer opportunities.

I hope this way of including pictures in the message works.

Willem

but hit new thread instead

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=4164305

Great topic -- even if I am an idiot this morning!
Thanks,
Cara

--
DSC-F707
http://www.photoartcards.com

Shutter. said:

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wow, man. just wow.

Norman, thanks for those words, I'm just glad you liked the image. It's funny you mention the images being painterly. I am in fact a painter. That's how I make my money - selling paintings. I initially used photography as a background fir my painting work, and still do to an extent, but I have to say, the more I work with digital images, the more I think of trying to venture into that market.

Again, thanks for the comments. Keep an eye on my Pbase landscape gallery, I plan to expand it soon. I'll certainly keep an eye on yours, as I said before, I think the images are stunning.

NRich said:

Very pleased with this response. I see these photos as painted
with a broad brush- i like that. I've added a .jpg to further
share this wonderful image - I find it has magical qualities- quite
painterly and very much on track with this thread theme of
structure and tonalities.
IMO As much as we are learning to see as photographers- we are
inviting the viewer on a journey of visual experience-we are in a
sense asking the viewer to dance- to see & learn to see along with
ourselves. With implied intent to ideally involve the viewer -to
experience anew by lingering there. This image does it for me.

Stucture can run the gamut of razor sharp outlines or apprear
tenous, with the viewers participation to co-create the structure

• holding the image together in the minds eye. Sharp or soft focus

being artistic choices.Visual structure like a skeleton provides
the bones of an image -here they are very fine bones indeed, almost
invisible- like cobweb ,or a feather's vanes - there, not
obtrusive & intrinsically bound together with a sublte and
dramatic range of tonality.

I find the tonality range of Black, white and golds especially
satisying. One can clearly sense tonality here used in a
painterly way to evoke mood. Your selective editing techique-the
resulting series of aesthetic choices, serves expressive purpose
well IMO. The overtones of winter are there in the light and the
ice on the road, yet the the image remains balanced between warm
& cool associations-in all, a strong, lyrical and delicate image.
Thank you for responding to this thread

NRich
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

eddiea said:

Just thought I'd add a couple of my own.

http://www.pbase.com/image/6211077



http://www.pbase.com/image/6211092

http://www.pbase.com/philipsmith

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--

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--
http://www.pbase.com/philipsmith

here's my contrasting winter observation around the corner.

As indicated previously, I had (a little) more time today to take six other pictures, all related to this wonderful theme.
They are all under the title "Frozen Time", in my galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001/frozen_time

Hereunder you'll find two of them, if I get it right:
"Still Life"
http://www.pbase.com/image/10720682/medium

and "Ulysses' Return" (Uly, this title was not meant to say that you should abandon Canon, although of course your 'full time' return would be most welcome...) ?;-)
http://www.pbase.com/image/10720751/medium

--
Marcel-Etienne
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001

I like the "Solid Foam" shot. The rounded smooth edge of the ice contrasting with the Frozen Bubbles. Very interesting to me as I don't think I've ever seen foam on the water frozen. And the "Still Life" shows life goes on under the ice. Loooks like some Goldfish and maybe a Butterfly Koi on the right.

Marcel-Etienne said:

As indicated previously, I had (a little) more time today to take
six other pictures, all related to this wonderful theme.
They are all under the title "Frozen Time", in my galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001/frozen_time

Hereunder you'll find two of them, if I get it right:
"Still Life"
http://www.pbase.com/image/10720682/medium

and "Ulysses' Return" (Uly, this title was not meant to say that
you should abandon Canon, although of course your 'full time'
return would be most welcome...) ?;-)
http://www.pbase.com/image/10720751/medium

--
Marcel-Etienne
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001

Click to expand...

--
Bill B
http://www.pbase.com/bill_b

Thanks for the kind comments. Most unusual to see such bubbles, isn't it? It was the first time for me too, so I couldn't resist the opportunity. And you're right about the koi and the goldfish (although one is of a white variety, I don't know it's name in english). Good looking! ?;-)

Bill Borne said:

Marcel-Etienne said:

As indicated previously, I had (a little) more time today to take
six other pictures, all related to this wonderful theme.
They are all under the title "Frozen Time", in my galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001/frozen_time

Hereunder you'll find two of them, if I get it right:
"Still Life"
http://www.pbase.com/image/10720682/medium

and "Ulysses' Return" (Uly, this title was not meant to say that
you should abandon Canon, although of course your 'full time'
return would be most welcome...) ?;-)
http://www.pbase.com/image/10720751/medium

--
Marcel-Etienne
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001

Click to expand...

--
Bill B
http://www.pbase.com/bill_b

Click to expand...

--
Marcel-Etienne
http://www.pbase.com/braudel2001

Pondria said:

NRich said:

In this thread, I'm suggesting that winter- with or without snow -
provides abundant photo opportunities, including the chance to
focus in on bare bones image structure simular to B +W, and to
consider both subtle and dramatic tonal ranges.

Click to expand...

This is a great thread. I would like to contribute. I first
apologize that the photo is not from SONY camera. But the theme is
pretty much in line with what Norman intends. Where I live, we
don't have real Winter with snows. This came close.

Click to expand...

Pondria

This image is IMO a classic, relevent and on topic, a text book structure and tonality reference image. In winter we are accustomed to think of tonality in high contrast - snow and shadow. One might imagine this image in a histogram- the band of tonality narrowed considerably with aesthetic purpose.

The image appears crafted from delight in awareness of visual elements - invites us to dwell on it, and rewards us for doing so. The structure runs through diagonals of branch and stem - thick and thin line, makes use of your DOF research ( posted previously on STF) by contrasting sharp and soft focus, within its narrow and selective band of tone and color blend.

In all, quite satisfying and difficult to achieve. Photographers are often inclined to opt for increased contrast as a short cut to increase drama, instead of looking to the backbone in a range of tonality considerations. A less experienced photographer might be inclined to point the camera at the leaf with the sky behind, allow a tangle of trees in the background, not notice the shape, size, and direction of stem and branches, would give less care to the tonal or structural relation of the leaf to its surroundings.

In short, not see whats to be seen, savor or value the consequences of these visual choices.

IMO a key distinction of snapshoters is a focus on things in pictures, while the photographers Intent is on growth, through focusing on the challenge of visual values that make an image work.

This may be as clear as I can state this pivotal issue of placing visual values foremost - perhaps the turning point - the breakthrough that IMO matters most of all.

I'm pleased you returned with this post. As I see it, the simplicity & visual wealth of this photo originates in the sum of visual choices -subtle and poetic relationships within the image.

Regards
Norman
-
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

Ann Chaikin wrote:

Hello Anne... This lake Watcom image is so outrageously well realized. Its something special - a gem. Which I expect you recognize, as would all who sees it. I've spent quite a while looking at it - both enjoying it, and looking to decipher a little more why and how it works in regards to structure and tonality. Here is a path I followed to further access visual dynamics within the image.

Imagine this image divided into four equal quardrants - 2 upper rectangles and 2 equal sized lower rectangles each having a a predominant range of tones, smooth or textural, ranging principally from light to midtone. Our eye movement runs naturally in a classic arc entering the image lower right -swinging out to the left -up and accoss upper right.

Back to the quadrants,I'm going by memory as I write, which I find a useful exercise in itself. The lower right quadrant is bright and fully textural, upper left- the sun source is also a bright rectangle broken by a vertical column ( tree trunk).but Importantly predominantly a strong bright quadrant. In the lower left their is a textural mirror image of the right quadrant with the important difference of far deeper tones: midtones. which parallel the midtones of less sun light in the upper right quadrant. In this apparent scene of peaceful tranquility the tonalaites pull diagonally accross all four quadrants- a significant indication of drama with increase of movement.

When opposite combine in dynamic equalibrum, one may have the making of a classic - this is one such image which IMO will live on and is well worth studing for its visual merits. Another way of seeing the visual impact of each quadrant- is to view the image blocking out-(with a piece of paper) each quadrant one at a time.

IMO the more we understand why & how an image works, or is well realized in visual terms- we put ourselves in contact with a framework of consistency which transcends luck.

Ann Chaikin said:

Then there was my lucky moment of being at the best lookout point
when the sun came out from behind the clouds.
http://www3.photosig.com/viewphoto.php?id=15913

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My intent in the thread is to appreciate more of the how's & why tonalities form an underlying substructure of an image, and how winter may reveal a skeletal framework than color is hung on. I don't have subjects specifcally in mind, and imagine them to range beyond expectations, preferably as is the case here, on topic.

Ann Chaikin said:

Thanks, Ann
--
also known as PT Kitty > ^..^
http://www.pbase.com/ptkitty/galleries
http://www.annchaikin.com

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--
Norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

duckboy said:

http://www.princeton.edu/~jjameson/images/02w/squirrel1 .

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Hi Duckboy ...squirel in winter -good shot -charming - spot on exposure.

duckboy said:

my favorite recent one:

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This is a real beauty - I'd like to have seen it larger -interested to know what adjustments you may have made with this image - the light and tonal range here - quite something - very appealing.

duckboy said:

i've also finally discovered statuary and such...i spend so much
time photographing pretty leaves in the summer that i forget that
some cool things don't bother to turn green:

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Your the first to introduce statuary images to a winter tonality thread, another avenue to further explore grey tonal scale in winter...imagine there are interesting alcoves of statuary at Princeton. I could imagine these subjects emerging in a series to share........if it is of interest to you.
I enjoyed your comment ......" some cool things don't bother to turn green

would enjoy following your photogrpahy from time to time - if you were to choose to embed a gallery link........all the best.

duckboy said:

http://www.princeton.edu/~jjameson/images/02w/angel .

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--
NRich
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

coming from you, that just made my day.

NRich said:

This is a real beauty - I'd like to have seen it larger -interested
to know what adjustments you may have made with this image - the
light and tonal range here - quite something - very appealing.

Click to expand...

it's actually almost straight out of the camera...just lightened up a little in psp, sharpened and hit with the clarify filter (dunno what the equivalent is in photoshop...basically just increases contrast)...and then colorized. i plan on going back and doing a better job any day now...but we're in the middle of finals, so some things have to wait.

NRich said:

Your the first to introduce statuary images to a winter tonality
thread, another avenue to further explore grey tonal scale in
winter...imagine there are interesting alcoves of statuary at
Princeton. I could imagine these subjects emerging in a series to
share........if it is of interest to you.

Click to expand...

perhaps....although it might take me a while, because i'm deeply afraid of the "been-there-done-that" factor...feel like there are only so many ways to photograph the wheel. but i did like that one....so i might take you up on that one of these days.

NRich said:

would enjoy following your photogrpahy from time to time - if you
were to choose to embed a gallery link........all the best.

Click to expand...

http://www.princeton.edu/~jjameson/galleries/JuniorMaster.htm

though you'll find 90% of my stuff is just p&s snapshootery. as much as i'm enjoying messing with "real" photography (ie, artsy) i'm something of a yearbooker at heart (the dark side! the dark side!).

Hello Jim

This photo is radiant in its progression of warm & cool tones -a wonderful image that clearly relates to the thread theme with, structure and tonalities.

Shutter. said:

I believe winter provides the BEST and most challenging setting for
photography.

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As in a native medicine wheel I find it helpfull to consider winter in context of an integrated four season balance of natural cycle - no one season being best, or better than another.

Shutter. said:

It's amazing to me the beauty that snow graces otherwise brown and
dreary landscapes.

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"Brown and dreary "- appears to me to be a mind set, an atitude that would otherwise open a broad range of sublte earthtones - not apparent. Winter without snow invites us to explore sensitivity to skeletal structure of tonality. I have found strong dislikes are on the flip side of the best coin, which I avoid as it narrows options in the visual tool box. An Intent to picture the familar is one objective - nurturing ones creativity in winter -with or without snow - is another.

Shutter. said:

And also interesting how the lack of it is so
uninspiring. I guess I should be working on appreciating that side
of winter also.

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I agree - the lack of snow need not be " so uninspiring. " This attitude can pose a creative block, where left unattended. Your a very good photographer - thats unquestioned. With an attitude shift of new appreciation I can imagine what now seemingly appears grey -on closer inspection holds a vast realm of photographic possibilites.

What a great time of year to think of constructing an image from visual components, quite apart from the notion of taking a picture. A fine example of this is Pondria's image which you can find posted in this thread.

One can either think winter without snow, how dreary, theres little to photograph- or what a great opportunity winter is providing to create images from the bare bones of visual components such as line, rythmn, texture, tonal gradation, the placements of where light and shadow fall within the rectangle., and so many other meaningful visual choices.

In winter we can seize upon the classic B+W like concerns reaching out to us.

As I see it winter is the oportunity to be rigorous , through purely visuals thinking, apart from say the timing constraints of moving figures. In winter we can seize the opportunity in a sense to * create * an image from scratch through awareness and control of the visual variables.

Winter obliges giving us the distinct advantage of a far more neutral canvas to work on, a break from the proliferation of color that will come soon enough. Should your outlook brighten - apart from reveling in snow I would like to see those images, winters earthtones - where re awakened appreciation for winters tonality might take you.

Shutter. said:

.........I'm just not very good at selection)

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My instinct tells me that this may be tied into the quandry of the static notion of whats " best. " I have come to think of selection within an organic process, with well realized images as a yard stick. My experience is images of family and friends get bound up with personal attachment, and are difficult to get an overview of, or elaluate for visual realizations.... Interesting post ,and this wonderful image, a fine contribution to this structure & tonalities thread. Thank you for responding.

Shutter. said:

http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u16/jfuglestad/medium/4897987.Dsc01566gb640x480 .
http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u23/jfuglestad/medium/10694670.Dsc07376640x480 .
http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u16/jfuglestad/medium/4897997.Dsc03756640x480 .

http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u16/jfuglestad/medium/4898055.Dsc08999b2crop1aged2640x480 .
http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u16/jfuglestad/medium/4897996.Dsc03601640x480 .
http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u16/jfuglestad/medium/4898006.Dsc04374640x480 .
http://jjj.image.pbase.com/u16/jfuglestad/medium/4898054.Dsc08999bcrop2640x480 .

NRich said:

Do you consider Winter a downtime, an off season for photography?
This may be a self imposed limitation- a mind set where visual
opportunities lay dormant, and can be reawakened.
Reverse it with a new attitude.....

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Shutter. said:

Shutter. said:

Winter is the opportunities to focus in on the bare bones of the
skeletel structure of an image. The tonalitiy range- the
transition and weight of tones, form, movement, and rythmn are far
more accessible parred down to basics, more simmular to B+W.

Click to expand...

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Shutter. said:

Shutter. said:

IMO winter is the source- the foundation- the discipline, to build
on for the spring. ........ attuned to where color is
coming from and why.

Click to expand...

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I invite you and others to shoot new images in light of this thread : post and discuss your winter images showing sensitivity to structure and tonalities.
--
NRich
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

Shutter. said:

--
Jim Fuglestad
Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase.
-Percy W. Harris
Our existence is determined by the truths we tell.
Why simply live and let live? Live and help live.
http://www.pbase.com/jfuglestad/galleries

Click to expand...

Hello

What I am reminded here - as well as seeing a fine image- is that water is not blue and snow is not white, and that winter tonality has a wealth of rich, subtle, and unexpected tints.

This image IMO is a good example of winters narrowed band of color that widens appreciation for a broader band of tone. I can imagine using the eye dropper tool of photoshop, taking say a doz readings through out this image, and in a specific area -say, the amber tones of water. Then lining up these dozen tones and seeing how rich, golden and elegant the working palette is here.

Also a reading of the color tint with the eye dropper of the snow would be interesting to see in relation to the pond and trees. Sometimes I will take a small shadow area and explore it with the editing eyedroper tool, what superficaly appears as shadow grey is made up of of a huge number of micro diamond like facets of distinct tonal variations that run a gamut through a wide range of colors as purples, reds, blues and greens.

In short - The greyness of winter isn't grey at all. Further confirmed by a snow or shadow area blown up 400 + times and see the myriad tone and color pixel variations in one apparently simple tint or shadow...good post.

Erichatch said:

What I like about this shot is the full range of tones and the
geometry of the angle and the ellipse.

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Yes, this is what I am responding to as well.

Erichatch said:

http://www.pbase.com/image/8832149 .

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--
NRich
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

Hello Babe

nice shot -I am stretching to see your connection here with structure and tonality. I suppose one could contrast the relation of the varying tones in the stones to the snow and shadow surrounding them. My tendency would be to see contrasts featured here, more so than tonality -Could you explain further, your intent & how you read this image in regard to your priority of contrasts, visual structures and related tonalities?

Babe said:

here's my contrasting winter observation around the corner.

Click to expand...

--
NRich
http://www.pbase.com/norman
http://www.pbase.com/norman/dsc_f717_expressions

I don't enjoy being outdoors in the winter nearly as much as in warmer weather, but still find wonderful material for pictures. This first picture was taken 2 days ago and I was pleased with the muted colors.







This last picture was taken in my backyard with the cardinal patiently waiting his turn for the feeder. The bark of the cottonwood tree and the dried flowerheads of the climbing hydrangeas are many shades of brown, but never dull, as lots of birds and even squirrel find refuge there.

--
http://www.pbase.com/beverlybrink/galleries

NRich,

In Los Angeles, we drove up highway 39 toward the mountain seeking snow. But the heat wave of the previous week's Santa Ana windstorm dashed all hope of any surviving snow. The snow now turned to water fills a trout stream lined with trees bared naked in its winter clothing.





John
http://www.pbase.com/johnrweb/ A PBase Supporter
http://www.pbase.com/domdom/

NRich said:

"Brown and dreary "- appears to me to be a mind set, an atitude
that would otherwise open a broad range of sublte earthtones - not
apparent. Winter without snow invites us to explore sensitivity to
skeletal structure of tonality. I have found strong dislikes are on
the flip side of the best coin, which I avoid as it narrows
options in the visual tool box. An Intent to picture the familar
is one objective - nurturing ones creativity in winter -with or
without snow - is another.

Click to expand...

Norman,

In addition to trying to learn from you "essays" on intent and "relaxed attentiveness", one of the biggest lessons I'm starting to learn from you, is to try to separate visual analysis from emotion to open up new options. There's another thread going on about "favorite subjects" or something like that, and one post states that anything that draws a strong emotional response is a good subject. I've always had that mindset, too. I guess it goes hand in hand with the concept of "art appreciation" ... while I can appreciate and occasionally listen to various kinds (not ALL kinds of music, time and time again, I'm going to turn on music that strikes a chord within me. And while I can look at various pieces of art and see something worth looking at, what I'm going to hang on my wall is stuff that stirs an emotional response within me that I want to experience again. And so I think too many of us who don't have an art background get hung up in photography as pursuit of "wall hangings" !

In your various galleries, one of the best examples of how I'm learning from you are the "Tidal Slough" galleries. One of the fun things about macro is that you can create fascinating images of things that are normally not seen. In the tidal slough galleries, you go a step further and create fascinating images out of things that are intentionally overlooked because they're not "pretty".

W/regards to winter photography, snow makes composition easy (though it presents its own challenges) while scenes without snow can be even busier than the same scenes in other seasons. That aside, I admit to having thought recently that I can go out and shoot some more snow pictures when we get a fresh coat of snow to pretty things up ... right now, the snow's been melting, and is shiny and doesn't show what I think of as a pretty New England winter. But then I start to notice patterns in that shiny surface when the sun gets low in the sky and remember that photography isn't about just pretty pictures

All of these lessons have to be learned over and over again, so thanks for your great public service in trying repeatedly to get many of us to think a little (or a lot) differently !

• Dennis

All three of these shots speak to their subjects. As to moodiness, perhaps (like me) you suffer from seasonal affective disorder. In any event, I'm not sure it's a crime to photograph somber subjects -- though most people may admire such shots without particularly liking them or wanting them on their wall.

duckboy said:

the best morsels seem to involve getting under the snow,
remembering where you left them...



kidding!

but seriously, though...winter IS sorta my off season. i'm still
photographing left and right, but it tends to be of more austere
and moody subjects...which aren't quite as prevalent.

my favorite recent one:
http://www.princeton.edu/~jjameson/uploadimages/shore1

Click to expand...

duckboy said:

i've also finally discovered statuary and such...i spend so much
time photographing pretty leaves in the summer that i forget that
some cool things don't bother to turn green:

Click to expand...

We don't get much snow in MS but we got a small amount of sleet and I took this one and embellished it just a tad. Hoping for a little snow at some point this winter!



--
Judy Howle
My photos, lotsa good links and other cool stuff
http://myweb.cableone.net/howle/page/digital_photography.htm