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B&W barn. C&C welcome
- Thread starter Robertj_298
- Start date
John W H
Leading Member
Hiya
What is the main subject of the photo, the barn or the twisted stump? I think there is potential there but maybe looking for a different composition is needed. (This is a problem I have too).
John
What is the main subject of the photo, the barn or the twisted stump? I think there is potential there but maybe looking for a different composition is needed. (This is a problem I have too).
John
knickerhawk
Veteran Member
I like these sorts of images. You can feel the texture and the symbolism of the old weathering barn vs the old gnarled wood stump is strong. However, there are several things about the image that significantly weaken it for me. First, counteracting the juxtaposition of the two subjects is the fact that they are visually competing with each other. The distance is too great and makes them feel disconnected in a way that makes it difficult to appreciate one without feeling that other is getting in the way. The second issue I have is the sky is featureless and boring. There's a lot of contrast and texture in the image and, especially with the featureless, sky it feels like it's lacking in tonal subtlety. I'd like to see more definition in the sky with greater differentiation in the tonal zones. A minor point is that the image feels slightly tilted down on the left side. That can be easily fixed. Hope these comments are helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Robertj_298
Senior Member
There can only be one subject in a photo?
Adrian Harris
Veteran Member
I agree and will also add that we nearly all have this difficulty.
What I will add is that although the stump provides good foreground interest it is dominant and cuts into the barn. Plus there is a lot of empty space bottom left.
If you had stepped a touch to the left and got lower, you would have achieved separation between stump and barn and also reduced the empty spaces.
Then our eyes would be lead into the picture by the stump and directed towards the barn.
I hope that info helps. If you can, give it another go. The shot has good potential.
Robertj_298
Senior Member
I like the suggestions of separating the barn from the stump and choosing a day when the sky has more contrast to it. What if I were to shoot at a larger aperture making the stump sharp and blurring the barn out some?
zuikowesty
Senior Member
The b/w tonality and detail is good. The composition doesn't quite work for me though, the foreground competes too much and intrudes on the barn, and there isn't quite enough DOF to keep the barn sharp. Going wider, and giving some space between the foreground stump and letting it lead into the barn in the distant might work better.
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Shawn Wright
zuikowesty
Senior Member
You could try this, but I doubt you will get a pleasing result with a kit lens, and even f/2.8 lenses are often not enough for this effect unless the foreground is very close. Going wider, like 14mm should allow you to keep both sharp, which is preferred, imho, and will also change the perspective to emphasize the shape and size of the foreground object, while giving some space between it and the barn.
If you want to show texture, devote max. of pixels you have to a stump. It means you do not crop. You have to be close to stump, and DOF will resolve by itself since barn is far away.
Do the same with barn. Remember that you do not have to place the whole barn into the frame. come closer and select most effective part that represents your intend (let's presume corner, larger part of the wall with gates, and part of the roof. Also, do not shoot barn with wide lens, get moderate ZOOM and shoot from distance of 20-30 ft - you'll get less of distortion.
thinkinginimages
Senior Member
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Nice. Purely my opinion but I'd lighten up the grass. It's competing too much for attention. If your editing software emulates black and white filters, maybe a yellow or orange.
400trix
Senior Member
)I had the same thought as John. Having two subjects is fine, but they have to work together. In this image, it feels like they are fighting for attention, and the barn is losing
).
Gerry Siegel
Senior Member
My approach would be to get closer to the gnarled stump or the barn. Try it and you will see that the composition is the main downside to the image working well. One would have to show the options to give more advice. I like the old gnarled dead trees. Nice for texture and in monochrome too.
Oregon windswept coast
John W H
Leading Member
Of course not, and I like the idea of the foreground but for me it doesn't work in this case as it overlaps the barn.
The texture on both log and barn is great and there needs to be some separation to appreciate it (IMHO).
John
prairiedog
Leading Member
Yeah, my thoughts too. I was thinking is it a picture of a barn or a stump and my eyes were flicking between the two not quite able to settle. Maybe an out of focus barn would give context without competing with the stump.
Gerry Siegel
Senior Member
Roberts, sometimes now and then a rescue has to be abandoned. A frank C and C would be to ask the question what attracted you to make this image. Then even go back and try ten more at different angles and distances. Examine each one and which grabs you. Pick the most interesting and balanced and one that draws you and others to look and look again. Then for yoursefl decide on technical things like the white sky and lack of clouds. How to fix. Texture and contrast. How to fix.
One is one's best critic I think even when others have ideas. You get there by looking at comparable shots of the subject matter for one thing..... What seems obvious to some is obscure to others. Good intentions of course...But need to say one is to be commended to ask for opinions. If it says something to you, then opinions are worth what they cost. aloha nui loa.
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N
NCV
Guest
The problem I have with this picture is the quality of the light. There are days when one must leave the camera at home or in the camera bag. It happens, it happened to me on Sunday when the weather changed for the worse. i just scouted some locations for another day.
I see a dull grey day with a plain grey sky. I think you saw it too, because you went for a B& W solution.
Talking in general terms, I see a lot of pictures where the B&W solution is attempted to "rescue" a picture shot in light that does not suit the subject. B&W needs "good" light perhaps even more than colour as B&W is just light and shade.
B&W is not an easy option for "bad" flat light.
As for the composition, I think the stump should not be overlapping the barn as it makes for a distracting picture.
There are possibilities here, you just need to go back for a half hour in better light and explore the scene taking lots of shots.
I see a dull grey day with a plain grey sky. I think you saw it too, because you went for a B& W solution.
Talking in general terms, I see a lot of pictures where the B&W solution is attempted to "rescue" a picture shot in light that does not suit the subject. B&W needs "good" light perhaps even more than colour as B&W is just light and shade.
B&W is not an easy option for "bad" flat light.
As for the composition, I think the stump should not be overlapping the barn as it makes for a distracting picture.
There are possibilities here, you just need to go back for a half hour in better light and explore the scene taking lots of shots.
Robertj_298
Senior Member
Actually I tried many different angles but all other angles brought unwanted distractions into view. Guess I'l have to give up on this site.
Gerry Siegel
Senior Member
;-) I understand of course..reasonable takeaway. And no offense to those who try and fail.
( "Your majesty, the Persians have over run the city walls, what do we do your highness?. "Guards, kill this hopeless messenger! Bring -me some wine and some more useful news.... ::-D )
( "Your majesty, the Persians have over run the city walls, what do we do your highness?. "Guards, kill this hopeless messenger! Bring -me some wine and some more useful news.... ::-D )
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