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Ruth Carll's picture

Minimal Landscape for Beginner

I have never posted a landscape before - anywhere. It's not my normal thing. But when recently asked here about my knowledge of landscapes, which is minimal (pun intended), I thought that is it good to try new things. So, here goes. This is my attempt at a minimal landscape. I would appreciate suggestion from you all. Putting this up among the clouds and color is .... brave?

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10 Comments

Good for you. I would tell you all about your photo if I was knowledgeable. I hope your photography makes you happy.

Thanks Scott!

Nice minimal composition Ruth, maybe slightly overexposed.
I like that horizontal lines in sky...

I think this is excellent, Ruth! You sell yourself short. Top-notch harmonious, simple composition.Never mind the clouds and colour! It reminds me of etchings and engravings, and of Japanese landscape. I've emphasised this in an edit (I can never resist!), but there's an appealing softness about yours. Various interpretations could be made of it. For once, I can't quite agree with Radisa, as I think the exposure gives it a high-key look (something I note you're partial to in a number of your outdoor images).

Thanks Chris. I am going to try more. I will admit that while taking this, in my mind's eye I was taking an abstract. I was seeing the arc of shore line, dark grass humps and sky strictly as lines and textures and not as sea, land and sky. So, to me this was not a landscape. I appreciate the continued support Chris!

PS - Did notice the way this is facing ?

Yes, I just KNOW you've flipped it, Ruth!

The process you describe is what I refer to as composition. I'm not being sarcastic - you've perfectly described how I'd see this scene through the viewfinder when considering an image, although it's an intuitive, non-verbal mental experience. I try to put stuff together in the frame in a pleasing way. Sounds as if you have a different experience when photographing. I can see that with your set-up shots, the process is less spontaneous, until set-up is complete.

Certainly my very simple image of a cloud over the sea with promontory on the right, that a lot of people liked, was "not a landscape" either. I thought the cloud was interesting enough to show people, and the rest followed.

I didn't flip it. :) I'm like you that way. I get what you are saying about composing. I just don't look up to 'landscape view' as much as I look at more intimate subjects. I don't think it's different. Just a matter if scale maybe. Or maybe it is! We could philosophize about how we all 'see' for many hours and pitchers!

Great shot! I like the overall scene and the glass surface of the water is really nice. There is a strong play between the negative space of the water and the dark details of the sea grass piles. Given your comment on abstract, maybe you should try to de-emphasize the sky even more. ??

Thank you for your feedback and the suggestion. i will tinker with this a little and see what comes of it. :)

I think Shawn makes a good point about the sky, Ruth. My edit, focussed on the weed especially, emphasised the clouds; I was ambivalent but left it in. In hindsight I should've done what he suggests.