Something a little different. I've been so inspired recently by artists pushing the boundaries of photography. From experimental to abstraction, ICM, even the incorporation of multiple mediums.
This is a pano shot with a 50 mm prime at a state park. Spring time presents an opportunity to see all the plays of green and yellow before everything turns to a matte blanket of green in the summer here in the midwestern US, giving this scene depth. However without an interesting sky and such a strong horizon with the dead timber in the foreground and a variety of trees in the background, I thought I would try something else.
The idea here was to have the subject mirrored naturally but draw focus to the center by brushing away the top and bottom giving the illusion that the scene is being revealed from within a canvas. Cheers to anyone who read this far. Let me know your thoughts.
Definitely worthy experiment. I agree it would be more interesting with clouds in the sky, but the colors and composition are nice.
Thanks for the feedback Jeff! I find the colors pleasing indeed.
I think this image works as intended. Quite interesting to view, really forces the eyes in then out to see the image in full.
I disagree that an interesting sky would help this image, I believe that any additional sky or foreground interest would destroy this image.
The way this is composed is well done!
That's very helpful Peter, many thanks! I couldn't put into words the push and pull in and out of the image but you summarized it perfectly.
Hi Thomas. It worked for all you wanted. Overall the mood of the frame is subtle and serene (yes, straight out of canvas). No loud and distracting elements. Reflections lead the vision towards the foliage.
Enjoyed it.
Thank you Vijay! I appreciate the feedback from everyone thus far, especially when trying something a little different, it's nice to receive detailed comments.
Hi Thomas! Great job here. With all respect to Jeff (yes, a cloudy sky could provide an opportunity for an appealing, but totally different image) I concur wholeheartedly with Peter and Vijay. Especially Peter's point about additional "interest" detracting from what you've done here. With your subtle touch here, I wouldn't have been able to tell if this is edited the way you tell us or more or less "straight". Either way, it just works!
I think it's your best image, actually Thmoas, precisely because you DIDN'T follow the usual inclinations & habits we photographers have, and instead came up with something else - creative vision. Well done. Love it!
That's very kind Chris, cheers! I love this area and symmetry it can bring, but other than the array of Spring greens, it lacked well as you say, what we photographers would habitually gravitate to. But it did provide a great chance to see what else could be done to an otherwise mediocre scene. Some of my inspiration of late has come from listening to and seeing the South African, Martin Osner's work. If you have a chance to check it out (maybe on youtube), I recommend it. Nothing of a direct comparison, but rather the inspiration to distill a message using photography as a core medium while also incorporating multiple techniques, not just compose-click-print.