OK folks. I have two days to choose my best tree based image for the magazine contest. If you have any kindness in your soul, please help me choose the best one. I’m really a people picture kind of guy, so perspective needed. I will choose on the late evening of the 24th.
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Thanks a lot.
Just two more pictures of trees in some nice light, normally I drive past this little pond, on my way home from work, however, a certain tree awareness has crept in to my travels since toying with an entry to round one of the “APOY” contest. I think trees are really hard to do anything non-cliched with and so far, I’m not coming up with anything inspiring. I have a week to get creative I suppose. I think these are nice, but not magical.
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I have decided to have a go at photographing a tree for round one of a photographic magazine’s contest. Truthfully I have always commented on how hard I think trees are to photograph. Getting good contrast between green and brown trees and green and brown backgrounds can be challenging. I have had a few successes, but the fact that I can pretty much remember them all tells its own story!
I took a walk today to the West Highland Way around Carbeth with a view of Dumgoyne and Dumfoyne on the end of the Campsies. I was reminded of my friend Martin’s comments that “using your feet” is a critical part of photography. I strolled around for about an hour trying different angles to try to fit the tree and Dumgoyne peak and get a leading line from the crag edge to the tree. (Actually, I wanted to be 1 metre to the right, with the lens a little wider, but found I couldn’t float mid-air). Anyway, I had my tripod, but couldn’t erect it here, as I was balancing on a precarious edge.
That makes two postings in a row with my Sigma 10-20 lens; anyone would think I liked landscapes.
If anyone out there would like a portrait done, please contact me. My Sigma 28 and I need to get back to doing our thing. Seriously, I need to do some portraits!
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Taken two weeks ago as a handheld HDR while on a walk to the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse. It is an amazing walk to the lighthouse, (visible on the right of the coastline), descending from the car park through 1000 feet, (300m), only to have you walk back up again. The vague coastline in the distance is Northern Ireland, about 12 miles away. I don’t often do black and white HDR, but the shape of the road seems stronger without colour distracting.
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I was in Tiree on work business this week. At the last minute I decided that I wouldn’t have time for photography with the poor light after working hours. I travelled light with my Canon S95 compact and I only had 5 minutes at dusk to take a snap of my favourite part of Tiree, Gott Bay (it was right outside the hotel). The compact had to use ISO 1600 to grab this, and 1/15th of a second (image stabilised) even at that. This is why you should always have a large sensor camera with you. This isn’t a large sensor camera, but in among all the noise, there is at least a basic monochrome.
Sixth from the top.
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Very difficult to choose – like them all! I think the first one is the most striking image – the reflection is perfect – I love the symmetry!! Good luck with the competition!
In the first one the trees are too dark around the base of them and all detail is lost. 2nd one lacks any wow factor, 3rd isn’t balanced, not bad but it has neither detail not a clear distinct shape, 4th is nice – just nice. 5th & 6th are the best there as the trees have detail, shape, good light and foreground interest (the 6th is a better balance), 7th is dull (sorry, you asked), 8th is good, very atmospheric but the LHS is too much a blob of black. – I’d agree with Maggie – go for the 6th.
Sorry, buggered up my counting: Should read as follows, I think;
In the first one the trees are too dark around the base of them and all detail is lost. 2nd one lacks any wow factor, 3rd isn’t balanced, 4th not bad but it has neither detail not a clear distinct shape, 5th is nice – just nice. 6th & 7th are the best there as the trees have detail, shape, good light and foreground interest (the 6th is a better balance), 8th is dull (sorry, you asked), 9th is good, very atmospheric but the LHS is too much a blob of black. – I’d agree with Maggie – go for the 6th.
Agree – 6th is the best. I would have voted for the 7th but the sky doesn’t have as much interesting color as the 6th.
I love numbers 1, 2 and 3…in fact they are all stunning and amazing. I guess I am drawn more to number three as the subject matter and contrast are very striking to me.
I also love the trees, sunset and sheep pics too but think that number three stands out more and is a very different kind of snap shop of rural life in Scotland…?
Finally, is there a theme/criterion for the competition?
Thanks everyone for the comments so far. Petrea, the theme is just trees, woods or forests, so a very general remit!
Ok…you’d expect me to go against the grain (!) I’d choose 1 or 4. The subject matter is ‘trees’ so why do I want interesting foreground, sky, etc. etc. Ok I can’t see the detail at the base of your trees in 1 but the reflection more than makes up for this…the symmetry gives overall good balance…and what’s my overall impression? This is a pic about trees!!! There’s a solemnity about it but also a sense of calm. It’s an emotive pic! Four is good too cos the main star is the tree (not sheep, not a tractor, not a Scottish ladnscape)- it’s telling a story – it’s twisted and contorted…it’s a metaphor for life…but it’s a TREE…
Good…
I asked Steve for his favourite and his first choice is the last picture and his second choice is the one I liked the most – number three, the one with the house and tractor…the contrasting colours of the trees with the bluish trees on the mountain in the background with the contrasting foreground is just great. Nice to see some colour and love the red on the tractor…
I think the last one is the most striking.
The last one for me too….but you probably knew which one I was going to choose anyway:))
Thanks so much for all your help. I went with the 6th since it seemed to have the most interest from your comments. The last one was also in the frame from your comments, but I chose before Richards comments came through. Anyway, it’s been a bit of fun. Technically I can’t see the picture making the grade, ISO 800 will be a bit too grainy and it should have been with a tripod, however, it’s submitted.
Regular viewers of my blog will recognise that I took this batch of pictures round about the time my dad died, so they have a certain poignancy for me.
Anyway, thanks again, it’s been a fun game.
7 or 9