Cottonwood forest

[erich6]

There's a small park in Boulder where there are lots of cottonwood plants. Here's a picture from my walk. Whip away!

Erich

http://hbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/50566651-L.jpg

[Tessa HD]

Your choice in monochrome goes well with the character of the old building, and the dying foliage, I like that a lot. Even the sky is just right, imo, for the feeling of this shot. The one thing that is distracting to me is the dark bush off to the right. Too bad that one thistle is over the door/window (?).

[Gary Glass]

It's an excellent shot. The only thing I don't like is your title, "Cottonwood Forrest", as it's not a forrest.

Also, I wonder how it would look if you backed off a little from the plant, and narrowed the zoom. Reason is that half the space is the base of the plant and the field up the barn, which isn't very interesting. Alternatively, you might just see how it looks if you crop the bottom 1/3 or so.

[erich6]

Your choice in monochrome goes well with the character of the old building, and the dying foliage, I like that a lot. Even the sky is just right, imo, for the feeling of this shot. The one thing that is distracting to me is the dark bush off to the right. Too bad that one thistle is over the door/window (?).

You are right on about that thistle. Just a slight change of perspective and it would have made a world of difference. Thanks for the critique!

Erich

[erich6]

It's an excellent shot. The only thing I don't like is your title, "Cottonwood Forrest", as it's not a forrest.

Also, I wonder how it would look if you backed off a little from the plant, and narrowed the zoom. Reason is that half the space is the base of the plant and the field up the barn, which isn't very interesting. Alternatively, you might just see how it looks if you crop the bottom 1/3 or so.

Thanks Gary. I actually did what you said. I stepped back and switched to my 50 mm prime (this one was shot at 29 mm). I didn't like it as much at first glance but I'll dig it up and give it a more serious look.

Sorry about the typo...and for some reason that's what they called it at the park trail. Certainly the shot doesn't really capture a "forest" so I agree I need to work on the title.

Erich

[DanielB]

overall. i like this shot. it has a nice feel to it. but when i look at it. there are a couple things that i don't like about it.... like mentioned above. the thistle over the door is too bad. it would have changed the feel of the shot some. there seems like theres a slight tilt to the left. but that might just be my imagination. and also. i'm not sure if this is my eyes or not, but is there some distortion in this shot? it seems like the plow lines where its dying are slightly bowed. but like i said. overall, with a non whipping post eye. i like it:thumb good monochrome too.:clap

[Cantfeelmyfingers]

I really like this photo.. of course there could be some slight angle differences, but in my opinion.. nothing absolutely has to be changed.. i love the colour and the amount of the ground you see.. i think if the bottom third was gone, it just wouldn't have the same "feel" to it.. jamie

[erich6]

overall. i like this shot. it has a nice feel to it. but when i look at it. there are a couple things that i don't like about it.... like mentioned above. the thistle over the door is too bad. it would have changed the feel of the shot some. there seems like theres a slight tilt to the left. but that might just be my imagination. and also. i'm not sure if this is my eyes or not, but is there some distortion in this shot? it seems like the plow lines where its dying are slightly bowed. but like i said. overall, with a non whipping post eye. i like it:thumb good monochrome too.:clap

Thanks Daniel. I can see what you mean about the lines. I think that may be an illusion due to how all the lines are arranged. Check out the plow lines with the "measure" tool in Photoshop and you'll see that they are straight.

The horizon does have a bit of a slope. That's real. It's accentuated a bit because the bush on the right is actually on a portion of the ground that's beginning to slope in a different direction.

[erich6]

I really like this photo.. of course there could be some slight angle differences, but in my opinion.. nothing absolutely has to be changed.. i love the colour and the amount of the ground you see.. i think if the bottom third was gone, it just wouldn't have the same "feel" to it.. jamie

Thanks Jamie. I went back and pulled up one of the other shots where I stepped back a bit and used the 50 mm lens. This compressed the shot a bit more between background and foreground and removed the space in between. You just don't get the impact from the perspective that the ground adds. (I also didn't take a shot at f/8 so I actually have a blurred background which doesn't seem to work here).

Erich