17 Trees

[Donald]

Here's another of those 'all sky and little land' images for folks to debate. Some quite liked this sort of approach when I made an image of similar proportions previously. Others absolutely did not like it all.

Well hopefully this one can stir up some discussion.

Your comments and critique are always read and studied.

[mknittle]

I like it. I gives (me) the feeling of open space.

[Mike Buckley]

My kind of sky! Rather than title it "17 Trees," I believe I would go for "Utility Pole."

[flashback]

Counted twice and I still come up with 24 trees.
I think it would do no harm to remove the power lines.
Maybe a tetch more detail in the clouds.
I like this and your others, but then, I'm visually illiterate so what do I know.

[Shadowman]

I suppose the only debate would be which is the subject, the title points it out but the composition says otherwise. Nicely captured.

[mknittle]

Counted twice and I still come up with 24 trees.
I think it would do no harm to remove the power lines.
Maybe a tetch more detail in the clouds.
I like this and your others, but then, I'm visually illiterate so what do I know.

So did I

[Donald]

So did I

Oh well. To save others devoting their energies to counting the trees and not assessing the image, let's change the title to 'Lots of Trees'!

[flashback]

Had I the foresight to know that counting the trees would be offensive I'd a never a counted 'em.
On the other hand I may not have been clear enough in assessing the image.

[Geoff F]

There is sufficient detail and brightness gradient in that sky for it to be the main subject; so this scene works for me.

With some trees appearing to be 'double stemmed' from the same root it does make counting the individual trees a little difficult; so let's not worry about the exact number.

[Donald]

Had I the foresight to know that counting the trees would be offensive I'd a never a counted 'em.
On the other hand I may not have been clear enough in assessing the image.

Not offensive at all, Jack. That was an, obviously, poor attempt at humour. Apologies.

[flashback]

No worries Donald, it can be difficult sometimes to fathom intent with just the written word. That said I hope you don't think of me as too much of a jackass (which I can, at times be).

And to be clear, I like the image very much. For me the expansive sky is what makes the image work for me. And to me the subject IS the image, so whatever number of trees there may be it in no way interferes with my appreciation of the image nor does it cause me any confusion as to what I should be seeing/looking at.

[marlunn]

I really like it very much Donald, the big sky matches the flat open landscape and gives a wide open feel to it - but also at the same time the detail in the sky makes it bear down on you and puts you in your place - probably not explained well - but hey ! I like it !

[Mike Buckley]

at the same time the detail in the sky makes it bear down on you and puts you in your place - probably not explained well

Explained very well in my mind!

[Donald]

Thank you all for your comments ... and sorry for the misunderstanding re my post about number of trees.

I've always taken the view that I'm at my most creative, innovative and productive when I'm happy and relaxed. I know that some artists are at their best when their mood is very low and sombre.

Today I was in that latter category (I won't bore you with the details). I forced myself to take the camera with me when I went out to the nearby small town for some provisions, although I 'knew' I wouldn't use it. Well, on the way home I forced myself to stop the car and get out and look at a scene that I had noticed on the way down to town. This image is the result of that.

So, mood is all.

[ScoutR]

This is so good. I love the big sky and low horizon. It makes me feel small, like an ants eye view or something. The perspective makes me feel like I am in the photo, not looking at the photo - hard to explain. I'm not sure if that is the same feeling Mark was expressing when he said it "puts you in your place"

[IzzieK]

Sorry for being late in commenting to your post. I counted the trees too and stopped at 17...it will have been pointless to ask you about the title nor continue counting. I love the vastness of the space between the sky and the trees too. The sky is a little bit on the gloomy side but that is where the drama of the shot is. Amazing how and why people always wanted to have a certain aspect of the environment removed, e.g., that electric pole and associated wire. To me it is part of our now way of life to have electricity pole. This one is not as obtrusive really. The shot will live with or without it. And oh, btw, those white stuff on the ground, is that snow? If you clone that out too, your image will lost a bit of interest somehow (I think...). Just goes to show even 'little things means a lot'? (Excuse the cliche.)

[Tronhard]

I like the dominance of the sky - it makes the relatively spartan landscape look even more barren.

So for me the most pressing question is do they really have that many trees in Scotland???

[bnnrcn]

I like the image I'm not very happy with the noise visible in the sky though.

[Donald]

Again, thank you for your posts

I like the image I'm not very happy with the noise visible in the sky though.

Binnur - What is it you don't like about the grain you see in the sky?

[Mike Buckley]

I don't see any noise or grain. I only see tonal variation in the clouds.