Lonely

[Loose Canon]

Thanks to all for your fascinating thoughts on my photo Just a few reflections:
- There are 2 kinds of helpful comment - practical suggestions about eg cloning away distractions, which are easier to see in other people's pics but maybe less so in one's own, and observations which come down to interpretation and taste. I love to hear how others respond to my images, and it doesn't matter at all whether I happen to agree. Its just really good to find out how the photo looks through the eyes of others, it expands my understanding and helps me to grow as a photographer.
- You might be interested to know that of all the versions of my pic here, including my own, the one I like most is Tommy's! It naturalises the colours and tones so well, makes the photo more of a unity. Note, though, that the real scene was brighter than Tommy's - it was a summer day even though cloudy, the greens were brighter and fresher. So 'natural' isn't necessarily the same as 'truer to life', a point worth bearing in mind I think.

To my own mind, the cropped version is also more harmonious and easier on the eye than the uncropped version. However, I also bear in mind that at the time I took the photo, I was responding to melancholy feelings aroused by the scene, and not thinking that this is a satisfyingly peaceful image! And obviously I could see the road heading off to nowhere, that was part of the scene, it wasn't 'cropped'!

- On the other hand, the title itself gives away my inner conflict about the pic: 'lonely' what? lonely building? lonely road? Lonely photographer? (Of course what photographer could be lonely with camera in hand! Not to mention the wife and dog who were behind the lens with me!! ) So to me, the uncropped version is restless and unharmonious but truer to the scene, the cropped version makes a more satisfying but less interesting photo!!! How's that for an outcome?

Best to all, David

Well said, David. Though I've never said it on this Forum, I feel the same way.

A lot of times one gets critiques that are all over the place. An obvious example of the subjectivity involved.

I once posted a shot whereas one of the main critiques was a single green leaf in the foreground and whether or not it should be there. It was there when I took the shot, I was aware of it, and I liked it with the finished product. Some didn’t so much. It seemed like such a small issue to me that I never really gave it much thought quite honestly. It was a leaf after all and it was in its natural environment after it had dropped. But excellent arguments were made on each side and it caused me to see this one lonely green leaf in an entirely different light as regarded the overall photo. A lesson I hope to retain.

I don’t get the chance to shoot a lot of photos, or certainly as much as I would like, but I sure get to see through a lot of eyes by looking at everybody else’s and reading the comments.

I ended up leaving the leaf in and the photo is now a 16"x24" framed and matted wall hanging and probably one of my best shots ever. Every time I look at it, I see that lonely green leaf first.

And by the way? I really like this shot of yours.

[Davidd]

Thanks Terry - I'm definitely going to print this one! If only to remind me of this thread and all the help I got.

I'm going to emulate Tommy and darken the road on the left. Very cleverly, this stops the eye from going out of the frame so easily. Ian has done this too with the black and white version. I'll desaturate a bit, especially the grass, though I won't reduce the brightness quite as much as Tommy has. I want it to look melancholy but not depressing! So well done Tommy - that's twice in two days you've impressed me, loved that monochrome shot on the beach!

[JohnC]

I just like the solitude of it, David and when I see photos like this I wonder who lived there, what did they do and how was life like in such a remote area. That was simple wasn't it. .

[RockNGoalStar]

Thanks Terry - I'm definitely going to print this one! If only to remind me of this thread and all the help I got.

I'm going to emulate Tommy and darken the road on the left. Very cleverly, this stops the eye from going out of the frame so easily. Ian has done this too with the black and white version. I'll desaturate a bit, especially the grass, though I won't reduce the brightness quite as much as Tommy has. I want it to look melancholy but not depressing! So well done Tommy - that's twice in two days you've impressed me, loved that monochrome shot on the beach!