A quiet Saturday afternoon in Glenfarg

[Donald]

C & C very welcome



Edit Sorry, should have added. A blend of two.
40D 17-85 IS USM @ 44mm ISO100
1) 25s@f22 (land)
2) 1s@f22 (sky)

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Donald,

My immediate reaction on opening this: "oooh, that's nice" (yes, I actually said it to myself)

Upon viewing big; (click the bar and f11 to full screen browser), my view hasn't changed much.

I'd be tempted to try a version without the cars in shot (a bit of cloning would fix fairly easily), but I think it would then need some humanity in shot. So perhaps just 'take out' the 4WD?

Compositionally it ticks all the boxes, I like (no, love);
- light on the distant tiled roof
- light on the buildings on left
- chimney smoke blowing across
- clouds in sky
- tree on right
- lamp posts receding on right
- forest on hill in background

Upon analysing for these comments, I notice the two trees poking up above roof on left are, because closer, much darker than the far hills, I'd be tempted to clone these out to avoid a 'conflict of depth' in that bit of the picture.

Never-the-less, a brilliant capture, well done.

Cheers,

[Donald]

Thanks Dave. You're very kind.

I'd be tempted to try a version without the cars in shot (a bit of cloning would fix fairly easily), but I think it would then need some humanity in shot. So perhaps just 'take out' the 4WD?

I thought that too, but she-who-must-be-obeyed, who had a look at it before I posted, said 'Don't be stupid', thinking it would make poor little Glenfarg look totally deserted.

Upon analysing for these comments, I notice the two trees poking up above roof on left are, because closer, much darker than the far hills, I'd be tempted to clone these out to avoid a 'conflict of depth' in that bit of the picture

You're absolutely right. Why didn't I see that when I was wrestling with the brush trying to get the blending right!?

[Dave Humphries]

You've earned it!

I should ask SWMBO to park elsewhere next time

Or better still, to add that touch of humanity I was talking about earlier, get her between the 2nd and 3rd posts on the right with a dog on a lead, walking away - I'm sure she's lovely, but it's what the image needs (I think).

Cheers,

[Donald]

... I notice the two trees poking up above roof on left are, because closer, much darker than the far hills, I'd be tempted to clone these out to avoid a 'conflict of depth' in that bit of the picture

As commanded !

[Dave Humphries]

oh please, it was only a suggestion.

What do you think of the later one?

[Donald]

What do you think of the later one?

Much better.
Unfortunately, we're not looking after a dog at the moment, so couldn't persuade her to get out in the rain to provide human interest!!

Oops - just realised that I forgot to do the 3rd tranche (output) sharpening. Silly &^%$@£ on the second version. (Now corrected above)

[Dave Humphries]

~ we're not looking after a dog at the moment, so couldn't persuade her to get out in the rain to provide human interest!!

Someone has to suffer for your art, who says it has to be you

How about a dog walking business?
Or rent-a-pooch?

[Colin Southern]

All looks good to me Donald Good work!

[Keith]

I really like this, shame that the vehicles are in shot in my view.
The photo almost looks looks like it was taken under moonlight.

Is it?

Keith

[Donald]

Colin

Thank you

Keith

I need to do a version with the 4x4 cloned out. Nothing would delight me more than to wipe these things, that have never seen a muddy field (so why do they need 4x4), out of sight.

Taken at 4:53pm today, 5th Dec. Given that we're this far north, it is dark just after 5:00pm at the moment (gets earlier each day through to mid-January). So, the light was going fast.

[Colin Southern]

Nothing would delight me more than to wipe these things, that have never seen a muddy field (so why do they need 4x4), out of sight.

For bull-dozing boy racers off the road

[Steve S]

Very nice donald. The smoke adds alot to this photo. Great work.

[Wirefox]

Donald

What a wonderfully moody image. The b/w conversion is spot on. Not a lot more to say really except that I really hope you develop this style. I look forward to seeing more of these.

Oh and make sure you enter this in the main challenge. It will get my vote

Steve

[arith]

It's all clever stuff; looks like a wet Sunday evening. Brilliant.

[Donald]

Steve, Steve & Arith

Thanks for your comments. I'll keep trying to claim a bit of the credit, but two things have made a significant difference - the acquisition of the WhiBal card and Spyder 3. I would completely dispel any doubts that anyone might have about their importance as tools in the armoury. I was sceptical, despite all that I read, about how useful they would be. I hope I am developing a skill set, but there's no doubt that these two bits of kit have made a difference, particulary, I find, for the B&Ws.

[Bunter]

Hi Donald

Without the vehicle, this (to me) is reminiscent of a scene from Hitchcock,
the opening moments, perhaps? As a result, I also think it would be ruined
by the 'intrusion' of a human element as others have suggested.

Great pic, BTW.

cheers
B.