Learning Landscapes - A Breath of Winter

[Brownbear]

It recently snowed in Vancouver and I've learned that I love photographing images in the snow. Indeed it seems like I'm likely the only person here who loves the snow.

Aperture Priority F13 SS 1/25 ISO 800 Exp Comp -.3 Focal length = 52 mm

I like both of these for the colour and mood and soft feel. I'm hoping the subject matter is clear as I did plan it out with the light and leading lines. They are a little soft but I like the feel. Aperture chosen in to create a sense of depth in the trees and soften the ice.


1.



2.




All C&C truly appreciated, especially as to whether the subject is clear.

Thank you.

[Geoff F]

A good sharp foreground gradually merging into a hazy distance. Just the way it should be.

For some reason, the second image seems to have better depth and perspective. But I'm not really sure why. Possibly slightly less water?

[deetheturk]

Nice captures Christina,well done!

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Geoff, David and John.

Geoff, I don't know why.. The water is the same, ie; not cropped but in the 2nd image I included less of the trees in the far corner, just a slight variation in the composition.

[wlou]

Christina, very nice picture. I have never seen Vancouver covered with snow before. Fog, yes, snow, never seen it before. I find #2 more pleasing as well. Any more?

[AndrewMcD]

Very nicely thought out and executed.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice Christina

[NorthernFocus]

I like it, Christina. I think the first shot a bit more than the second. First shot has a little more of the shadowy trees in there which are nice. I have no specific recommendation on how to achieve it but you might try mucking around a bit to see if you could pull the distant trees out JUST a bit more. Keeping in mind the source of the advice...

[Geoff F]

I suppose a tiny bit of LCE or something similar might be worth trying. But it will be so easy to overdo any additional effects.

[Mike Buckley]

Both are examples of wonderful landscape photography. These would make dropdead beautiful monochromes. (Sorry, as I know you admire the color and justifiably so.)

They are a little soft but I like the feel.

Everything about the softness creates a wonderful mood.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

I like both images as far as subject and composition goes but I feel there's something missing regards to image quality.

To me they are lacking in clarity and sharpness although I do understand it looks a bit foggy and you wanted a 'soft' look. They are pretty low res at 70/80Kb and it could also be to do with your downloading procedure but it would be interesting to hear others views on this. I'm assuming you have used a tripod with this speed and noted the 800ISO.

Grahame

[Mike Buckley]

The water is the same

Not true. Measure the distance at the far right frame between the bank and the bottom of the frame. There is about 16% less space in the second image and it makes a big difference.

If these were my images, I would use the composition of the first one with the exception that I would use the same amount of water as in the second one.

[FootLoose]

Beautiful compositions, Christina. I prefer the first, though I would like to see the trees in the background (lhs) a little less distinct - a bit like they are in the 2nd.

[Downrigger]

Gorgeous - the softness, hues, and great sense of depth work awfully well for me. They fascinate and engage.

The receding line of willows strikes me as a very strong compositional element, and to me importantly, is met and balanced nicely by the spruces, which trail back to mid-frame in the first image. The result is two overlain narrow triangles, the foremost leading to the right, and deeper, and the hind most leading back in the other direction, and deeper still.

I miss this balance of structures in the second image, where the crop is moved to the right, and the willow line seems to aim one out of the left side of the image, without sufficient spruce to halt and return the eye.

[Brownbear]

Thank you to everyone for your comments, and as always for sharing helpful advice.

Dan, Geoff and Greg. I will look at the trees in the corner and see if I'm capable of doing anything to bring them out or fade them more and if I am capable enough in post processing to do it well. I like the way the soft trees fade away in the fog but I will try both.

Louise... Yes, snow is not very common in Vancouver (any significant amount) I did take quite a few images, mostly of ducks etc, but I have a few more landscapes with snow and I hope to share a few more of them, after a few days break and able to review them objectively. This image was taken at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.

Mike... Thank you. If there was a super sized smiley face I would insert it here. I do prefer colour but I do like some black and whites, like Donald's ethereal snowy scenes. I will give it a try on the weekend. I can't believe that you actually measured the water but thank you for sharing. I will also check out the composition with less water. I tried a few crops with less water but couldn't decide which I preferred.

[ShaneS]

Nicely done Christina! I prefer the second composition ever so slightly because of the branches that lead in from the right side but like others I feel like there is better resting place for the eye on the left side of the first image.


Is this Lost Lagoon or somewhere else in Stanley Park by any chance? I used to live right down the street from there and once again you are making me homesick

[Brownbear]

Hi Grahame,

Thank you for your feedback. Always helpful and appreciated.

I didn't use a tripod for these scenes but it is a very light lens that I felt comfortable hand-holding even at a slow shutter speed (albeit my fingers were frozen). They seem sharp enough at full size, but yes soft with a sense of motion in the trees to match the fog. I was photographing birds so I didn't bring along my tripod, even though I know I should always do so and I will be more diligent about this in the future. I tried a few test shots at a higher shutter speed but things look too frozen, albeit it was cold.

I'm not sure what happened to the resolution. The file sizes I have for 1200 pixels are 669 & 700 kb. I recall this happening before but that was when I copied an image in Picasa (Which I'm not using anymore) So perhaps when I uploaded the image to Photobucket it changed something. Honestly, I'm not sure but this weekend when I try an edit I will double check the size before uploading here.

Thank you, as always.

Hi Christina,

I like both images as far as subject and composition goes but I feel there's something missing regards to image quality.

To me they are lacking in clarity and sharpness although I do understand it looks a bit foggy and you wanted a 'soft' look. They are pretty low res at 70/80Kb and it could also be to do with your downloading procedure but it would be interesting to hear others views on this. I'm assuming you have used a tripod with this speed and noted the 800ISO.

Grahame

[Brownbear]

Thank you.

I truly don't think I posted a cropped version but I will double check. Either way your explanation of why it doesn't work as well is helpful and appreciated.

Gorgeous - the softness, hues, and great sense of depth work awfully well for me. They fascinate and engage.

The receding line of willows strikes me as a very strong compositional element, and to me importantly, is met and balanced nicely by the spruces, which trail back to mid-frame in the first image. The result is two overlain narrow triangles, the foremost leading to the right, and deeper, and the hind most leading back in the other direction, and deeper still.

I miss this balance of structures in the second image, where the crop is moved to the right, and the willow line seems to aim one out of the left side of the image, without sufficient spruce to halt and return the eye.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Shane.

Yes, this image was taken at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.

Nicely done Christina! I prefer the second composition ever so slightly because of the branches that lead in from the right side but like others I feel like there is better resting place for the eye on the left side of the first image.


Is this Lost Lagoon or somewhere else in Stanley Park by any chance? I used to live right down the street from there and once again you are making me homesick