Winter Road: Good? Bad?

[tbob]

This is one of those toss up images for me. The intent was to isolate the old barn and granaries in the wide,cold prairie. I alternately like or am ambivalent about it. I feel I need the barn obvious but small. Maybe the problem is that the prairie here climbs slowly up from a river valley so I cannot get more distance without me dropping below the crest of a steeper incline leading to the river. As well, the rest of the prairie flattens out just beyond the buildings so the road crests and vanishes just past the granaries. A wider angle lens only makes the road even more dominant.

I posted both versions. For opinions and critique

[Geoff F]

Just a thought, Trevor, but for me this image is starting too wide.

If I hold a piece of card against the screen, in full screen view, and place the card for a reduction of around one third on the left side that road looks a lot longer; and far more interesting.

My eyes then go along the road towards the barns, which appear larger and full of intrigue now.

Also, for me, the colour looks better because the B&W version tends to lack sufficient contrast on the left side.

[bnnrcn]

I certainly agree with Geoff about the crop on the left side.

[tbob]

I see your point Geoff, however my intent was to make the barn small. Your comment about being too wide did give me a fresh view on it. I reworked it to give more sky, that way the road is less dominant. Perhaps it works better that way. Funny how after working on something for a while you lose track of where you want to be. Frequently a problem for me and one of the major reasons for my posting here. Get lost in some side track and cannot find my way again until someone mentions a fresh way of looking at it.

Thanks

[Geoff F]

Yes, more sky gives a similar effect of apparently reducing the width.

[bnnrcn]

It looks much better with more sky Trevor

[TonyW]

I can't be sure without trying it, but I wondered whether a perspective transform to narrow the road at the bottom would make it less dominant. Then crop judiciously to get the relative size of the building as you want it.

I like it, especially the coloured version.

[FootLoose]

I much prefer the revised version with the large expanse of empty sky, Trevor. I think all that negative space adds to the story.

BTW there seems to be a big blue circle in the middle of the sky.

[Shadowman]

Both are good. I'd hate to have to walk that long stretch and find out nobody's home.

[John 2]

Colour version for me Trevor as well and I prefer the second crop - more of a wide open spaces feel. My only suggestion is to rebalance the colour to take out the blue in the shadows.

[Downrigger]

Funny how after working on something for a while you lose track of where you want to be. Frequently a problem for me and one of the major reasons for my posting here. Get lost in some side track and cannot find my way again until someone mentions a fresh way of looking at it.

Absolutely! Maybe going away for awhile helps, but one sorts of spirals into the project and has trouble letting go. The revision is good. I wouldn't abandon the blue entirely, blue works in these types of scenes, but I think it could be toned down (saturation decreased) to the benefit of the image.

[ShaneS]

Thanks for sharing this image Trevor. It is very nice and I learn a lot when I get to see the impact of different framing.

I agree that the last is the best of the bunch and that the blue might be a bit over saturated.

[Stagecoach]

The latest version does it for me as well Trevor. There's times when a blank sky works well and this is one of them.

Grahame

[tbob]

I can't be sure without trying it, but I wondered whether a perspective transform to narrow the road at the bottom would make it less dominant. .

I agree with your point, unfortunately Aperture, the processing program I use, doesn't allow me this luxury.

[tbob]

BTW there seems to be a big blue circle in the middle of the sky.

I hadn't seen that until you remarked on it. Reworked it to make it go away but I gave no clue what caused it. Very weird!
Thanks

[tbob]

Colour version for me Trevor as well and I prefer the second crop - more of a wide open spaces feel. My only suggestion is to rebalance the colour to take out the blue in the shadows.

I am trying but do far all I accomplish is weirdness, noise and posterization in the sky. May be a repeat visit later will twig a cure.

[tbob]

Both are good. I'd hate to have to walk that long stretch and find out nobody's home.

Which is why I am staying home today. Minus 39C with a windchill of minus 49. Definitely too dangerous to be out in.

[Wavelength]

That is really a killing blue....an enchanting beauty... i can't think of a B&W conversion for this

[John 2]

I am trying but do far all I accomplish is weirdness, noise and posterization in the sky. May be a repeat visit later will twig a cure.

All it needs Trevor, is a selection from the horizon down and then desaturate to taste. The thing about snow is that it is basically B/W anyway.