Autumn In Mono

[John 2]

We finally had a decent day but the wind had beaten me to it and most of the autumn colour had gone - hence the mono. Taken in the Trough of Bowland in the Lancashire Fells. 2 and 3 are the same shot with a different crop. The portrait version is what I had in mind when I took the shot but I'm in two minds over which I prefer. The last shot is perhaps a bit simplistic but it appealed to me at the time.

All Fuji XT1

1.
Fuji X 23mm


2.
Fuji x 23mm


3.
Fuji x 23mm


4.
Fuji x 55-200mm @150mm

[Donald]

The last shot is perhaps a bit simplistic but it appealed to me at the time.

That's what makes it so good. Always tell yourself as you're composing the shot - "Keep it simple."

[Geoff F]

Autumn scenes are always difficult to get looking good in mono. But these have all worked well for me.

[Rebel]

I like all these images, I agree with Geoff its difficult to get a decent autumn shot in mono.

You have done well with these

[mknittle]

I agree with Donald about simplicity. That said I do like #3 though.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[bnnrcn]

Hi John, you managed autumn scenes in mono very well indeed. I like them all but #1 and #2 are special for me

[FootLoose]

All good, John, but I think the 2nd portrait works better than the landscape crop of the 3rd.

There is nothing wrong with the 4th shot. As Donald said, simplicity rules.

[Mike Buckley]

The last one is superb on so many levels.

The others appear overly sharpened to me. Consider using the top half of #2 in a square format.

[dje]

Nice shots John. The second and third are my favourites. With these, I'm almost certain I would have taken this as a portrait if I were there, but I am also in two minds about the crops. I'll be decisive and say that I think I prefer number 3. Having the man on the road adds a lot to this image I think.

Mono works well on these images.

Dave

[IzzieK]

I prefer #2 from 3 -- the human element adds to the perspective of the shot and the framing of the longer shot of the road, than the shorter version. I think it needs a little bit of straightening though...must be my monitor, I better straighten it instead...

[John 2]

Thanks everyone for your comments. As is so often the case, 1,2 and 3 were planned but I spotted 4 from the car on the way home.
"Simplistic" was probably the wrong description for no.4. I agree with Donald's comment whole heartedly. I think it was the subject being a bit ordinary rather than the composition that was bothering me. I very often have doubts about the subjects that I find but I'm glad you liked it.

Thanks Mike. No.3 has been sharpened using Nik Output sharpening because of the level of crop. The rest have only had what the Ps has added in the conversion from RAW. Perhaps I ought to zero this. I know some people do. No. 4 was a problem though because having pulled down the blue channel to lower the brightness in the sky during the conversion to mono, I was left with a noticeable halo around the fence which I have mostly (but not completely) eliminated. This may have given the same impression.

Izzie you're right. I have lined no.3 up with the trees rather than the level of the road. Must do better.