Hunters and Ice

[AndrewMcD]

A few images that I shot this morning near Woodland Beach, Delaware. Goose hunters are a different breed; the temperature was 11 degrees F. with a fairly stiff north wind. I tried to keep a little of the Norman Rockwell feeling that the scene held.

Any comments regarding improvements in the post processing would be appreciated. I've raised shadows and exposure a bit on the men and boats. I have trouble deciding if it looks overdone.

1.


2.


3.

[flashback]

Andrew, as far as exposure etc goes I think you've done fine. As far as images goes, for me #2 is the best. Can't really put my finger on it but there is just something about #2 that really works for me. There is a sense of isolation and frigid that seems to clearly telegraph.

[FootLoose]

This kind of environment is completely alien to me, so they all impress me. But I like #2 for the arrangement of the boats. They each point to the middle of the frame where there isn't much to see, which possibly contributes to the sense of isolation and cold that Jack mentions.

[Nicks Pics]

Some people have ideas of fun that are, well, different. Personally,I don't think they look over-processed at all. I like the water and ice in #1 and the grass on the horizon in #2. In #2 I wonder if I am seeing a some distortion from a wide angle lens. That can be artistically used, but if you want a real natural appearance I might try to correct it a little.

[wilgk]

The composition of the boats in #2 and the areas of light and shadow I find very appealing.
A very nice image.

[Manfred M]

And I thought photographers heading out to get shots in the winter were crazy. Those guys are even crazier than us! Anyways, great shots! You must have come back half frozen.

Do the images look overprocessed, yes? Is that the effect you were trying to get; yes! At least I assume that's what you meant by the "Norman Rockwell feeling".

I especially like the first one; the crop on the second one is a bit tight on the right for my taste and on the third one, I'm not 100% sure I love the crop; but it works well, so why not.

[IzzieK]

These men are like the breeds of Brian -- our duck person who is somewhere in his hole shivering...hopefully he has defrost himself from time to time and visits us here with the scenic shots outside his covers.

Anyway, I like #1 for the textures of the ice on the water. #2 for that sense of isolation that Jack mentioned and looking at this shot is enough to bring shivers on my arms...or it is really cold in my den at the moment. I do not know now which is which... The contrast and the lighting you have achieved well here...

[GBO25]

Like Greg this is a completely alien environment to me as well.
I also prefer #2 because it most expresses the coldness of the day with the broken ice so prominent in the water and the boats are nicely positioned -wasn't that good of them to do that for you? It may be a little too tightly cropped but it's the pick of the bunch for my tastes.

[Shadowman]

Interesting shots.

[mknittle]

Very nice Andrew, I like them all #2 best #1 then #3 good work.

[Brownbear]

Great images, processed beautifully. My favourites are the 2nd (gorgeous (for the story, light and scene)) and the 3rd for the close in story and gorgeous light.

[Wavelength]

Very nice images

[AndrewMcD]

Thanks to all for viewing and commenting.

[Mike Buckley]

The series is both informative and enjoyable. The second image acts as a nice summary, so the presentation might have been better if it had been displayed first or last rather than in the middle. The lightened shadows are not beyond what they might have looked like if there had been large areas of snow reflecting light back into the shadows; perhaps that's why I don't find your post-processing objectionable. I'd like to see just a bit more space to the right in the second photo. Consider increasing the texture in the ice in the first photo.

Now that your images have made me cold, I'm going to put on a sweater.

[chauncey]

Andrew, I like the pictures but...I would like you to take a moment and consider the meaning of insanity.
It's 11 degrees...a crazy photographer is taking pictures of crazy goose hunters...which is worse?