Abandoned Rust

[Whistletown Wilds]

While, I will take about any image that strikes my fancy, I tend towards Avian because there beauty and challenge. I also like exploring old farms with antique hardware, tools and machines. These photos are examples and I'd appreciate any evaluation in an effort to help me become a better photographer.



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[Shadowman]

Nice captures, as is they help display machinery nestled with nature, artistically which ever (machinery or nature) is your main subject could use some additional boosting to help it stand out. In the first image the tones of the leaves and vise are so close that neither is emphasized, however the highlights of the leaves first draws my attention. Same with the second image, however there is an element of danger with the machine having such sharp blades hidden in the calming greenery. I think the fourth is the best of the bunch in terms of texture and tone.

[IzzieK]

My vote goes to the 4th one too. In the first shot, it is just looking at the overview of what you are about to take a picture of, which is sometimes necessary without the intro write-up...if you want to go more closer perhaps in PP, zoom in the third lower part of the object and explain that away or do a reshoot with less vegetation. In a zoom lens, use your widest aperture until the background blurs and nothing much is noticeable with it but just the object of your shot.

The second shot is the same critique as #1...there are a lot of opportunities there to get up close and personal on the parts that rust if you want to show that...or even the parts itself. This shot is just a wide view of what you wanted to shoot.

#3 -- you are getting there but not quite...a bit more closer or zoom-er will be nice.

#4 -- You got it here...even if the top of the shot is truncated...cropped, cut off...I am trying to find a word that suit, sorry...but the main thing here is that the bottom item can be a shot by itself...the two together tells a connecting story just by looking at it even though one of the main connection (the one with the lock) was cropped...

How did I do critiquing you? Are you offended? Please don't ...I mean well...

[marlunn]

keep going, these show a definite development of the theme as you go down them, personally I would go back on the #3rd I think the twisted metal and twisted 'ivy stem' have a lot of potential for contrasting life with inert and the textures will work together well

[Texas Dave]

It's hard for me not to look at old relics like these. #2 is an old manure spreader. I think it's an old mccormick deering judging back the back wheels. It was probably horse drawn and I suppose the front wheels and axle were put to use somewhere else. You might be able to find a brass or aluminum tag on it somewhere that would probably have some nice patina.

Here is what I think you have there or a version there of.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121450

Anyway, sorry, I love old iron things in the weeds. Thanks for sharing! ...and yes, I realize I offered no help towards your photography other than I enjoyed it!

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Sherwood,

My vote goes to #1, partly I suspect, because I have a vice rather like that shown in the first image

I wonder if the bench it used to be secured to is rotted away and lying below it now?

Anyways; mine is rusty, but oiled and lives in the garage, albeit unused (and deeply buried).

If I may critique;
To my mind, the problem with most of these is a lack of subject separation from the environment, especially where 'the environment' gets between the camera and the subject.

If the aim was to show the subjects in their (current) environment, perhaps you cropped (or shot) too tightly on all of them, but if aim was to capture the subjects, then I feel, although you and/or others may not, that we need to see a bit more of them and have better separation from foreground and background by some means; e.g. wide aperture/narrow DoF or selective PP contrast enhancements.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the problems of shooting in such situations and that's why I don't shoot this type of subject, or even landscapes (usually), because there's so much that's beyond the photographer's control - and perhaps I like to have 'control'

[Ken MT]

What is the machinery in #2 for. Is it for feeding out hay or silage?

[Whistletown Wilds]

Thanks for feedback!

[Whistletown Wilds]

This is the kind of feedback I need thanks.

[Whistletown Wilds]

What is the machinery in #2 for. Is it for feeding out hay or silage?

I think it,s a old manure spreader. Thanks