First landscape attempt - C&C much needed

[Max von MeiselMaus]

In my current drive to kick myself out of my still life comfort zone, I am taking my camera outside with me. I have done some architectural stuff, in cemeteries. This time I had a go at landscape.

I went out without a plan, as it was an opportunistic shoot on an afternoon stroll with my family. So, in terms of shots, all I was after was finding some views with the possibility for decent composition. The day was misty but bright. Combined with the leafless trees, this didn't convey a coherent feel. I therefore went with the mood of the mist and the bare branches and removed all that bright sky and grass.

So, any thoughts on these? I know some are more successful than others, and a few are pretty boring. I am also experimenting with B&W conversions, so will continue to have a play around with these to see if I can give them any more punch by processing a different way. This was all done late last night, just to see what I had.

[Rebel]

I do like the compositions in #2, #4 and #5.

I would like to see them in colour as not too sure if they work in B&W.

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Thanks, Matt.

They don't work in colour either. If anything, the range of tones gives them greater interest in monochrome. However, here is 4 in colour, with the same sort of treatment (curves and a bit of selective dodging).



Meh. But I would be interested to hear if you think that is an improvement.

[Texas Dave]

The first thing that popped into my head when I saw the first images was Monty Python's..The Larch...the larch...(sorry, I have problems.)

I think it's a tricky feat to obtain good black and white conversions when there's not much contrast to begin with. The last image is a bit interesting and the texture of the bare branches in #3 is making me want to see something that isn't there but overall I'm just not finding much anything interesting in any of them. ...and I only say that because I know what you're capable of.

[Max von MeiselMaus]

I should have numbered them. Number One, The Larch.

Dave, thanks. Yeah, I can't get inspired by them either. I am not much of a landscapes person at the best of times, but there is no harm in trying. I am going to have another go at that last one, as I quite like the shapes and that wriggly path. But, yes. Not going to spend too long on these. It is all good experience, though.

[Krawuntzel]

For me the two trees might work - eventually even better in colour. But then I can not "see" why in a world of colour we should present our pictures in black and white. We owe so much to Ansel Adams (and please add whomever you admire) - composition, working the location, framing, etc.. but his pictures "miss" the colours. Maybe I am dumb ignorant, but I can only see that "Moonrise, Hernandez..." is a great art work of HIS time, where there was no colour for photos (as pictures of egyptian tombs are wonderful - even being flat, missing our sense of perspective).
And as an even greater ignorant I do not understand why portraits of people are acclaimed, if in black and white.
Excuse me, but I had to say that.
Your colour-picture has for me the advantage of green-grey-green-gray alternations that are to my eyes lost in the black-white version. Maybe you could isolate the tree (in colour) from the background in black/white
Just thinking (and writing) about it.
Erwin

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Thanks, Erwin.

The reason for doing conversions was because the bare branches and sea mist were saying one thing, whereas the bright blues and greens of a spring day were saying the opposite, and the two clashed. The easiest way to resolve that conflict was to remove the spring colours and go with the slightly sinister bare branches and mist thing.

I certainly wasn't trying to emulate Mr Adams. Apart from not having the skill, his monumental approach really wouldn't have sat well with our compact countryside. Instead, I wanted something on a smaller scale. This was the reason for opting for a 4X5 aspect ratio. It is snug, not panoramic. I am happy with that choice, so that is something learned from this.

Thanks all for the input.

[Shadowman]

Nice compositions and conversions.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Max I like the compositions in #1,#2 and #4 . #2 looks a bit flat to me , it might be improved with a bit more PP.

[Manfred M]

Max - in landscape work (where in monochrome or colour), the light has to work, otherwise you are really starting off at a significant disadvantage. I can't see any of the metadata on your images, so I can't tell the time of day you Landscape photographers tend to prefer either morning or evening "magic hour" just before sunset or the "blue hour" just before sunrise or after sunset due to the quality of light.

I do a lot of travel photography, which means I can't necessarily wait around to good weather, so I tend to concentrate on what I can shoot, rather things that I can't, or to shoot in a way that I can work around the weather. Conditions that you shot these images under are great for detail shots, as you haven't got harsh light causing shadows that hide the details.

Your trees work, as they break up the dull sky, but the broad vistas work less well. Compose so that the fog dropping off is a compositional element as opposed to something that detracts from your shot.

[Mike Buckley]

The two photos of the tree are by far the most appealing to me, so I'll limit my comments to them. In the first one, I crave to see the entire tree with ample space around it allowing it to "breathe." I especially like the imagination of the second one and only wish you had moved closer to create space between the entirety of the lowest branch and the horizon.

[Kris V]

I like 1 and 3. There's something very photogenic about bare tree branches.

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Thanks, Binnur. Yes, agreeing with you on Number Two. Needs a bit more kick. Perhaps I will have a fiddle in Curves and see if increasing contrast makes anything of it.

Manfred, yes. This was entirely opportunistic. We went for a stroll, I took pictures. None of this waiting around for Golden Hour (or Happy Hour, as my girls call it) with two teenagers in tow. It wasn't by any means ideal. If I had planned it, I would have waited for an overcast day, so that the bright sunshine didn't blast everything out. But then I wouldn't have had the mist. As I am doing these sorts of shoots as exercises, with the hope that I might turn up a decent picture every now and then, that is fine. But I do take your point about shooting for the conditions you have. I spent no time reflecting on what sort of shot might work well with bright sunshine and mist, so probably did miss some opportunities there.

Mike, absolutely agree about that lower branch and the horizon. That would definitely have framed that bit of background better. Now you have pointed it out, I can't not see it! But that is all good. Shows I should concentrate, whatever the circumstances.

Thanks, Kris. I was at a bit of a loss as to what else to photograph. This will take some practice.