Uprooted - B&W

[Stagecoach]

I used this scene to trial a new lens and the LEE big stopper during daylight.

Whilst technically I'm pleased with the results something about it is not working for me. There are two similar sized trees washed up at present and I'm racking my brains to come up with composition ideas.

My ideas to date for daytime shooting are;

1) Not to bother about including the entire tree, the root end has most interest.
2) Longer exposure.
3) Shooting as the incoming tide washes by the root end (dodgy due to them being on a raised area).

Any further ideas would be welcomed?

16mm, 31s, f/11, ISO100


Uploaded using different method


and another method https://fijitime.smugmug.com/Latest-...s/i-hB92RrF/X3

Grahame

[Mike Buckley]

I've given up twice after taking such a long time for your image to load; I've still never seen it. I wonder if you could display it using a different method.

[Stagecoach]

I've given up twice after taking such a long time for your image to load; I've still never seen it. I wonder if you could display it using a different method.

I will look into that Mike.

For info, Tiny Pic (the method I usually use) was not working so I uploaded this image to a private page on my Smugmug site as done previously on rare occasions with no problems.

Strange that when I open this thread the image appears instantly for me

But, I have also recently had notification from google search that server response is slow affecting accessing images on my site 'at times', even more confusing.

[JBW]

popped up right away for me

[JBW]

I used this scene to trial a new lens and the LEE big stopper during daylight.

Whilst technically I'm pleased with the results something about it is not working for me. There are two similar sized trees washed up at present and I'm racking my brains to come up with composition ideas.

My ideas to date for daytime shooting are;

1) Not to bother about including the entire tree, the root end has most interest.
2) Longer exposure.
3) Shooting as the incoming tide washes by the root end (dodgy due to them being on a raised area).

Any further ideas would be welcomed?

16mm, 31s, f/11, ISO100


Uploaded using different method


and another method https://fijitime.smugmug.com/Latest-...s/i-hB92RrF/X3

Grahame

A simple horizontal flip makes quite a difference.Tinypix once again not working. But i did try a horizontal flip and it did make a difference

[Stagecoach]

A simple horizontal flip makes quite a difference.Tinypix once again not working. But i did try a horizontal flip and it did make a difference

Flipping an image is something I never consider Brian, but I have just learnt how to do it

[Mike Buckley]

Beautiful tonalities and composition regardless of whether the flipped version is used. I do wish, though, the clouds were also in focus.

[Stagecoach]

Beautiful tonalities and composition regardless of whether the flipped version is used. I do wish, though, the clouds were also in focus.

Thank you Mike, as you know I rarely undertake B&W work but due to the uninteresting colours at the time saw it as an opportunity to experiment.

I have exactly the same scene shot at a normal shutter speed from when I took the initial exposure reading to enable determining the long exposure time from my spreadsheet for the big stopper.

P.S - I need to take note and record what I did when PPing this one, just hope I retained the PSD.

[John 2]

Popped up straight away for me as well Grahame. I prefer the flipped version but I suspect that the perspective provided by the 16mm lens isn't doing you any favours. It has sort of reduced the apparent size of the root end of the trunk and I lose any idea of scale. I would try something longer and make a comparison - or you could pick the tree up and turn it around.

[Stagecoach]

Popped up straight away for me as well Grahame. I prefer the flipped version but I suspect that the perspective provided by the 16mm lens isn't doing you any favours. It has sort of reduced the apparent size of the root end of the trunk and I lose any idea of scale. I would try something longer and make a comparison - or you could pick the tree up and turn it around.

Very good point about the root and scale John, it would be possible to shoot this with a longer lens so I will certainly try that.

The root is actually quite spectacular, about 2 mt diameter and pretty flat at the bottom, I'll ask the council to bring their digger down and rotate them both for me

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[Stagecoach]

Nicely captured.

Thank you John

[MrB]

It is interesting that for me the flipped version looks so much more appealing, and perhaps this is because we read from left to right. In the flipped version, L to R takes the viewer into the image along the log and up into the clouds, whereas following the log L to R in the original leads the eyes out of the image.

Cheers.
Philip

[Stagecoach]

It is interesting that for me the flipped version looks so much more appealing, and perhaps this is because we read from left to right. In the flipped version, L to R takes the viewer into the image along the log and up into the clouds, whereas following the log L to R in the original leads the eyes out of the image.

Cheers.
Philip

I also find it interesting Philip and now Brian has made me aware will try and remember to consider with future compositions.

[Saorsa]

Beautiful tonalities and composition regardless of whether the flipped version is used. I do wish, though, the clouds were also in focus.

That's a tough request. The big stopper is an ND filter. Folks use it in water scenes to make the flow look silky. It doesn't work as well when the water is moving in tiny droplets.

[Mike Buckley]

It is interesting that for me the flipped version looks so much more appealing, and perhaps this is because we read from left to right

Just remember that not all cultures read from left to right.

[Mike Buckley]

Brian: My comment about wishing the clouds were also in focus is just a preference that in this case their shape and speed of movement might not be the ideal clouds to capture while using such a powerful neutral density filter. Actually, my use of the term, in focus, isn't accurate because it's probably the motion blur, not a lack of focus, that is unappealing to me.

[DanK]

I like this. I think I agree with John that at least a slightly less wide perspective would work better. Both for balance and because the top parts of the sky have motion blur, I would consider cropping a wee bit off the top. I tried it, and I think it helps.

[MrB]

Just remember that not all cultures read from left to right.

You are, of course, quite correct - although it should be apparent to whom I was referring. It would also be interesting to hear whether someone from a R to L reading culture prefers the original, and for similar reasons.

Cheers.
Philip

[Saorsa]

Brian: My comment about wishing the clouds were also in focus is just a preference that in this case their shape and speed of movement might not be the ideal clouds to capture while using such a powerful neutral density filter. Actually, my use of the term, in focus, isn't accurate because it's probably the motion blur, not a lack of focus, that is unappealing to me.

I understand, it was just a comment in regard to ND filters. We almost always have a light breeze here in SW Florida and NDs are less than satisfactory because everything is moving, clouds, trees, etc and they will all blur making it tough to get that silky water look that so many want.

In a similar vein, we organized a bug shooting macro field trip because a member wanted to learn more about shooting bugs. She just couldn't get close to them. A couple of us offered to help. She got out of her car and opened the boot to get her gear and began slathering herself with Deet. A couple of us looked at here and said "I think we see the problem ...".