A last glimpse of the golden season through heavy eyes
Winter tugs and pulls towards deep slumber
Remembrance of moments passed
Fall from the branches of my memory
Until fitful sleep under Winter's blanket
An experiment in focus attempting to capture essence instead of detail. The autumn display this year was pretty dazzling in this part of southern Utah. More colorful and consistent than last year. Anyway, I have this fascination to attempt to make images that look more like paintings than photographs and so here is another attempt. No photoshop here. Some adjustments were made to the raw image in ACR but the image was purposely taken out of focus. Please take an extra moment to let your eyes adjust or maybe unadjust, as it may be. I notice when I have just looked at other images previous to this that are in focus, I tend not to be able to grasp the image. However, after a few moments, my eyes start to be able to recieve it.
SInce this is an experiment, I would really welcome any comments. I'm not sure I nailed it here but I think I like the style overall and would like to "see" this way more when I'm out and about and evolve this style. So, even if you are taking just a quick glance and have read this far, a comment would be greatly appreciated. Does any of this work for you? What does and what does not? Muchas gracias.
Durfey Creek, Utah, USA
Please feel free to leave comments and critiques but please no badges and blinking lights.
Chris Sharratt and Landapart added this photo to their favorites.
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Rantes 32 months ago | reply
Great experiment and fantastic result. I like it.
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Seen in the group"* The Beauty of Trees (post 1 ~ comment on 1) ~ NEW AWARDS!!!" (?)
Chris Sharratt 32 months ago | reply
I love it.
Nature's Gift Photography 32 months ago | reply
latentsifier 32 months ago | reply
nice
JoyceCorey 32 months ago | reply
colors and shapes are fascinating ! you nailed it :)
Seen in the Abstract Photo Artwork group.
rab mcbride 32 months ago | reply
Fascinating
I nominate this image for this week's pool contest.
mav_at 32 months ago | reply
I nominate this image for this week's pool contest.
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Seen in the group" "The Portfolio Pro" - Constructive Critiques" (?)
Luís C 32 months ago | reply
I nominate this image for this week's pool contest.
Lissa** 32 months ago | reply
I nominate this image for this week's pool contest.
H o g n e 32 months ago | reply
I nominate this image for this week's pool contest.
reathel 32 months ago | reply
I nominate this image for this week's pool contest.
James Duckworth 32 months ago | reply
Technical Execution:
Tack sharp but way too much noise. It must be lens distortion causing the trees to all lean to the left - either that or you shot on a very windy day.
Visual Composition:
Zack to tell you the truth I'm struggling a bit with this one. I'm missing something to "hang" on to. Your poetry eases this a bit and helps me into your thoughts about the image. Without the words I would be at a loss. Your images "Distant Glow" and "Shifting Sands" are of a similar genre and I find both those very satisfying - to the extent I don't need words for either. This one just is "overcooked" for me. I do like that I can tell after letting my eyes settle a bit what I am looking at. There are some nice lines in the trunks of the trees. I long for a bit more definition.
Artistic Value and Creativity:
Your creativity here doesn't work for me. I think the concept is a good one and should be explored more. I have dabbled in this myself. I've just not been brave enough to post some of mine ;). These types of images are totally subjective and depart from the norms of photography. I'm just not out on that limb yet.
Personal Impact:
You have motivated me to thought trying to articulate my feelings about your image. I'm afraid I don't see this as a wall hanger. Perhaps in a series of images with a similar theme. This might allow me to "see" your vision a bit better.
(generated by the critique template)
Pavel M 32 months ago | reply
Technical Execution: 5 = Average
I should preface that I love this technique and I experiment with it a lot. However, only few photos come out well and it is hard to predict exactly what will work best. However, this technique is superb when you wish to showcase color and tonality and do not wish to have the attention on textures and patterns. And here is the rub. The colors are unremarkable and the lighting is flat. You would need a very strong composition to compensate for that (see later)
A big part is to figure just how much out of focus you wish to have your photo. I think you got that about right. I would have gone for a little softer version using in-camera (better) or post-processing techniques.
Visual Composition: 6 = Above average
The composition works for me (repeated verticals) with reflecting colors on top/bottom. However the composition does not have strong enough impact to make up for technical limitations
Artistic Value and Creativity: 7 = Good
I applaud your effort to try new things and face a risk of a given photo failing - that is great. The photo sort of works but I do not find this an "insightful" work, more like an "experimental" work. To be insightful, I would hope that you would use the technique you use to achieve maximal impact - in effect to match the technique to the impact you wish to create and the story you wish to tell. I do not see that in this photo. The primary issue is with flat lighting and treatment and cold and relatively muddled colors with low variety.
Personal Impact: 5 = Average
For reasons stated, this photo does not have a strong impact on me.
Total Impression: 6 = Above average
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rab mcbride 32 months ago | reply
Technical Execution:
Difficult to comment on this section for obvious reasons. I would however query such a fast shutter as for me a longer shutter speed lengthens the verticals which tends to improve the geometry of the shot, and the subsequent impact on overall emotion.
I like the tones and textures of the autumn colors
Visual Composition:
I would like to have seen the image with a straight horizon, with longer verticals (see comment re shutter speed). Also this would have meant less showing of the leaves, which I think dominate the scene to much, despite how pleasing they look.
Artistic Value and Creativity:
A step away from the more traditional interpretation, however still a common ( and increasing) choice amongst many photographers - including me :-)
I wrote my previous comments with hesitance as I'm assuming that when making this image the message was the dominant consideration, with aesthetics being secondary, so in that sense, i score the image highly here
Personal Impact:
There appears to be a growing number of photographers stepping into this genre, and in my opinion for good reason. I like this shot a lot (hence the vote), however it might not rank as being one of the best of this type
(generated by the critique template)
reathel 32 months ago | reply
Technical Execution:
A lot of interesting technical choices here. The choice of moving the entire image out of focus leaves (pun intended...) a great deal to the imagination. Technically well done as the individual tree trunks still have enough definition. Color saturation and vibrancy seem to have been increased but that's a reasonable choice and it is certainly striking. I find the overall exposure to be perfect to my eye.
Visual Composition:
The trees do lean a bit as mentioned in another critique. Personally I like this but when you are asking viewers to buy into a new style or approach keeping some things "normal" helps them absorb the fresh idea in a more open way. One thing I would like to see is a wider field of view, I think this would be a more powerful way of conveying the feeling of the scene (of course this may have been the widest possible view for many reasons).
Artistic Value and Creativity:
Excellent creativity here, cameras are simply tools, our mind is the true crucible of creation. Sharpness and other conventions have their place to be sure but so does something a bit more expressive. Often the success of a photo is taken in the context of your past work and the goals you have for the image. I can't speak to your goals but in relation to your previous work I can say this a brave departure and a very well done one at that.
Personal Impact:
I see myself here, not in the specific image but in the experimentation. The craft of photography is about refinement of technique and vision but also about the embracing of experimentation. Each and every tool, technique and style we have today in photography is due to some person... simply experimenting.
(generated by the critique template)
drbones/fstop3.3 32 months ago | reply
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Landapart 32 months ago | reply
i like this blur shot ! great result !
Photos by T@ir. 31 months ago | reply
Lovely words
Rabindranath ( RABIN61 ) 27 months ago | reply
Great shot !
another story 26 months ago | reply
i have no idea how to pull this kind of thing off, so it earns respect points right there. and i appreciate your willingness to post experiments. yes, this works for me. the whole way around. i actually like the angle of the horizon line. i like the color palate. and i like the words together with the image. you're right about staring longer to "see it better". interesting, and i'd not have thought that would change things.