Stupid centered horizon

[kundalini]

It snowed here in North Carolina on March 1st.... a bit unsual. I may have another in the batch, but I processed this one and then noticed the stupid horizon. :gah:


http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa199/kundalini2737/Lone-Tree-in-snow-web.jpg


Thanks for looking anyway.

[PhotoJet]

I like the picture, but I have to tell you that I would crop it to a perfect square, removing a wee bit less than half of the bottom, then forming the square.

I'm not sure if it's just me & my love of medium format, but I often find myself cropping even my digital stuff to a square. This picture will be a true blue beauty as a square! I love the slant of the tree!

[Terri]

Can someone explain to me why horizons are considered poorly done if they are slightly off-kilter, like this one? Because I fail to see this as a flaw in this image. It's not a real horizon, anyway - it's more like a gentle slope, isn't it?

That, and the beautiful coloring and the wintry bare tree, all combine to make this a drop-dead gorgeous shot to me.

[ann]

terri,

i don't think it is the slope that is the issue. It is the horizon is smack in the middle, which creates two separate photos.

Take about an 1 1/2 off the bottom in your minds eye, or scroll down the photo under the tree and see what a difference that makes.

[kundalini]

I like the picture, but I have to tell you that I would crop it to a perfect square, removing a wee bit less than half of the bottom, then forming the square.

I'm not sure if it's just me & my love of medium format, but I often find myself cropping even my digital stuff to a square. This picture will be a true blue beauty as a square! I love the slant of the tree!
Thank you. I had not considered a square crop. I'll have a go with it tonight, if I have time.

Can someone explain to me why horizons are considered poorly done if they are slightly off-kilter, like this one? Because I fail to see this as a flaw in this image. It's not a real horizon, anyway - it's more like a gentle slope, isn't it?

That, and the beautiful coloring and the wintry bare tree, all combine to make this a drop-dead gorgeous shot to me.
Thanks so much Terri.

terri,

i don't think it is the slope that is the issue. It is the horizon is smack in the middle, which creates two separate photos.

Take about an 1 1/2 off the bottom in your minds eye, or scroll down the photo under the tree and see what a difference that makes.
I think you hit the nail on the head ann. However, if I were to take off the bottom that which is needed and then wanted to print, the ratio for normal printing size is thrown off. How would you handle this? Would printing off sized be reasonable? I can see taking some off the right edge to remove the empty space of the horizon, but I believe the ration would still be non-standard. I don't know what to do, but I do like the shot in some aspects.

Thanks.

[ann]

well, i cheat lol
i print my own images and if it was something i was going to mat and frame i would also cut the window to my determined size, not the framing industry's.

However, when i shot the image i would have made that adjustment before firing the shutter.
old habits of cropping in camera die hard.

[Terri]

ah....now I realize what was meant here! So we are back to Composition 101, and kundalini was correct to be exasperated with the whole frame as is.

But Ann is right. As much as I like seeing the dear little pieces of grass protruding through the snow (so typical of a thin Southern snowfall!) when that part of the bottom is cropped out, the picture is suddenly more balanced. If there were more sky along the top to crop out and balance the shot (leaving the grass) it might work...but it's just not enough.

Thanks for clarifying!

[kundalini]

well, i cheat lol

HEY, that's not fair!!! :lol:

As much as I like seeing the dear little pieces of grass protruding through the snow (so typical of a thin Southern snowfall!)
That is so true about the grass. Rarely does it get covered any more. I wonder if Mr. Gore invented that also? :lol: We did a dump of about 5 inches in February though.

That's the two sides of the coin about working from home when it snows. There are no snow days where the office is closed, but I also get to cackle in the morning sipping my coffee and listening to the traffic reports.

Okay, back on topic. I took ann's advice and with a bit of help from another member here, went with an 8x10 crop. Also cloned out a couple of element in the background that bothered me. Oh, and I took some blue out of the mix.

Any better?


http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa199/kundalini2737/Snowy-Lone-Tree-web.jpg



I haven't tried photojet's square crop yet, but intend to later. Will follow up with that.

[Terri]

I think the crop is a definite improvement.

However, losing the blue is also losing some detail in the snow...it looks less "real". Blue is also a shadow color and the first image shows a hint of a shadow under the tree, that is missing now. I understand losing maybe a touch of the cyan, but for me it's a bit overdone.

My two cents. :)

[Karissa]

Ok, the color on the first one is better, the Crop on the second is much better. I'd love to see what the square looks like.... This is such a nice shot it is so frustrating to get it back and see such a glaring mistake. I'm finding that I have a lot of that going on now that I don't shoot near as much as I used to. You really can just get rusty can you? Should I fear loosing it all together? Forget that last question.. I've definantly lost "it".... lol

[ann]

my vote is to put the "blue" back in. At least on my monitor the snow is losing detail, and the sky is lacking as well.

[MissMia]

I'm late to comment. I like the crop and agree that the blue needs to come back. I also like the sharpening of the tree in the new crop.

[kundalini]

Okay, this forum by it's nature is supposed to be about photography and the critique of photographs...... right? so you don't mind multiple photos in various stages to try and get the best result?...... right?


Okay, so I tried to replace the color of the first post and have the crop of the second post. Thoughts?


http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa199/kundalini2737/Snowy-Lone-Tree--II.jpg



Then I went with a square crop as suggested by Jeannette.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa199/kundalini2737/Snowy-Lone-Tree-SQ.jpg


I can't decide and worse even, I don't know at this point, but I like the shot (in some variation) and am likely to have it printed. Prior to that, please make further suggestions.



Oh, and as a bit of a puzzle (Where's Waldo), there is something different between the last two. NOT THE CROP OR COLOR.

[invisible]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa199/kundalini2737/Snowy-Lone-Tree--II.jpg
This is the version I like the best (and I like it a lot!). Is this even a beginner's photo? :)

Oh, and as a bit of a puzzle (Where's Waldo), there is something different between the last two. NOT THE CROP OR COLOR.
There is a white pole in the background that was cloned out from the image above. Is that it?

[Karissa]

Ok square gets my pick what a fantastic shot!

As invisible was saying.... these put my work to shame... shame I tell you! So much so see.. I don't even post pictures!

[PhotoJet]

yeah... THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! The slant of the tree works perfectly with the square! :toast:

I also like your modified version of the rectangle crop as well. :sun:

[Terri]

Okay, this forum by it's nature is supposed to be about photography and the critique of photographs...... right? so you don't mind multiple photos in various stages to try and get the best result?...... right?

That is exactly right. :)

I think this has been a very fun - and informative - discussion. What I would love to see now is for you to submit this to Hertz, in the Crit forum, and let's see a more detailed critique. I'm very interested in having him weigh in.

How about it? :sexywink:

[vicky]

Hey Kundalini!
I love the square version.... it makes the tree more of the subject than the landscape as a whole as the subject. Does that make sense?

It looks a little oversharpened though. Have you tried desaturating it to remove the cool blue tone? It might look even colder if the blue is removed. Could make it look more desolate. And the tree has such amazing texture it could work with less colour maybe?

[kundalini]

That is exactly right. :)

I think this has been a very fun - and informative - discussion. What I would love to see now is for you to submit this to Hertz, in the Crit forum, and let's see a more detailed critique. I'm very interested in having him weigh in.

How about it? :sexywink:
b-b-b-b-but heee kinda scares me...
I want to fiddle with it a bit more and then we'll see if it is worthy. thanks for the nudge Terri.


Thanks everyone for commenting and I'm kinda liking the square crop too.

[PhotoJet]

It's hip to be square. ;)

[Alex]

I like the square!

I like square crops anyway ;)

oh, and as for printing formats... there is no standard you have to stick to.

[ann]

?

[KMann]

Yes, indeed - ?

Whatever happened? I really like this photo. The straight line of the horizon and the hard edges on the tree make a sort of poetry.

Like it Ann?