The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is a “drive-by shooting” out of the vehicle window. A burnt-out pine plantation.
Specific Feedback
Nothing special about this at all. Maybe it was just the placement of the one broken pine that grabbed my attention. When we road travel, my camera is always on my lap…just in case. Mostly the “drive-bys” get deleted for one reason or another.
Technical Details
This image is a CMI (Computer Manipulated Image). I wish it had been an ICM!
1/320 f9 ISO 1000 70-200mm Hand held from vehicle window. The shutter speed is way too slow for anything sharp.
Hi Glenys,
Nothing special? Hogwash. It is exactly the one broken pine that makes this image, that tells a story. A stand of trees, and one tree no longer standing. Several others leaning that way as well. It’s almost a parable. What’s not to love?
You say it is a Computer manipulated image? What did you do? Aren’t all raw images ultimately processed in some way? Just curious about whether CMI v. ICM is mainly an ironic comment or whether you felt you had to admit to some kind of PS wizardry.
This really caught my eye as I looked through the thumbnails. Even at a small size, the gradation from sharp trees at the bottom to hazy, surreal sky is striking. I’m thinking this was your CMI? It’s quite effective, whatever you did. Just lovely. Kudos for imagining what could be done with a drive-by!
Love this! I’m with Marylynne and her comments. I’m also wondering what, if anything was done on the computer other than a B&W conversion and associated adjustments? As you described the implied motion or blur came from the moving vehicle - so basically, this was “Intentional Camera Movement” !!!
And the more I look at this, the better it gets! Of course the broken tree (looks like a violent storm-related crash) is the focal point, but there is so much more. Starting at the right, I like the darker part of the woods framing the scene. Then there’s the open gap drawing the viewer in to see where that gap leads - and WHY is it there? Kinda hints to me a second or third growth forest for harvesting?
I see both vertical movement and a hit of horizontal from the moving vehicle (camera…).
I love this! In fact one impression might be of some historical significance - especially if you applied a sepia tone…
No nit or suggestions. I’d say this is quite special!
Are you kidding me, Glenys? This is really good. The conversion to B&W is a great choice. I love the broken pine. But I also LOVE the two bent pines seeking to join that one broken pine. It really tells a story or several stories. It’s really the ICM like softness of the rest of the scene along with the dark blacks and the white whites that make the contrast in this image so pleasing. Almost dream like. I very much like this image and you shouldn’t undersell yourself on this one. Sensational in my mind!
This is the original RAW file. I’ve been shooting from passenger car seats for a long time and when I see something of interest , try and keep focus on that one thing. It’s a hit and miss really.
From here a black and white conversion and then Filter-Blur-Motion Blur. A mask applied and starting painting out bits with low opacity, soft brush until the desired effect. A bit of selective dodge and burn.
Holy Cow!! This is wonderful!!! How did I not see it before now? Where have I been??? All said above and I can just add a gold star! The processing is inspired and absolutely top-notch.
Only a couple of small thoughts – the lighter ground on the left pulls my eye a bit and I wonder about darkening it, and maybe removing the larger branch on the ground. And the blacks, especially on the right, feel a bit crushed, which the histogram backs up. But that’s a very small point and may well be intentional. I do like that the darker trunks stand out from their BG.
Hi Glenys,
All in a day’s work, eh? Thanks for sharing the RAW file. I like it too, and I can see a high key color treatment working with it. That said, I still love the black and white, and I don’t see anything that seems unusually computer-manipulated. Processing is part of the art and the craft.
ML
Hogwash !!! I love it. This image works So Good in B&W. I see the color shot in RAW…No comparison…I think it has a film look to it. It does not have to be sharp to get the feel of the image. Beautiful vibe to this photo. The Light, the Tone. Its all there. No Hogwash !!!
Usually, I am not attracted to images like this. But I really love this one. You did a great job with your “manipulation” and I like the B&W result far more than the color version. It reminds me faintly to a pen-and-ink drawing from the past. A very interesting image.
I really like this image as it captures the moment perfectly! I wonder what it would look like converted into a pencil like drawing with really sharp edges? Just a thought.
