How far will you go to get a shot? Yesterday, I was shooting some wildlife at this water preserve. Four hours long, I was exhausted from kneeling, laying on my side or stomach, squatting in the brush and reeds, swatting at mosquitos and bugs, sweating from the heat and just generally feeling uncomfortable. I turned to see this interesting serpentine pathway around the lake and these attractive hooked streetlights. It caught my eye that I should come back when it's dark to shoot this angle. So, knowing I would probably not be coming back this way anytime soon, I waited till dusk, sitting in my car with the AC on full blast (it was over 100° F). Then, when the time was right, I put in a fresh flash-card in my camera and made the trek back to this spot and shot another 50 shots.
The bugs and exhaustion won this day... ah, but I still have a little momento to remember it by.
Probably one of the only shots of consequence this day.
Hope you like it. Comments and critiques are always welcomed.
I don't think it's too dark at all, I like it very much Rocky. Yes I agree too that I'd clone versus crop, but I wouldn't change anything about this image it's really very lovely...big hugs!! Lin
It's funny how you see the same things as I do. That little branch was a dilemma for me. "To Crop or to Clone... that is the question."
Eventually, I decided to take it out with the Clone Stamp Tool but then it took away the sense that there was a bit of a tree barrier just off-camera and it felt like it was "unsupported" on that side. Cropping it changed the composition (negatively). So, in the end, I just left it in. I thought of doing some other things there (like maybe lowering the branch) but it was already getting over-worked and I was fizzling with my energy to work on it.
Seeing this image in the light of day, it looks too dark to me now. Funny how images look at night versus the day. I might go back and work on this more after all. (shrug)
What a wonderful critique you given me, Lin. Someone should make this a featured critique. I love how very pointed and specific you've gotten with what you see in this. Thank you, Sweetie for this TRULY appreciated support. You're the best! Cosmic Galactic HUGS! ~R
A great eye to see this Rocky, and I admire you seeing something and waiting for the right light to get the shot you were after, very nice!! I think that's the sign of a really good photographer, to look, to think, to plan, to create the picture...good for you. How far would I go? Bugs? I'm outta there...LOL :)
The light, exposure, and details are beautiful, and a lovely mood and composition. Very well thought out and executed. The dark negative space is great, for me it adds to the mood and since there is nothing there to really focus on, it draws the eye to your subject. I like the spotlight on the walkway to light the way, it helps to anchor the image and adds depth, also the small bit of branch on the right border pointing to your subject is also very well thought out, initially I thought that I might crop that out, but it does frame the subject just a bit, directs the eye, and also adds depth...the touch of orange on the horizon is lovely, I like the way it breaks up, and separates the land and the sky..very nice work, beautifully done...Big big hugs...:) Linda
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{K:6731} 11/18/2006
