Fence at Antietam 2

Black and white landscape photography is very new to me. I decided to

try it at Antietam National Battlefield in hopes of recalling some of

the amazing photos taken in that era by Mathew B. Brady.

 

Please comment and let me know what you think went well and what could

have been better here as I am a fairly new photographer and still

trying to improve. Thanks!

The leading lines in the fenceposts make a nice composition. The sky is a little blown out and you have commited the "center split" sin...placing the horizon smack in the center of the image often times ruins the dynamic between sky and land. By moving the horizon line up or down just a little bit, it creates a much nicer image.

...of an interesing scene. The weathered fence draws me neatly into the image and keeps my eye travelling back and forth across the scene.

 

Regarding the sky, I do not think it is blown - I'm seeing tonality in the clouds pretty much all the way through, though there's a little harsh contrast with the landscape itself.

 

Regarding composition, the only change I might have made would be to pull back a little further so the nearest "cross" in the fence isn't "cut" at the bottom and sides. Regarding the horizon, the fact that it doesn't sit on a "thirds" line here doesn't bother me - it lends balance as there is interesting detail both on the ground and in the sky here. After all, rules are there so you think before you break them. :-)