calgaryscapes Untitled

I like the effect of the sepia tone.

I'm looking for compositional critique, particularly in comparison to

the two similar photos I've posted in my Calgaryscapes folder. It was

-20C on this morning, and there was a thick layer of frost on all the

trees. I wanted to portray a "chilly mood" so I chose to backlight the

trees.

1. Do you feel I achieved an appropriate mood for this day?

2. Did I commit any glaring compositional errors?

3. Did I print the photo too dark, too light, or just right?

4. Is the trampled snow acceptable or distracting? This is a well

traveled area so this was out of my control.

5. Any comments on the differences in composition between the 3

photos?

Thanks for you help.

Gerald, you have successfully achived many things, the mood, the monochrome colors, the lights and chilly effect. However, IMHO one thing bothers me, whats the white thing at the back of the trees, the right hand side? Water? Slightly overexposed.

No worries Gerald this is a beutiful piece of art!

Very Nice Gerald! In answer to your questions. Sepia comes across as warm and I do very much like the tone on this but it doesn't come across as the cold day it was, no big deal to me since I like the clash of warm tones in cold photos. I really like your composition and best on this one than the other two. The printing looks perfect on my monitor. I wouldn't have thought that the snow was "trampled" if you hadn't have said so, it looks puffed up like the ground gets when it's really cold. I think this is a really fine photo and it shouldn't be picked apart. Great Job!!!!

Not to be wishy washy, but I like all three. I also find the sepia interesting. The steam coming off the river is cool. Good job!

Fantastic. I think you could explore more of this "trampled snow" because it looks very interesting.

Good shot. Maybe I would try to make the snow on the left hand side a bit lighter to make it look more 'snowy', because now

it has the tone of sand...I know, it's easier said than done...

I think what make this picture is the fact that it doesn't look like snow. The snow here produced a "brighter sand" and brighter trees. And a flowing river (!!!) .

I would like to thank everyone for their comments. Based on these comments, I think there are a couple of things I will try the next time I'm in the darkroom: burn in the river a bit more, perhaps a bit of dodging in the foreground, and do a straight B&W print without toning. I'm taking a printing class right now, and the sepia toner we've been working with has been very inconsistent both between classes and between packages. I'm not sure if this is normal?