Oxbow Bend

The twigs in the foreground are that little stamp of personality that always make a grand and beautiful landscape that much more compelling. It's as if your personal vision is encapsulated in that foreground witticism. I like the way the reflection gets refracted with the ripples and love the colors. This is a very warm scene of the cold. Inviting. This is soft rather than overly dramatic, a penetrating and sensitive view rather than simply the capture of beauty.

Very interesting, Fred's thoughts on the twigs. I am a little unsure about the choice of composing this as a vertical. It fights against what I would consider a tradition of landscapes as horizontals, and it doesn't seem to be winning. (not that ALL landscapes have to be horizontal, but that if they're vertical, they need to work very well as verticals). The twigs, of course, are crucial in defense of the vertical, but the sky doesn't seem to be pulling its weight since I see enough of it in the water. The compromise between horizontal and vertical would be a square, but cropping out some of the sky only helps a little, so I'm wondering if a lower angle, coupled with less sky, wouldn't make this shot more concentrated and therefore more compelling.

Fred, I don't know what to say; thanks seems insufficient. You clearly respond to this image exactly as I would and did. I thank you for taking the time to put those thoughts into such delightfully crafted words.

 

Doug, I do not share any of your sentiments about vertical versus horizontal images. I greatly prefer verticals and find them more 'natural'. I generally find horizontals hard to compose myself and I am even less likely to enjoy them in the works of others – especially 4x6 horizontals.

 

I do like your square® crop on purely compositional grounds. It is more dynamic and immediately engaging. It grabs your eye more fully. But, that said, I don't think such a composition fits this scene particularly. This is a very tranquil and calming moment. I am not sure that trying to make this "more compelling" furthers the mood and tranquility of the scene.

 

Thanks again, though, for your thoughts. This isn't the first time someone has questioned my choice of a vertical composition. Perhaps I need to be more conscious of others' preferences for horizontals in landscapes – or at least more aware when my vertical predilections will upset their expectations.