It Promises But Doesn't Deliver

Another compelling landscape, moody and personal. It doesn't remind me of Ansel Adams - LOL!! I like the top-heaviness of it, since the drama and implied movement of the clouds is so essential here and so overpowering. I llike the way the tree echoes that movement I sense in the clouds. The strong contrasts as opposed to the more gradient nature of much of Adams's work has its own dramatic edge and feel. The bottom framing is interesting, and I'm digesting it. It feels abruptly cut off, like maybe I'm seeing part of a road or something. Perhaps it was simply a matter of getting more of the sky in, but the bottom does leave me feeling a bit ungrounded. The anchor of the tree on the left mitigates that to some extent. 

Don't you think that every B&W sweeping landscape is reminiscent of dear Mr. Adams?  No? No? Perhaps my world needs to expand a bit.

Well, had I put more of the road into the photo, the scene wouldn't have worked.  As the title suggests, it's more about the promise than then delivery.  I kind of liked the sky pressing the landscape flat as a pancake with the exception of our hero-tree.

Thanks, Fred, always for a great critique.

Thanks for the response. I am often challenged in my own photographs by hints of things at the edges of the frame. Often, I get caught between a rock and hard place, not being quite sure what's just enough of a suggestion of something I want and what needs a little more presence to be as visually effective as the story in my mind is telling me. It's a balance I find tricky and don't always feel I've comfortably achieved what I'm seeing in my mind's eye. So I could be just as off with your photograph as I think I've been with some of my own over the years. I'd probably say that a little more of the road would visually establish the "promise not quite delivering" a little better here. It still would not deliver (which is your point) but might get me more where you want me to be visually. The road could be hidden in shadow, fading to black, so as still not to really deliver, but at least have the chance to establish itself as a visual element, one that is not quite delivering. As is, to me as a viewer, it doesn't give me enough of a chance. I appreciate that you may see it differently and it's ultimately how you feel about it that counts most.

The tree on the left is an obstruction for me, as the main theme is the sky and the patterns of clouds are not compatible with the tree's foliage, while the undulated land IS. marvelous composition otherwise. compliments -koushik

Interesting you would say that.  I wondered about the tree myself, but left it in because it was so incongruous to the rest of the scene.  It seemed like a counterpoint to that hulking cloud on the right.  But perhaps I was wrong.  It does seem to operate as an interruption, doesn't it?

Now I get what you meant! 

The definition here is exceptional!  I've reached no clear position on whether more of the road would have added to the overall effect. I like the tree on the left---it adds context imho.  Nice shot!  ~~~~~L

I always hesitate to comment after others have spent so much time analyzing an image and giving their critiques. For me to say, "Nice work, I like it" would be akin for me to look at 'The Blue Boy' by Thomas Gainsborough and say, "Gee, nice blue clothes".

Nice work Jeff! I would have liked more road or no road at all.

It's absolutely great, but unless it's four feet across, I think there should be more road.  I also think you went ape a little with the contrast.  The bottom is too dark for me, and the whites stick out unnaturally on my monitor.

Cloud busting, a new direction Squire?  Fantastic old boy.

Toodle Pip,

Kev 

As I've said before, your pictures have the gestation period of an elephant but they're always worth waiting for. The strong emphasis on the sky and the advancing clouds gives this image real power and the sense of an unstoppable force rolling onward. Your point about the incongruity of the tree is well-taken. As solid as the physical objects are in the picture, they seem fragile and inconsequential compared to this roiling, elementary force, the breath of God, which blows over the land. The affairs of man amd the passing manifestations of  time all seem pretty puny by comparison The picture seems as much psychological statement as land and skyscape.

There is something very poetic in this one . It is like verses that hint about but does not invalidate the whole( invalidate-  I hope I use the right word).There is the realm of dominant sky, powering the earth, I feel the wind blowing ,in the tree foliage. There is a very fragile equilibrium here, and that is what I like very much. I like as well the strong contrast in the B/W which adds so much to the atmospheric conditions, and my imagination complements the rest..   You have  delivered it  for me ,Jeff, as it is like God's spirit poised on the air.....

Linda L:  Glad you liked this one.  It does seem so similar to yours in feel.

Shawn:  It's an old shot.  I thought that some road was better than no road at all.  I like how everyone has deconstructed this shot.  It makes for a much more compelling read than "Nice work. I like it."

Jamie:  I boosted the contrast a bit to enhance the drama, but perhaps I took it too far.  Thanks for the feedback.

Kevin:  Well.  I need to conjure up some Yankee way of responding.  With that British accent (toodle pip...) you sound so "wick'd smaht" (to be read with a Bostonian snort).

Jack:  It takes a few seconds of news to remind me how little control we puny humans have over the might sweep of nature.  Here in Boston, I'm always drawn to dramatic skies.  I love watching the Nor'easters roll in with their monstrous skies.  I also vividly recall midwestern/southern skies threatening tornadoes.  I'm not sure how I feel about being compared to a pregnant elephant.  Perhaps I should cut down on the beer.

Pnina:  There are times that everything on earth seems bigger than me.  The landscape was large, the road was small, and I was smaller, almost nonexistent.  It was a lovely drive through New Mexico.

I like to say: 7/7 for all the way, just amazing, Jeffs!    Best regards

It's Ansel Adams by Jeff.  I love the B&W and the road right down the middle.  And the tree on the left perfect contrast against the clouds.  And those clouds are so, so sharp I feel like I could reach right in and touch them.

Great!

I think "moody" is by far the best way to describe this one. Your composition is unsettling as Fred mentioned, and I think that's what makes it interesting. Those clouds are supper. Very nice work.

Amazing, my friend, excellent tones and composition, I love it.

Alberto

This is a compelling, and, as Fred see it, moody landscape. The title, however, to me, at least, does suggest foreboding, as the sky does not look as angry as the title suggests. If anything, I see irony in the title, in that the sky promised a downpour, but delivered partial clearing and sunshine, and is this not what finding quarters in the couch feels like?

Richard:  Thanks so much for the high marks.

Bob:  The sharpness of the clouds is what spurred me to pull this piece out of the archives and post it.  Thanks.

Tatjana:  Thanks so much.

David:  Unsettling!  A perpetual goal of mine.  Thanks for your thoughts.

Alberto:  So glad you like this.

Emmanuel:  The failed promise is delivered by the road--the "anywhere but here" mindset.  I didn't think about the sky promising rain and then failing to fulfill, but now I do.  Thanks for the reframe.

I have acquired the habit of describing how I feel while looking at an image. I do this occasionally and without any agenda in my mind. An occasional image forces me to enter into this un-critical, probably useless, expressive mood...

Seeing the larger version of your photo, I just felt lucky... Lucky to be breathing... Lucky to be part of something bigger... And I swear I saw colors everywhere!

Really beautiful work, Jeff!

very good bw.landscape...congrats

 hi jeffs... love the double entendre of the title here,,,,you dont need to say anything else... take care samme

It Promises But Doesn't Deliver

Giggle, yes indeed.

But it is a very fine shot.

Greetings

So many fabulous critiques on an excellent image. My initial reaction - was "gosh - I would like to see more road" which would gently lead me from foreground to the rest of the goodies. If it was visual tension that you wanted create, then it is a success. Thanks for sharing,