curious cows

Wrong use of the light. Interesting composition. A Shade falls over their faces.

I'll begin with the title. "Curious Cows" is perfectly appropriate. These cows cannot be anything else but curious. As such, the image is a revelation for someone like myself who knows nothing about cows.

The image does something remarkable: it visually captures animal psychology.

Beyond that, the structure of the photograph is excellent, placing the cows at slightly above our eye level. The curious cows are looking down upon us and we are looking up to them. Cows seem to rule in this world.

I do not agree that the use of light is wrong. I do, however, feel that the cows are a bit too dark. This is a problem that can be easily corrected.

There is a nagging substance to the cows that I prefer not to qualify as a problem but as a question. There seems a painterly quality to the image. I mean a paint-by-number painterly quality. This could only be my imagination. Or it could be the result of flatbed scanner ICE, or the overuse of Photoshop. Or it could be the natural outcome of an unmanipulated digital image. I just don't know. This might not be a problem at all.

My own aesthetic judgement has to be tentative. I am not excited about this image because I am not excited about cows. This is not the artist's problem. The image makes me think of images one finds on walls of steak houses.

But I do not believe one would find an image this sympathetic to cows in a steak house.

The positive thing about this image is its sympathy to the cows. Humans tend to personify animals, projecting their own emotions and thoughts upon them. What is important here is that the cows are not human curious but cow curious. They are curious as a herd. They stand in the same way and look the same way, their heads turned at the same angle. The youngest cow acts the same as the biggest cow. What cowish thoughts pass through their brains we shall never know.

One thing strikes me as significant. The cows are shorn of their horns. One senses out of this that the cows are completely used to the close presence of people. They do not seem to fear the presence of the photographer. Are any of these creatures in fact male?

To conclude. This is an interesting photograph. I honestly cannot say if it is a great photograph. It is at the least fine enough to be called a good photograph.

Paul, everything was said already. I liked reading Anders Hingel's comment, as I see it as well as a good smile. Nice point of camera. I still smile looking at them. A great group, somehow reminds me J Vermeer era of paintings( even though not the same subjects ...;-)) Good timing, well composed, and a nice fresh air in of the POW. Congratulations.

Dear All
I have been overwhelmed by the thought time and help you have all given to my picture. It was a total surprise to be included as a POW.... I took up photography 2 years ago and love every minute. I agree the picture was a little over processed in Aperture... but not by a lot.... hardly any sharpening at all, small amount of highlight/lowlight adjustment and colour correction. A short history of the photograph. It was taken on the beautiful North Western Cornwall coastal footpath. My wife and my dog were with me. I must confess I wondered why I had bothered with a heavy camera and lens instead of a stick as the path touched your nose on the way up and threatened to send you flying on the way down. I had a polarising filter on the camera for the landscape/sea/clouds when up ahead I saw several bullocks take a keen interest in my dog "Del". I ran forward and managed to capture about four shots before the centre cow became a little too keen. (dogs and bullocks really don't get on!) So there it is.... Once again, I have found all your comments rewarding, helpful in the extreme,kind,funny and thought provoking! Power to you all Paul

Paul, whatever you did with the post-processing, it really works for me. There is a gentle sense of a painting here, but it is clearly a candid shot. I like everything about it.

--Lannie

I especially like the angle, the composition, and the enhanced details. Great pic.

a very excellent capture - and (if I may be permitted a brief pun) - that these noble beasts - like the photographer - are "outstanding in their field!" haha
Derek Isaacs

@ Jim Adams: You da man.
@ Paul, great work, a famous gentleman once said "f8 and be there". You were there, and forever will know the tradeoff when trying to decide between gear and a walking stick. The walking stick certainly makes for a relaxing stroll, so I don't mean to denigrate it. But, well, now you know =)

i really like that picture, curious cows is a interesting one. this subject is taken by a wild animal story.

I wouldn't want to get crossed up with them!  Its a well composed and powerful image.