Death Of An Orchardist

Very calm and natural feeling, which is pleasing the mind!

On a content level, I feel that to make sense of the title of this picture, one has to make an intellectual effort, i.e. it does not come naturally (didn't to me anyway).

 

I realize all the apples being on the ground are a clear sign that nobody is taking care of the place, but the orchard is not as visible as it could be, and somehow I miss not seeing more of the trees, or of its structure (lines of trees). I see apples, I have to imagine the orchard.

 

The cable on the right side or maybe the general position of the camera give me some feeling of imbalance (left/right with respect to the alley of trees), as if this shot would have worked better with more symmetry.

 

On a technical point, I have no experience with large format, but my understanding was that when you shoot planar things, even if the plane is not parallel to film plane, you can tilt almost everything to have perfect DOF from close to far. Is it the case? Could you have everything in focus here and you chose not to?

 

In my opinion, having the apples and all the trees in focus would give a stronger feeling that these things belong together, that the apples really belong to the orchard.

Ilan, you make very interesting points, worth raising. The title is not cryptic. The locally well-known owner of this orchard was also our city's mayor until he died in office about 1 year ago. Just a youngish man, he keeled over suddenly.

 

I drive past the orchard about twice a week, taking my children to be cared for by their grandparents while I work. This summer and autumn just past, I gradually began to realise that the orchard was not being tended. It is an extensive commercial orchard, I'd guess it would produce perhaps a couple of million dollars worth of apples each year. All through autumn the apples remained on the trees, but last week I was saddened to see that they had fallen, like their grower. I do not know why the executor of his estate has allowed this to happen. It is a complete, and very sad mystery. Last Thursday morning I decided to record it. I previsualised something like this before I left home. It was a very windy morning. As you can see, the trees were arranged in rows on raised beds. As the aples fell, they have rolled to the base of the bed, so there are concentrated rows of apples alongside the rows of trees, with quite bare strips between. Like you, I wanted symmetry, but the central position was devoid of the apples so essential for the foreground. I chose the alternative, of an asymmetrical composition which featured the long line of apples at the foot of the raised beds. The movement which could have gained full DOF is not possible with this particular lens, which is quite a rare and special lens, but it has a very limited image circle, so movements are not it's strongest point. I was going to try some back tilt to get some more DOF, but it began to rain, so there is no movement here. I decided to focus close to 1/3 of the focal range in the hope that I would be somewhere near hyperfocal, and allow the DOF to fall where it may. I knew the apples looked good on the ground glass, but I wasn't sure about the trees. I guess I'm hoping the story is sufficiently told in the foreground that the background softness won't matter. Further to the symmetry suggestion, I was planning to expose a sheet at 90 degrees to this direction, across the rows of trees, in order to get symmetry and an ordered line of rows of trees receding into the distance. The rain came down hard and this is the only frame I managed to expose before I scampered back to my car for shelter.

 

I'll add that this is virtually full frame, and one of the first scratch free, nicely developed 4x5 negs I've made, so at least I've got something I can print from!

Wow. So much detail to have it all lost at 72 dpi. What a disappointment, meaning that Internet is probalby not the best way to experience this photograph. I'll read through the your comments soon enough. Just passing through right now.

I would love to spend an afternoon in this orchard. I don't feel like I need to see any more of the trees than I already due. The trees are alive and it's the apples that are dead/dying. I believe the cable on the right is some type of irrigation system, and if the place is truly abandoned, I would have either tried to remove it or use it as more of an element in the image, maybe bringing it into the frame from closer to the bottom corner. I certainly don't know if that would have helped the composition, but I will tell you that I would love to see a BIG silver print of this in person. I think this is very good and has great potential with some work in the darkroom on paper.

The cable on the right is very likely an irrigation hose and I kinda like it there, because for me, it appears to tie the foreground to the trees in the background. The fallen apples, as the title might suggest, are the main subject of this image. As for not being able to imagine the orchard, I can sympathize with that thought, but because I drive past this place maybe once or twice a year, I would have to disqualify myself from making an objective judgement when it comes to imagining the location.

Furthermore, I felt compelled to comment on this, because I had no idea that this has actually happened to the orchard of the late John Lees...

Very interested if you will share this with your local photographic society, John and how they will react to it!

Scott took the words right out of my mouth with regard to the actual print of this image. I'm looking forward to the day when the technology of computers reaches the point where detail loss is minimized in images such as these. As Doug suggested, at 72 dpi its still a very good image, but I'm sure this is utterly stunning as a print. The irrigation hose is a slight distraction, but only very slight. The sense of neglect is palpable, so you hit the nail right on the head with the composition. Quite tragic, really, to see so much food going to waste. You see this a lot on some American farms. Perversely, its not due to the death of the yeoman who owns the farm, just the owner's way of colluding with fellow farmers to jack up the price of the crop. Never would have thought that a bunch of apples could strike such a chord in me, but it did. Well done.

In my opinion the irrigation hose is essential. Especially that it has been looped over branches. As far as I can tell it is the foremost indication that here is a place intended for cultivation. A weaker suggestion is the regular as opposed to random planting of the trees. But on this last point, trees can be planted in lines for aesthetics alone rather than for efficiency. I agree therefore that whilst the hose distracts the viewer from examining the hoard of apples wasting on the ground, I think it's subtle inclusion is a necessary key to a better understanding of the picture and a way of associating the apples with the orchard's decline. There were perhaps other places where apples had fallen. Picking this place with the hose looped over the tree was inspired. Sometimes introducing a picture with some reference to the historical background and motive behind it can assist the viewer in enjoying it more. I have had the benefit of John's description and I'm positive it helped me.

 

Regarding symmetry, I don't think it would have worked in a portrait type framework with the camera placed on a mound. I think the symmetry would not have been noticeable until way up the picture in the top corners and way past the apples. I think filling the foreground with apples far more important. Regarding depth, the picture has plenty. What is there in the topmost 10% of this picture that calls for crtical focus? A little softness over yonder draws the eye back to the apples and the main feast.

John, a lovely photograph. As Ilan has suggested , "Death Of An Orchardist", as a title, leaves me wondering what this story is all about. And Peter, who apparently knew John Lees and his orchard, did not know of his death. Might I suggest a title that carries tribute and sadness and maybe a small explanation, "Autumn Without John Lees".

Reed, that is an excellent title suggestion, thank you very much.

 

I would like to clarify that Peter did know of the death of John Lees, who was our city's mayor, and therefore his demise was widely known hereabouts. However Peter didn't know about the abandonment of the orchard, which is understandable, as Peter lives on the far side of town, and has no need to travel this road frequently as I do.

 

Your title is better and I may adopt it if you don't mind. Thanks,

John, be my guest. I like your work and I would feel honored.

simple by excellent!

Incredible composition. Only one thought: Perhaps by cropping the upper part of the image, eliminating the small space between trees, can improve the light on the ground and the sense of scale?

Excellent B&W work, the composition is wonderful, you have a great talent, well done.

not really working for me; it's not a very engaging subject and tones, unlike in your other photographs, do not make it a challenging shot.

I can see what you mean Maria. Right from the start I wondered if this one needed the story to stand up. Without the story, it's certainly not as strong. Cheers,

actually, there's a story -- a story of decay on a sunny afternoon. not a bad one, John. The problem is that you seem to be confused or confusing me lately --wasn't your stand entirely against ratings? I highly respect your work and opionions but, following your call for fairness in ratings I am forced to rate photographs of yours that are average in my opinion. Normally, I would just leave a comment w/o ratings confindent that you know better what 'grade' to give it to yourself. I hope you understand.

I actually thought the original title was spot on John, gave me just the right mindset for viewing the image which I think works a treat. My preferences for some of the issues already discussed are to include a little more of the top of trees and definately remove the irrigation hose. I'd also like more sharpness in the background but since you've explained that wasn't possible, I wonder if going back on a misty morning might have been worth considering.

Good call on the revisit, I tried to get back there for just the reasons you mention. There were a few foggy mornings that would have been perfect, but I didn't manage to get there, and now the apples are just mush on the ground.

 

I've decided I'm happy with the irrigation hose, certainly wouldn't tamper with it, as it's threaded through the tree branches.

 

For now I'm sticking with the original title, but I have a spare if it's ever needed! ;-)

 

Cheers,

I think this is perfect as is and I understood the title immediately. It is a beatuiful image even in this small on-line version and I'm certain the print is exquisite. Wonderful.

There are so many of your B&W photographs that appeal to me it is difficult to know where to start...so I'll start with this one. The composition and subject matter are outstanding, but what really makes this photo speak to me is the incredible tonal range. I'm not sure if you use the zone system or not, but however you do it, it ain't to shabby. Best regards, Doug.

I don't have the patience for full zone system work Doug. I use a simplified exposure based on spotting the deepest shadow, and mostly get away with it. Thanks.