Pond (b/w infra-red)

Is everybody else speechless?

Makes me want to start shooting infrared.

Thanks, gentlemen. I don't get so many comments on my non-nude photos, but do I appreciate them...

grrr... browser just crashed after my long (and constructive!) critique!

Ohh well...

In summary, the tilt, foreground and 'less than good' printing hold this back from being a winner (IMO)

Thanks for the comment, Nige...could you maybe recreate a bit of your long critique? I know how annoying it is when one's browser crashes at the wrong time. But landscape and IR are both new to me so I'd be pleased to hear more.
Additional info: This is a scan of a negative, no actual print exists. I actually had a photo up for a while entitled " Whats wrong with my IR landscapes?" because they keep coming out the lab all funny, like real underexposed somehow, muddy, very low contrast. If I scan the neg and tweak the levels in PS, I get this. But its odd, and while lots of folks offered ideas, no one was able to offer a real clear-cut solution about it, except that I should develop them myself. (I'm getting there.)
Also: Tilt? Its a wide angle lens, but I didn't think I was getting that much distortion? Or do you mean that I did not crop the neg absolutely evenly?
So if you have time and your browser cooperates...

I think he means the picture looks like the horizon is tilting to the right... I keep looking at the top of the frame where its slightly overexposed. I have seen great pictures using infra red of "weeping willow" trees it gives it a very eery effect, I may be way off but I believe its best used taking pictures of greens (like trees and flowers) They use it from helicopters to determine dead trees (appearing dark grey) I think you are well on the way though. good luck

Hi Amy, I'll have another go!

As Earl clarified, the horizon seems to tilt down on the right, although I think it's more visual trickery than actual fact as the natural fall of the hills, the angled tree on the left and the ground falling away from the pond enhances the feeling. I say this cause the tree in the pond seems vertical (as most trees grow, except that one on the left of course!.. maybe it was really leaning to the left!!) and the bit of horizon on the right seems pretty level. However, I do think it's not quite right, a one degree anti-clockwise rotate fixes it. (I applied that and it seemed better)

Next, the foreground has that half chopped off grass... I personally don't like that. I would have included all of it most likely (not being able to see what's there it's hard to say, you could have been avoiding something else)

And lastly, printing yourself would enable your to print down (lower the brightness) of the clouds/sky and print with enough contrast that gives it some zap! It doesn't look too sharp also. Burning in those clouds digitally won't work too well, they'll just go grey where doing it 'traditionally' will maintain any detail that's hidden in the negative (inpect it using a loupe to see what's there).

Hope you get something out of that lot :)

Damn, you do play with light well.. I agree with cropping the foreground - I'd move it above the grass - getting rid of the dirt seems to make the lonely elegance of the dead tree pop more. I can't tell, but the tilt seems like it's the rotation of the picture in the browser, but that's probably an optical illusion. Nice haunting image (...and look ma, no nudes:)

Another captivating shot!

not sure i agree about losing the chopped tuft of grass--lose the grass, lose the stones in the foreground. not sure the dead tree repays the loss of those elements. could darken the clouds a little, but you've got a great thing going here--good enough that a jpeg is an inadequate base for making the necessary critical judgments. very good shot.

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