landscapes Cromarty Oil Bales

Wasn't sure what category to put this in, but I was delighted with

the result and pleased that I used Agfa Scala as I think the picture

is about texture, light and shade. Hope you like it.

Yes, I really like this: great sharpness and composition. Love the texture as well.

I have just posted something quite similar!

You hit your target in that the contrast between the structures on the back and the nature (although man-shaped) on the front is great.

I might have enjoyed slightly more space to the left, and a tad less on the right: why did you compose in this way?

Regards,

Nice contrast and sharpness on the hay bail, also nice lighting, I would prefer to see more background in this as I feel the hay bail takes up too much space. I enjoy your photographs Ian, but I have to say commenting and rating your pictures feels very one way, surely you could put a little more of your know-how back into this site, just a thought.

Thank you for your comments folks.

Firstly the choice of frame (square). The 6x7 original has space on the left which I agree is needed. This slide is used in projected shows, (my projector does 6x6 or smaller), the 6x7 trannys are very popular stock shots and are not readily available.

Secondly the choice of composition. I can only say how or why it works for me.

My eye was drawn to the bale by the converging lines of the cut straw field. Having gone there, the frame is virtually filled by the gigantic straw bale. I enjoyed letting my eye follow the textured spiral pattern to it's very centre. The proxmity and size of the bale allows more detail to be savoured. It was at this stage that I became convinced that black and white was going to be stronger than an equivalent colour shot. The danger is that the viewer has no where for his/her eye to continue after that as the view of the landscape is virtually obscured. Its saviour, IMO, is the distant shape of a sunlit oilrig framed so that it nestles in the only gap left in the frame. The oil rig has enough strength to cajole the eye from the haybale and on through the scene by virtue of it's placement, the strong lighting and the quirkiness of the subject. It is there that my eye finally rests and for me makes this a satisfying if unusual composition. Incidentally in one frame the sun moved off of the rig and the resulting photo has been consigned to the round filing cabinet. The picture died.

Scott I will make more effort to respond to other photographers pictures, needless to say there are so many good shots that to comment on all of them is overwhelming. Consequently I only rate and comment on those shots that really excite me or those photos that I feel have been unfairly maligned.