Morning Frost

Aaron, I like it. Simple, bleak portrait of winter. I'm wondering if you also shot this with different compositions, especially with the tree less centered. Because of the sky, I can see why you centered this, though.

It's an awkward location, very messy grazing ground with lots of branches scatered about. Off centered left or right? I thought, given the "V" of the limbs it would suit being centered. Just curious, how saturated does this look on your monitor?

 

I would have liked to get even lower and use the perspective controls of a 4x5. Incidentally, I was doing some searching on the Tachihara 4x5 and your name came up. Do you still use it? Is it very good for $700?

It has a stark, cold look to it. A good representation of what winter is. A very nice capture.

Aaron, I wasn't really criticizing the "centeredness" here, just wondering if you shot it other ways too.

 

The Tachihara is a terrific camera for the price (there are better wooden cameras out there but you'll pay a lot more). It's strength: it's absolutely beautiful and ultra light. It's weakness: it's absolutely beautiful and ultra light. The camera doesn't perform well in windy situations and I've always treated mine with a lot of care. I also own a Calumet C1 8x10 camera: it's ugly, heavy, and super sturdy.

 

I don't know how much you want to spend, but the Tachihara system is going to cost you some. I got mine used (in like new condition) for just about $400. You're probably going to want two lenses, perhaps a 90mm and 150mm. Lens prices range widely based on quality, but plan on $200-500 per lens. You also need at least 5 film holders--though those are pretty cheap on e*ay.

 

Shooting 4x5 is both challenging and rewarding. When you get everything right the detail is amazing. I have not shot mine for about a year or so, but it's on my list of things to do. I'm more of an explore and shoot photographer and large format isn't as well suited to that approach as more mobile types of cameras.

 

If you have any other questions, feel free to email. If you lived closer, I'd be happy to loan you mine for a week or two to see if you like it.

Superb.

I love the tones .....

perfect in blue, nice proportions

Aaron, very good picture. I like the tonal range. Sky is smooth and clean. the tilted tree on the right adds to the composition. Still I'd like to know if you have another picture shot a bit lower, so that with the camera titled higher allowing, the branches to clear the tree on the left. Something about that tree on the left bugs me.

Honestly, it bugs me too! I've considered cloning it out. My camera was about 8 inches off the ground, 4 of which was ice and snow. I was as low as I could possibly get, but I definately wanted to be lower. I forgot to bring the ice auger along with me that day ; -)

Great photo!

Colors and tones are very good to suggest cold and a wintery feel. I like the tree centered - your background has two different halves, separated by the foreground tree, so it works like this, imo.

Beautiful capture of winter atmosphere. IMO an off center composition would have worked well here if the scene allowed it. As it is looks very nice. Good tones and exposure.

 

Kind regards.

"I thought, given the "V" of the limbs it would suit being centered."

 

I agree. Centralization is fine here imo. Perhaps non cnetralized options would work as well, but this image delivers peace for me, and that's enhanced by having the tree centralized. I like the toning in the sky as well. Overall a very nice photo - one of your best ones imo. Regards.

Thanks Marc, I've since cleaned this one up a bit. That one tree on the left always bugged me.

Thanks for your reply. For what it's worth, that tree at left didn't bother me at all. This is real life, and real life needs not be perfectly neat and tidy. This is not a kitchen sink, this is a landscape. :-) Cheers.

Nice sky and snow. I like the twigs shining over the darker sky. I think here the toning works quite well.