Two Cows

Oh, wonderful! I have a soft spot for well done photographs of cows, and this one is really different from the standard bucolic scene :) I love that it's black and white with what looks like an approaching storm. The posture of the cows is just wonderful, as is the very simple but effective composition. Very nicely done! My only desire might be for a little more contrast, or a little less grey - I'm sorry I don't know enough technical terminology to explain that well, but it seems like the tones are on the indistinct side. I took the liberty of adjusting the image - not saying it's better, just a different approach :) I warmed up the tone slightly, added some contrast, and sharpened it a bit... all slightly more heavily than it needs in order to survive the upload. Again - lovely photo :)

Thankyou Kathy for the lovely comment and for taking the time to work on my picture. I like your version very much. I must say cows do seem to have a certain appeal to me too of late. Watch this space.

Thanks again

Matt

Some real image critique, as I used to do it in the arts history class ;)

Well, I think one of the secrets why it is lovely is the composition: the rule of 1/3 it is called - the accent lays at 1/3 of height and width.

Then, the focus on the cows is emphasysed by the arrangement of clouds - this is really "catching the right moment and right angle".

There is also something with the choice of the subject - two cows one near the other, like if they'd have to get a carriage behind them, but they don't. There is a painting by Romanian painter Grigorescu "Cart and oxen"; there is also a folk song - it reminded me of that (mirrored).

And finally there is no distracting element in the landscape.