Raptor, reworked

I decided to add a gradient to the sky that was previously all white. The

original can be seen by clicking on the right arrow. Your comments and

suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

Stephen - I have gone back and forth and I have to admit that I am somewhat ambivalent about which one I would hang on my wall  but I am going to stick with this one and I won't even try to analyze why. Both are very good.

I glad that I could contribute in some small way with my comment on the other version. We need more of that but few of us have the time or inclination to do so. It is much more expeditious to assign a number and move on to the next image.

I instantly felt a much stronger preference to this version. I also wondered what  a version losing the top third would look like, I suspect it wouldn't look great on screen or as a PN thumbnail -, but as a large print, stunning.   

Best regards

Stephen

Perfect.

--Lannie

I like bot images. i think the gradient adds some sense of depth but it also moves away from th egraphic nature of the shot you talk about on the other shot. I am also wondering what happens if you crop off the foreground and start the image at the base of the trees. i think tis could increase the graphic quality of the image. I think it is an image that can be played with in many different ways and you could explore them all. Nice shot, well seen.

I really like this, adding the filter has given the sky an ominous feel that goes perfectly with the stark, leafless trees below, and the harbinger of doom, the Crow.

Without the filter it lacked the oppressive mood, the feeling that it's pushing down on you, almost forcing you into those uninviting woods.

Lovely image, compelling and powerful. Nothing more can be said of such a striking image. Just a though, and with all due respect. Did you by any chance take one without the raptor? I would imagine it would eliminate that speck of attraction to leave the pure "dance" of the trees against the empty sky. And yes, the gradient makes it look better IMO.

Best regards.

DG

I love everything about this image.  Great composition, great point of interest, B&W works superbly.  Wonderful, all-around.

I much prefer the gradient. It narrows the focus to the foreground. Otherwise the white space is a bit too bland.  Good image otherwise, regards rek.

This is a fantastic b&w work! Simple and effective! I really appreciate the empty space as it creates a nice contrast and at the same time provides plenty of room for imagination. 

I thank you all for your comments -- I appreciate the support, and you've provided some good thoughts to think about.

Like Tony, I'm a bit ambivalent as to which I prefer, and I'd probably go with each in different ways or for different reasons. 

I think Stephen makes a good point about the top portion being cropped but still looking good as a large print; in a small thumbnail like this, such a crop would be too ordinary -- it's only when you see the fine detail does a cropped photo begin to stand on its own without the need for something different, like extra space at the top.

Charles agrees with me on the more graphic nature of the version without the gradient, but then he adds something I hadn't thought of:  remove the foreground to make it even more graphic.  Interesting thought.  If I were to do so, I'd leave just enough of the foreground to have the trees connect to something, and I'd likely reduce some of the sky to get a balance that looks "aesthetically pleasing" (one of my favorite phrases along with "intuitively obvious").  Good idea.

I hadn't thought of the more ominous feel of this photograph with the gradient -- for me, it was just to break up the solid white of the sky (it really was this white and this plain when I was there; we're in an inversion, and it has been like this for days).  But considering the nature of the trees and a lone bird sitting in those trees, this could be developed to emphasize that aspect.  I selected the density of the darker band along with where and how fast it transitioned.  There are many other possibilities, and I'll bet some would emphasize the "Halloween feel" of the photo.  Another good idea to experiment with.

I hadn't considered a version without the bird (I think it's a red-tailed hawk), and I almost got another version with a crow or two harassing the hawk.  Even though it's quite small in the frame, it's a strong point of interest IMO, and its inclusion does de-emphasize just the trees themselves.  I liked how the trees formed a natural arc that just by luck fit within the focal length of my longest lens.  So again, I've got two ways to go, depending on what I want to emphasize or how strongly I want to focus on a line of trees that I really like.  Lots of choices.

As always, I've benefitted from feedback, and yours is greatly appreciated.  It's this kind of exchange that is the best feature of this site in my opinion and experience.  Thanks very much to all of you.

Beautiful and strong composition. Love the tones. Works well in black & white. The bird has an extra value added. Congrats.

Superb! I love the minimalist quality of this image... not to mention the light and tones.  It has a certain sense of empty/desolate space and mood.

The same comments as on the previous version.

Cheers.

Since you raise the issue of being in an inversion, I suspect an inverted version of this image would also be extremetly dramatic. Espcially on the white version and not the gradiated version. As I said this image has many things that can be played with.

Raymond, Martin, Bela, and Charles, thanks for your comments. I have added another alternative (eliminated most of the foreground) to the non-graduated version, and that seems to work well although then difference is not as great as I had imagined. Still, lots of possibilities with this particular composition.

I am inclined to choose this "Raptor, reworked" version as a preference.  The tone gradation gives the impression of a back glow behind the trees, which in turn accentuates the definition of the stark winter branches. I like the way the bird occupies the highest point in the trees, and although small in proportion to the image, its presence is strong and gives the impression it is viewing the world from a great vantage point. This is definately the one I would hang on my wall.

Compliments & Best Regards

Alf

Black and While, simple but impressive.  Give more room over the trees to think about.  Best Regards,