Counting Crows (Click for larger view)

Hi Alf,

I am excited about this image. Besides being excellent , it revealed several factors of interest:

1] You hand held the shot..........Excellent.

2] You used the 50 mm zoom setting at F/2.8...............Excellent

3] Your processing yielded coverage across the dynamic range that the Nikon D800 is known to have.......................Excellent.

Best Regards my friend, Mike

I have picked 3 Landscape shots at randon and converted then to B

& W . The question is........which one do I submit to a B & W photo

contest....if any? Does any of them strike you as having more impact

or any characteristics that you think might catch the eye of the

judges? Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated

Thank You!

ALF,

This is my favorite of your 3 random shots.  It has excellent b/w tones, is well composed, and definitely caught my eye / interest.  This would be hanging on my wall if I owned it.  Still trying to figure out your title, however.  Maybe my brain is still asleep.  Cheers, bb

Alf. First of al I doubt very much that these images were chosen at random, especially if you're considering submitting them for competition. If that was the case, then your portfolio is exceptionally strong, or you just got very lucky. The other two images do have something, but neither held my interest quite as powerfully as this one of the incomparable Buttermere. This soft, almost high key landscape is so simple yet so arresting. The cut of high contrast trees that slashes across the muted out of focus greys of the mist shrouded background makes the shot. Lovely. 

Alf, The misty mountain, the reflection and that great row of trees gets my vote as well but all 3 are strong contenders. 

Best,

Holger

outstanding composition and tones. the enlarged image is a whole different impact. well done, my friend.

This clearly must be seen large. It gets my vote for the contest, Alf.  Extraordinary shot! ~~~~~L

Alf,

  Wow....beautiful scene with wonderful contrast & reflection.  Excellent work!!  Take care, Patsy

Alf - this is the one I would submit. Well done.

Calm down!

Your not supposed to get too excited its not good for you : - )

Seriously though......I do like to try the F/2.8 "wide open aperture"  previously suggested by yourself, for landscapes as and when the opportunity arises.

Its not always the best choice, a lot depends on the terrain and the composition, but I have a great deal of success using the lens in this fashion.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards my friend!

Alf

BILL

Ahh yes the title, its not obvious and I wouldn't expect anyone to connect with it, but on one of the images I took this day (not sure if it was this one)  when viewed very large in the 72 MB RAW file I could see crows behind the trees at the back, as well as sheep. I didn't name it "counting sheep" in case people started falling asleep looking at it : - )

Sincere thanks for yoru invaluable input Bill, much apppreciated!

Alf

SCOTT

Random?

Well yes and no.

No, certainly not random from my entire portfolio I could have ended up with flowers or frogs. And No not even random from my entire landscape portfolio.

But yes random from a shortlist of about 40 of preselected images that I thought would convert to B & W successfully. and NO I'm never that lucky! : - )

This is one of my favourite locations, but its the first attempt at a B & W conversion of this scene.

Sincere Thanks for your meaningful feedback and going to the trouble of stating the reasons for your choice.

Regards

Alf

HOLGER

Many Thanks for taking the time to consider each one, I appreciate your interest and feedback very much!

Best Regards

Alf

ZSOLT

I mostly upload images at a larger size these days, I think it gives viewers a better opportunity to scritinize the image. Consequently the images are optimised for the larger view, and usually look better when viewed large.

Sincere Thanks for your positive feedback Zsolt, much appreciated!

Alf

LINDA

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, I value your opinions very much!

Best Regards

Alf

PATSY

Many Thanks for your thoughts and posiitve feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

DAVE

Many Thanks for your interest and for casting a vote! This one leads currently, by a very small margin!

Cheers!

Alf

As said on your "A Cool Reception" image, this one holds a stronger interest for me..... although I can't put a finger on my reasoning.

The Trilogy represents outstanding work and either one would do you proud in the competition.

The larger version here conjours up some mystique and allure, not to mention the evergreen thoughts of "how did Alf do that".

Congrats on all three and whichever image you chose to submit, I wish you well in your endeavours.

Good on ya mate

This is beautiful Alf! It really must be seen large to fully appreciate the mood in this one. I don't think I would ever want to enter the same contest as you. I didn't even know we had contests here! I must live under a rock. Gorgeous photography as always! Thank you for sharing. :)

My dear friend all of your BW images are good for what they are.  I would choose this one, If I had to pick only one, basically because of the minimalistic sense that I get.  Take care!

This one is so beautiful Alf. It is a place you have imaged before, but I never tire of this place. The reflections are lovely as is the clouds that are moving so close to the ground. They make for a very different image of this beautiful spot. Always so peaceful here.

Hi Alf,

it's a pity that only on weekends I find the time to check this site...

This is a wonderfully composed landscape and b/w fits really well here. In my opinion, it is (by far) the best out of those three you uploaded.

Nevertheless, I wonder whether the image could maybe benefit of moving the coast off the vertical center?

All the best for your contest!

Alex

Its difficult for me not to be biased in favour f this one as it is one of my favourite locations. Although it is 200 miles away I returned to this place on 6 times before I got my first decent shot, since then I have had many more succcessful days at this place.

This B & W version though is different than anything I've tried previously and I'm very pleased with the feedback.

"How did Alf do that" .......I guess I'm just stubborn and won't give up : - )

Many Thanks for your thoughts and explanations Grayham, I appreciate your best wishes also!

Take care mate!

Alf

TRISHA

I have learned that contests are the strangest of things, I have won 3 this year, two of them I forgot I had entered and the third one I didn't even know was a contest, I just sent a photo of my dog to a magazine.

My point being is that none of them represented what I would consider my best work. By contrast I entered another contest and carefully selected 15 of what I thought were my very best efforts and didn't even get one shortlisted.  I guess everything is is just a matter of preference and who knows what a judge will want to see on any particular day.

Hopefully the feedback I get from PN members will give me a rough guide for this one.

Sincere Thanks for contributing to the votes Trisha, it really is most helpful!

Warm Regards

Alf

PANAYOTIS

I am glad you like the minimilistic aspect of this one, I ahve to say it also appeals to me.

Many Thanks for your considerations and thoughtful feedback!

Have a good weekend myt friend!

Alf

GAIL

You have a great memory, and never fail to recognise this place, one of my favourite locations. Like yourself I never grow weary of seeing this place, it has some kind of magnetic attraction that draws me back there time after time, and yes I think it could be the sense of peace and tranquility that is so attractive.

I have never tried a B & W conversion, but I'm pleased with the results.

Don't forget to give me your verdict after a few more "sleeps" : - )

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

CHARLES

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback!

It was random from a pre-selected bunch of 40 that had 6 different shots of this lake, but not entirely random.

It is interesting to read your thoughts relating to the size of the upper and lower sections of the image and how it draws your eyes to the tree line. I think that this together with the suggestion by Alex could prove to be very helpful.

I am also very honoured you consider this a favorite!

Best Regards

Alf

ALEX

I think the image is already slightly off the horizontal center, but together with Charles observations and your suggestions I think you may have hit on a valid suggestion.

My first thoughts when taking the shot and processing it was to make sure I included the full reflection of the mountain. I also wanted to include the subsurface stones that are visible at the very bottom of the image.

However it does strike me as having more visual impact with your suggested crop..........its just a matter of now choosing how much.

Sincere Thanks for your suggestions and best wishes.

Best Regards

Alf

O My! Such an incredible scene and so very well made is your image of it too!!!

-r-

This is good. I think too much white 'space' in the upper half. The trees are lovely and so is the reflection.

Hi again, Alf. I guess I was a little imprecise here. You're right that the horizon is slightly off the center, but it's only to a minimum. I do very well understand your point concerning the reflection. The mind plays a kind of ping-pong game here between including the reflection as a whole and moving the horizon to the golden ratio (and thus losing some of the mountain's reflection).

Nevertheless, in this case here, I would decide in favour of the golden ratio composition.

Best regards,

Alex

Many Thanks for your interest and positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

TONY

I take on board your comments relating to the white space.

My objective was a minimilistic approach, and I didn't want to end up with a pano shape (I think these don't tend to do well in competiitons) Nonetheless you make a valid statement, and I really appreciate your honesty.

Many Thanks Tony!

Alf

ALEX

Not like you to be imprecise! : - )

But Yes, I think the trade off for sacrificing the mountain reflection in favour of better focus of the tree line, is a good call.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

beautiful, b/w is great there, nice composition.

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback.

I think this is my personal favourite, but probably not the most original of the three.

Best Regards 

Alf 

I have visited the three images again and while I like the trees in this one I have decided to stick with my first choice. This one comes in 2nd the way you have it here. Of course, I am not a judge and I have no idea what criteria they will use.

Thanks for coming back and explaining second choice, I do appreciate it.

I really have no idea what criteria judges use in these competitions either, I like this image but I think I'm influenced by the location, its one I love very much.  And for that reason I won't be choosing this as my entry. It is also something of an iconic view (though I've never seen it portrayed quite like this before) so if "originality" is one of the criteria they are looking for, then this probably wouldn't be considered.  It's all guesswork on my part though........probably some guy off the street with a blindfold and a pin : - ) 

Cheers Tony! 

Alf