Forest Deep

Spotted on a field trip to the Wye Marsh Conservation area in

Midland, On. Converted to B&W on a whim, I actually like this one

better though they both have their appeal. Your comments\critiques

will be gratefully received. Best, LM.

Len, this has really attractive tones. Whatever you did, it's working for this image very well. I also see a clear path which gave enough space for my eyes to explore. The lateral foreground, surrounded by the dark trunks provided a nice natural framing.

 

Well, Len, send this one in to get a high-res scan and print it large. I'm pretty sure the large print will give you more of a being-there effect.

BTW, Len, did you ever visit the Leica building in Midland before they close it down? :(

Arthur, Thanks for happening by & for your validation. Nice to get that once in a while. You've given me such a swelled head now that I'm seriously considering your suggestion to print it......large. No, I've never been inside the Leitz plant in Midland but I did go the Leica School (Wetzlar) for 3 days in Nov. 1963. Even got a diploma to prove it:-) Eat your heart out! Best, LM.

Hi Len, I like this one quite a bit. To appreciate it, you not only have to view the large version but also step back a ways from the screen -- and then it really does have the "you are there" feeling. I particularly like two things here. The first is how you've framed the shot -- the trees on both sides of the frame in the fg work very well in setting up a "tunnel" effect and leading us into the scene. Interestingly, I find that the vegetation at right not only doesn't interfere with this effect but contributes to it. Second, the sense of depth and perspective here is very good.

 

I myself tend to be uneasy with compositions like this -- typically I want there to be more fg interest, rather than just a path leading us in. That's not a criticism, but something I'm trying to figure out for myself compositionally. My point is that I do like this sort of image very much -- this one is excellent -- but I wonder if something more is needed in the frame. (Or whether it's just me -- frankly I suspect the latter is the case.)

 

I wonder also how this particular shot would look from a lower camera angle.

 

The B&W is very effective here. This is definitely an image that I could put on a wall and enjoy studying repeatedly.

I have seen a lot of similar shots and would not been able to tell why this one succeeds and others not. Thanks to the comments here, I see the effect of a tonal gradient in the trees, a perfect lead-in together with the path. Perhaps this issue makes the difference between B&W and color, the diversity of bark colors could spoil this effect. Chris has an interesting idea with the camera point, however I guess that the lead-in would be less strong from a lower position. INteresting to see that you can get excellent results with color film converted to B&W, it is probably just a matter of skilled B&W conversion.

Chris, I appreciate your input on this, my latest offering. Your ponderings are mine also. I took this as I came upon it, one shot, with camera on tripod about chest high, comfortable, but not more effort than that. What I must do in future when I happen on a scene that I think is worth shooting is to take a FEW frames, high, low, vertical, horizontal etc. In other words WORK it a bit! Get the most out of it; cheaper than going back and things are never the same: different light, different vegetation arrangement, etc. I'm glad you didn't hold back your feelings about it. If you're right, I learn something, if your wrong, you learn something. Win-win I say. Best, LM.

 

Carsten, The removal of colour from the scene reduced it to it's essentials of shapes, tones, and textures. When I did this it had a different feeling, one I liked better than the original colour version. I saw it in a way that I didn't see it at the time I was photographing it. I guess I wasn't 'seeing' in B&W. Now, where can I find a high res. scanner? :-) Best, LM.

Hi Len, after all the technical and previous comments, I will tell you that for me this one caught the SPIRIT of the forest, the texture of it, the light in between the trees, the low vegetation, and the path entering the scene by forming an angle that leads you to the lighted area at the end

 

I think as well that the B/W conversion brings the essentials and a different kind of the regular forest images.The two trunks in the begining are forming a kind of a " frame" for the trees along the path.

 

It is a good thinking to take images from many angles while seeing a scene you like( I do it as well).

 

Seeing it in large is so tangible that I felt being in it....

I like it a lot Len, and yes, this one will be very nice enlarged on a wall.

 

Greetings, Pnina

Pnina, Thanks for your kind & thoughtful remarks. Perhaps the 'spirit' of which you speak was my subconscious motivation for taking this one. I don't usually stop to analyse the WHY of taking most scenes; something just attracts me & I react, but you do offer a possible explanation. The framing with the trees on either side is the only thing that I remember doing consciously. You and Chris seem to be in agreement on that point. Between the two of you you've got me heading for my commercial printer. :-) Stay tuned! Best, LM.

Len if your head gets any larger than your bio pic - SnowWhite and the 7 dwarfs would be living there ....... (-;

 

I like this alot too Len - for the reasons that have already been covered. I'd darken it slightly and up the contrast a bit but that's just a preference - not an improvement - Good Job Buddy !

Ken, " ..........Snow White & the 7 dwarfs would be living there." Who said they're not? :-) I've already darkened the tones from the original colour shot and being this was already a high contrast film I didn't want to blow out the bright area, top, right of center. But for you I'll give it a try! Best, LM.

Hell not that much Len (!) - ease off on those reins Cowboy ..... (-;

 

Actually, having gone thru all this, I think I like your original version better ! So it's a good thing.

After six year good that I have found this Masterpiece.

Honestly Len, this is one of the most beautiful black & white I have ever seen. The B&W tonality of this capture exceed A.A. zone system.

 

This is the third or fourth time in the past couple of days that a PN peer has commented highly on one of my B&W landscapes.  Feels good!  As I said to someone earlier today I think that there are many times that a B&W version of an original colour file (as this one is) trumps the original.  I share your feelings about this one as I was most pleased with the converted version.  So the lesson, if there is one, is that if you are not fully satisfied with the colour version try it in B&W.  It won't always work but sometimes it sings. Always good to have your opinion, especially when you lavish praise.  :-)  Just don't hesitate to point out a perceived fault if you think you see one.  Best, LM.