color There Are More Things in Heaven and Earth

Comments/suggestions welcome.

Beside the fact that my skills in offering a decent critique are abysmal...I'm quite stunned by this photograph...and haven't a clue as to what I want to say. I keep trying to put my finger on just what it is that makes it so appealing...but can't. I'll think about it some more and come back ...

Okay, now you are just messing with our minds, or I am taking crazy pills.

Can I have a handful of crazy pills too...Jeff, I don't know what you've done here; but this is good; real good. Geez Louise, you gotta quit doin' this to us - Matthew Brady meets Neal Stephenson. Cheers! Chris

Wow. Noah's Arch stranded.

Great post processing, Jeff, from very dark to to very bright. The composition is perfect, when I saw the thumb, I thought it was a billboard or painting. I recently read and have tried HDR in CS2 and it is made for scenes like this. I don't have a 32 bit camera so I do not get the full advantage, but I still get great dynamic range in 16 bit.

John: Glad you found this of interest. I had fun playing with it. I don't think it necessarily has any deeper meaning.

 

 

 

Joseph T: Are your two statements connected? Where might I find these crazy pills? They sound like fun.

 

 

Chris H: This is an attempt to make a compelling landscape out of nothing, absolutely nothing.

 

 

Frank: The animals were lining up two by two behind the billboard. They're just camera shy.

 

 

Manuel: This took some digital tinkering to get this right. It's not an HDR. So far, my attempts at trying HDR look rather weird. This is just an exercise in curves and color correction (or shaping) and some selective masking. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unique and nice composition...congrats

Definitely interesting, Jeff. Your experiments with photo techniques always give us pleasant surprises.

Excellent work Jeff.Best regards my Friend.

It's a big skylight right? I must say a very unique image and so artistic too. Your work is never boring. Well done. Take care (6/7) PN

Amazing abstract composition Jeff ,with great impact.

How fun this is!!! It must have taken days to paste all those trees in front of the old barn. Great work!

wonderful capture...

Jeff, you have composed a second set of sky and earth.... so we have the natural and the creative one... nice juxtaposition ! I don't know where you have found it but it create a nice image.

I imagine life's happier there,wherever you are.Sky seems too dark,but the reflection is rather optimistic.

Best regards.

Could be fine front page for Philip Kotler's book..

What a stunning rural tableau you've created....I love it! The old barn seems suspended on the fragil "arms" of the trees, as if they're raising it in exaltation to the stormy skies, a manmade sacrifice to the cloud Gods. Very evocative image Jeff....keep playing!

There are two approaches that one can take in criticizing a picture. One is the technical route where one tries to objectively describe what is in front of the eyes and explain how well (or badly) it was created. The other is the subjective way where one evaluates a picture based on its impact on the viewer. A connection is established between the artist's work and its audience based on personal experience, preference, ideology or belief.

 

This is a fantastic picture. I am in awe by just looking at it because it takes me to a fascinating place where I want to be without worries. The warm colors of the trees and bushes in conjunction with the dramatic sky above it invite me to linger around and admire this powerful juxtaposition of scenes. The upper part of the barn acts as a mirror reflecting the sky, and what we see from that reflected world is an oasis of tranquility with blue skies and puffy clouds, contrary to the ominous sight full of drama unfolding above it. It engages me and makes me wonder how you accomplished this. There is a surreal element in it that intrigues me. The strip of reflected oasis symbolizes heaven on earth.

I'm going to be the contrarian here. I think your some of your last posts have been your best. The "history" one and the wide open sky and grounds, and the house with the sun in the panes have been superb. So I hope you will forgive me an honest reaction here. The roof to me appears as artifice. When I first say the thumbnail I perceived it to be a drive-in movie screen, but I couldn't process why it was different top to bottom. When I open this up large, the roof seems too flat. I'm assuming you brought in the sky from another image. Technically I think it is excellent. My major problem is that the roof just doesn't seem to belong. As Fred G. said about one of my images, it doesn't ring true. I think I would like this image more with a roof that matched the sides. The trees and the light in them and the stormy sky background are magnificent enough to carry the image IMHO. I can see that far more accomplished photographers than I have found it successful, and I hope you will not be upset in my departure from the usual glowing praise of your work. Maybe I just need to go clean my glasses. I'm going to come back after awhile and see how I feel about it then.

I see all kinds of repetition. That and the appealing colouring is what makes this work so very good. That and the rather classical composition.

Mehmet: Thanks for your thoughts.

 

 

Cherlyn: Always happy to surprise you.

 

 

Janusz: Thanks a million.

 

 

Cynthia: A skylight, yes. If I start to veer into boring, please alert me.

 

 

Alina: Glad you like it.

 

 

Shawn: The trees grew in front of the sign without any digital coaxing on my part. All natural, baby.

 

 

Atanu: Thanks. Always appreciated.

 

 

Pnina: I liked the two moods juxtaposed. I took the original shot a couple months back, but couldn't figure out how to make it work. Thanks.

 

 

PhoS: The sky is indeed dark. But it makes the light all the brighter.

 

 

Vladimir: Now if I could only figure out how to market this photo to dear Mr. Kotler....

 

 

Susan: Thanks. The trees did seem a little bit like a chorus line for the main show....

 

 

Adan: The oasis idea is a good one. I wanted the billboard to seem like it was offering a counterpoint to the storm. I was thinking of an old Stevie Nicks line: I've never ever been a blue calm sea, I've always been a storm.

 

 

David: Contrarian indeed. Your first instinct was right. This was a drive-in movie screen that was refashioned into a billboard and is now overgrown with weeds and makeshift fences behind my office building. I pass by it when I walk to the Dunkin' Donuts next door for an afternoon coffee. I've seen it so often and am so familiar with it, I'm surprised anyone could mistake it for a barn. But now that you (and others) mention it, it could be seen that way. I wasn't trying to paint a barn roof something peculiar (although believe me, I've seen plenty of odd barn roofs in my day). I was envisioning this as a strange advertisement on a billboard without context. Anyhow, I'd rather get sincere criticism than false praise any day.

 

 

Ton: I spent most of the time on color, rather than composition. I'm glad you like the color, which is the part of the photo of which I'm most happy.

I haven't read the reviews yet so I may be repeating what already has been said but in this picture you have managed to bring heaven down to earth and encapsulate it in an old sign. Wonderful and inspiring work, Jeff, really exhibition-worthy material.

The roof thought was caused by the fact that there is an overhang on the right side. I have no right to request it, but is there any chance we can see the original image? You've really piqued my curiosity.

 

And watch out for those donuts. They have been the my ruin. Yum

Jack: Thank you always. Enough said.

 

 

David: Your wish is my command.