Dam Reflections

These dam(n) reflections always grab my attention...

How about you?

Pete, the reflections work very well here, I think, and partly because of the fence which effectively cuts through them, rendering them more than as something significantly more than a mirror image of the top half of the photo. The fence, therefore, harmoniously complicates the image and thereby affords the viewer more to consider as he wanders about the scene.

I think the image is more interesting as it is presented here, but am curious how its emotional impact would change if the reflections were not present, from being polarized out, for example.

I guess a minor complaint would be the weight of the bottom left corner, which feels emptier than all other areas of the composition.

The green hue spread across the hills is exceedingly rich.

Peter, I think that this is one wonderful picture with those dam(n) pictures. :>)

When I first saw your image in the forum I studied it for a while and decided to submit a comment. I noticed Doug's comment and his reads so close to what I would have said that just read over his again for my comments. You did some good dam(n) work there.

ed homan

I did not see this farm dam from my car. My attention was drawn by the low altitude sunlight caressing the verdant hillside.

The very first shot was taken from the roadside, before climbing a gate and wandering towards my left, where I was fortunate enough to find these reflections.

Having said all that, I'm a sucker for simply recording things as I find them. Afterwards, during the post processing stage, I have the opportunity to 'improve on the aesthetics'. Given the fact that most of us read images from left to right, I wonder if a 180 degree horizontal flip might have been better? Keeping in mind the viewer, "as he wanders about the scene."

I reckon that bottom left corner problem would then be solved at the same time...

The first shot...

That's interesting, Pete.

You're right about the 180 flip solving the LH corner problem, but it then presents a much worse dynamic in that the fence tends to lead me right out of the picture; since I do read from left to right, the fence line takes me right out and into the border.

Without the flip, I attempt a left to right reading, following the training of my youth, but am moved, ( corralled is a better word ) back up into the picture to the left where I eventually find the cattle, and the color, and the light, and everything else up there.

In the unflipped version, the fence actually keeps me in the picture, whereas in the 180 version, it herds me out and along my way.

How do you read the flipped version yourself? Do you prefer it?

As I linger over your flipped version, I am able to keep myself from exiting out of the RHS, and focus on the cattle, but I do find less wandering going on. I find I'm hurried to the grazing area and then more or less nudged out towards the top right.

In the original version, I find I am able to explore the various quadrants with more freedom. The light on the fence posts, lower right, is a fine counterbalance to the dark black silhouettes against the bright green slopes.

Consider the examples, above, where the reddish line represents entry into the image. Notice how the flipped version whisks the eye nearly all the way out before attempting to divert it, while the first version arrests that movement quickly, and redirects it (blue lines).

Notice also how the original version creates a circular movement within the image after the eye reaches the cattle, whereas the flipped version continues to press the viewer out (yellowish lines).

In the top image, I also darkened the LH corner a little, to address that other problem.

Just a quick response to acknowledge your analysis, Doug.

I'm working today and will not get to my home computer until later tonight.

Your pathways through both versions are telling and may I add quite correct.

I don't like the flipped version at all, but more for the fact that it doesn't represent what I saw and recorded. Looking at it again, I can't believe how quickly my eyes also leave this altered scene.

The preview look enticing!

Thanks again, Doug.

Darkening that LH corner was an effective solution...