Minimalist Palouse #1

Boy, do I like this photograph! For the life of me, I cannot tell if the truck is out in the field, or if it is actually on the highway? Excellently composed, and exposed. Very dramatic sky and wonderful lighting conditions on the middleground hills. Maybe this could be sharpened just a skosh? Beautiful work, Christal. Cheers! Chris

The truck was smack-dab in the middle of the field.....no road. It's like it was just waiting for me to take its picture. I agree about the sharpness.......I'll correct it and re-post. Thanks for your ideas on this.....it helps me fix it while it's still early in the game. I'll try to get my other photos sharpened a little more before I post them.

Christal... Wow, I like this one too! The light is so dramatic. Great shot... Mike

 

OK, this could be my favorite Palouse shot of all time. Great drama, color, composition and the clouds are outstanding. High five on this one.-Jim

Wonderful compostion and your color rocks. 6/6 from me on this one...RAY

Please leave a comment. Thanks!

good shot of harvest. the golden color of field contrast very nicely with cloudy sky. truck is placed with rule of third. I like it. Thanks, Vandana

Una imagen muy interesante y atractiva.

Christal, long time no see... Beautiful shot here, with excellent contrast in the color between the sunny area and the one in the shade where the truck is. The bluish clouds in the background is perfect with the yellow of the fields. Congrats!

Excellent colours and composition, and well chosen! (I would have preferred a horse or a nude female in the truck)

Regards and good luck!

Very intriguing, why is the truck there?

Great shapes and colours and a nice touch of drama in the sky.

 

Simon

I forgot... What I would do is increase the contrast between light and shade in the field and evidence the truck just a bit.

This is actually a very common sight in the Palouse. This is why I call this series 'Minimalist'.....you'll often see one small out-building or tractor or truck in the middle of a field. There wasn't anyone in the truck, and there weren't any people for miles around. In fact, we were stopped in the middle of the road to take this shot. It struck us odd also, and that's the appeal, I guess. It really is an amazing place......simple, yet beautiful. Stay tuned for another similar picture I have with a story behind it. And thanks again for your visit. Hey, have you checked out Antonio Bassi's work? He's a great photographer and a professional violinist from Italy who coincidentally went to music school here in Indiana where I live.

Excellent composition and lighting, at first I thought that I would prefer sunlight on the truck but have now changed my mind, regards

PDE

I appreciate your comments on this, and I've worked up another one, but I've had fits with it. In order to do what you suggested, Antonio, I kept blowing out the patch of cloud in the upper center. I worked too hard on the original to give it up just yet. So I'm attaching the revision below. Please let me know if it is/isn't an improvement or where I should go from here.

This is definitely an improvement, IMHO. It feels more crisp, contrasty, and soemhow feels a bit more bright/luminous. I think with a bit of judicious tinkering with Curves and Layer Masking you'll find the right balance without losing the highlights in the clouds (top center, and top right). This is worth tinkering with as your skills improve, Christal; it is one fabulous image. Keep up the good work, and keep posting your renditions; and we'll all keep chipping away on 'em! (For better or worse ;>) Cheers! Chris

What a cool shot! Great sky, great subject, love the DOF. I would agree with the other poster, maybe could use a little sharpening.

 

I have been meaning to get out to this area for the past few years......Have not made it yet:( I am less than 3 hours away, so I really have no excuse. Is this a recent shot of the Palouse?

 

Regards,

 

Mark

Thanks for your comment, and I'll be replacing this with a sharper version. Yes, this was taken about a month ago. Everything was this color, which was beautiful, but from what I've seen of the Palouse, each season has its appeal. We really loved the area.....you should make the effort to get down there. Eat at a little place called the Green Frog in the small town of Palouse.

the image is truely great, but the title is a masterpiece!

 

Mauro

Thanks for your attention to this photo! There is such beauty in the Palouse area......but in a very minimalistic sense.......simple lines, uncluttered landscapes. shapes, shadows, dramatic skies. It really is a photographer's dream. Since you're such an avid traveler, maybe some day you can visit that area. Thanks, Mauro!

Do you know what? In these last days my wife and I are making some early plans for next year's summer family travel (she, me and our two sons - today 9 and 8 yo). And at the top of the list there is the northwest USA and southwest Canada (oregon, washington, british columbia and glacier national park). Should you have some (a lot of) suggestions for the travel and for some "photographic stops", we will really appreciate.

Anyway I suppose that all of this is a little bit off-topic here so - just in case - my email is: mauro.moroni@mac.com

 

Regards

 

Mauro

This is magic of Palouse and you did great!

Wonderful light and very nice composition. Simple, but very impressive.

I am late to the party and I am sorry I missed this one. Wonderful. A little of shade at the bottom balance with a dark sky and then bright shades and textures in the middle. This is very appealing.