Horses & Pasture

My favourite of about 2 dozen shots I took at this location. I liked the

position of the horses in the frame and the backlight on the trees in the

background. Your views\critiques will be gratefully received. Best, LM.

Beautiful...I can't find anything to critique here.

Sweet, relaxing composition. Perhaps a color version might also work... Regards,

Thanks for taking the time & for finding this one faultless. My first. :-) Best, LM

I too found this one to be peaceful and serene. A colour version? Sure! Colour is how I printed it. Thanks for your input.

Len, the colour version appeals more to me, but I am colour addicted. I don't know why but the trees look a little oversharpened. I had the same issue with some of my own work recently, and abandoned sharpening when I couldn't get it right.

Sharp eye! The larger file that I resized for this page was already sharpened. Then I resharpened a tad for the web. Perhaps too heavy a hand was used. The colour version which I printed shows none of the oversharpening you speak of. When I sharpen for display or printing I usually use the very minimum I can to keep the manipulation as transparent as possible. I did selectively increase the contrast (about 10%) in the tree area, a manouver which may have emphasized the sharpening. Something to watch out for in future. Thanks for the alert! Always a pleasure. Best, LM.

I'm leaning toward b&w, Len, but maybe with the bright foliage darkened a bit in channel mixing. The position of the horses, a you've pointed to, is perfect, and that they are matching (one brighter, the other darker). The raised legs of the lighter horse is a real bonus.

 

I like how you've composed the shot given the near infinite options you must have faced. I usually take a very wide documentary shot under these circumstances, to play with cropping later in case I might have missed a splendid composition - a post learning tool, as it were.

Nice of you to jump in here. I think the B&W version is my favourite also though, as I've said, I did print the colour version. I've increased the contrast a tad on the foliage in the B&W version which may have pushed the sharpening over the edge. Perhaps I should have left it alone. Again, as I've said, I took about 2 dozen shots here, following the horses across the field from right to left as they slowly grazed their way across. I'm happy you noticed the bent leg as that feature was what tipped the scale for me from two or three other similar frames. What Joe Maisel refers to as the 'gesture', a small action which changes the dynamics of a shot in a big way. All my frames were taken handheld, at the equivalent of a 140mm lens & f5.5 around 1\200 sec. Even at that shutter speed some frames, on close examination, exhibited a bit of camera shake. Always a pleasure. Best, LM.

I have similar experiences with a few of my cameras, it's not so much that my hands aren't steady, rather the heavier-than necessary press of the shutter button causing the camera to tilt at the instant of shutter release even if well braced. I have attributed this to camera ergonomics and have learned to adapt. The cameras I have where this isn't an issue are both film - an old Nikon N8008s and FM with motor drive which are unfortunately retired for the most part.

I really like the BW version Len. It has contrasts that rival Ansel Adams! Excellent positioning of the horses and capture of the gesture! Paid attention to the latest LLVJ, eh?

 

Kathie really likes this one, particularly the fence lines and tree symmetry. However, she is a perennial fan of BWs and horses to start with!

While the colored version is very good, I somehow prefer this one. very nice tones. Lovely composition too --- with the fence cutting though the foreground and with amazing light. compliments -koushik

This one was taken on the Hockley Valley Rd. almost across from where we photographed autumn colours a couple of years ago. Tell Kathy she has good tastes. :-) I'll forward a full res. copy if she wants a print. Yes the latest LLVJ was a worthwhile view. Best, LM.

Len, I am admiring your composition and choice of tone. Both the images are very good. I feel the B & W version is more aesthetically appealing , due to play of light & shade.

I can't imagine this one without the foreground fence as it provides a base & frames the bottom nicely. I too prefer the B&W version and the amazing light is what made me bring my car to a stop & spend about half an hour at this location. Though it was mid day, not my usual favourite time to shoot, the hill behind is facing north and allowed for the sun to provide nice rim light. An unplanned shoot, one of natures gifts to me this autumn. Call it the 'Serendipity Factor'. Gotta love 'em. I know you're a long way from here so thanks for making the trip. Best, LM.

You snuck in there while I was answering Koushik. Welcome, and thanks for your thoughts. If you've read the previous dialogue you know the B&W version is my favourite also. And the composition is my favourite of about 2 dozen shots. Not what I set out to photograph that day but who am I to decline a gift? Best, LM.

I've enjoyed going through your portfolio. You've developed a very clean, uncluttered style over the years that fits particularly well with your nature and scenic work.

Mike, Thanks for the visit. Happy you liked what you saw. Your own portfolio is worthy of a few visits as it is too large to do justice by it with just a short one. Best, LM.

This is very appealing and the two horses seem to be perfectly placed. Congrats!

I was using an old Canon A540 set to 'continuous' shooting so I had about 2 doz. frames to choose from, following the horses as they moved across the pasture from right to left.   The positioning of the horses was most pleasing from this frame.  I originally printed the colour version but now that you've brought this one to my attention again I find I like the B&W version too.  As a result I'll likely print this B&W rendition.  For prints up to 12" x 18", at least, I've taken many satisfactory, if not award winning, images with this modest P&S camera.  Not to be sneezed at, in my opinion.  Best, LM.