Alain Inspired

[James Newman]

I enjoyed seeing Alain Briot's new work so much that he inspired me to go back out and try it for myself. Imitation is flattery, right? Alain I hope you do not mind the attempt. I went out last weekend to my favorite place, Brazos Bend State park, early Saturday morning before anyone else showed up and before the storm front blew through. I took a number of different shots of different trees, experimenting with my "technique" until I got a few that at least looked like a good start. I was not able to look at them until tonight because my monitor had died on me. My new NEC showed up today, thank goodness, so I got to work on almost a week's worth of photos. I love the new monitor by the way.

Anyway, I never posted in this forum and I thought it was the right place for this topic. It is just me trying to express myself in a little different, more artistic way than usual. Hit me with your best shots and let me know what I might do differently or better next time to improve. I really like the idea of a few images like this hanging on my walls at home. I just need to capture the right ones the right way.
James Newman

 

[Rachel Foster]

I love that effect.

 

[DLibrach]

While I enjoyed the first image, the 2nd is the prize winner. Put it horizontal, print it large (on canvas?) and hang it up in a gallery. Doubt that many could tell it was a photograph and not a painting. Of course, I'm partial to abstracts like this.

Well done!

David

 

[Asher Kelman]

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James,

I must admit I was cynical about the exercise but I do like this picture. It's so important to present it with white space. I like it vertical as it is. Remind me of the technique. Is it a slow shutter speed or defocus?

Asher

 

[James Newman]

Thanks for the responses. I enjoyed the exercise and trying this method as much as the results. Yes Asher, this was just slow shutter, 1.6 seconds, handheld, and moving the camera up as it was being exposed. I used my 70-200mm lens at f/22 and 110mm.
Here is the tree that this image was taken from.
James

 

[Doug Earle]

These are very nice. Thanks for the technique, I'll have to try it myself.
Number one almost looks like there is a nude leaning in between two trees. Can you post a sharp image of that one as well?

Very creative.

 

[James Newman]

Thank you Doug. It's not the most pleasant of photos but here it is as you requested.
James

 

[Doug Earle]

James:
May not be the most pleasant of photos, but there are some nice lines in it that give it a sense of movement and grace. Your artistic version of it greatly enhanced the scene. I'm impressed.

 

[James Newman]

I found a few other likely candidates today at the arboretum. Some trees and bamboo made good subjects for this kind of shot.

 

[John Angulat]

Hi James,
I think the first shot follows your theme quite well. I like it very much.
The second shot...not really keen on it.
I like what you've done in the other images, pushing those images to their limits visually. I think the image retains too much of its origins, so to speak.