Ron Morse said:
I enjoy landscapes but have no experiance with it.
I like the way the water leads the eye into the background in this shot but can not get it to satisfy me. I have taken shots here for 3 years and never really known if I was getting it right or not.
Should this have been cropped, was it framed right or is it just worthless. I notice that I did get it a bit contrasty although it was a very bright day.
I am not at all thin skinned so what is the verdict?
Ron,
It appears that the others have attempted to answer a question,
"How would anyone here approach making a stunning picture from what's to be seen in this location?"
However, that I think may not be what you are asking.
The image does not satisfy me either! However, there are a number of complex issues dealing with intent to express a vision (or not), produce a pretty landscape scene that one might see on a postcard, (or not) or whether you are struggling with how you look at your images or what you do to them!
It appears that the file has been processed a lot. It would be great for you to post one that is less altered, unless for artistic reasons you have decided on these colors I see.
The next thing is that I find nothing inherently wrong with the subject.
I find I must be a hunter, stalking my prey, to move here and there, choosing a vantage point until I'm master of the scene as I choose a particular viewpoint that excludes what doesn't belong and includes what I wish.
Here, I'd ask, what your intention is. I can't say the bottom if the picture shouldn’t be like that, as you have decided that the water is open and suddenly appears/disappears with no marker.
Now did you decide that?
This is where Nicolas would be crashing a book on the table in shock or on my head if I persisted.
I can't and mustn't create or damage your art.
I can only say that there are some choices one might explore and perhaps it fits in with your vision, perhaps such ideas could be an antithesis.
When you write, " I have taken shots here for 3 years and never really known if I was getting it right or not." this means what?
I'd ask, in all seriousness, if you don't know whether or not your vision and feelings are being made into your image by what you do, then how much harder this judgment would be for anyone else who has no idea of al the things you want to express.
If you knew what your wishes are and vision is (and you may have not had such self-revelation of any inner thoughts as of yet), then maybe you could start to articulate that to yourself on paper and think about it.
You have made hundreds of artistic decisions already.
I cannot know whether for example, the blue I'm seeing is anything approaching the true color of the water (unlikely) or your artistic design. Let's guess for a moment that you had no intention to arrive at that blue, then we might start exploring the area first since the whole image might look different (would for sure be different).
I can imagine someone deciding the water should be red or whatever. That is why I ask. I've been to many many exhibitions where the artist has invented his or her own palatte. This is very common. However, this is by intent. If this was not your intent, than that very accidental change might be preventing the expression you are seeking.
Each change intended or not introduces a new esthetic and can suppress all the feelings and reactions inherent in what captivates you in the first place and is the engine that drives you to keep returning to this subject.
Should this have been cropped, was it framed right or is it just worthless.
Being cropped v. being worthless is hardly a reasonable choice.
Only you can say if it is worthless, since only you have the one key to measure this image: your vision.
This part of making an image is indeed a huge struggle sometimes. Ansel Adams didn't just arrive take his picture, get it printed and then had his steak and beer!
Scouting the picture can take hours on several days. Return visits give now ideas. Just the appearance a particular cloud formation or some crows or an itinerant cow or worker or a row boat could make your inner ideas coalesce. Only then can you can grasp and understand how to express this on paper.
I make all these statements in all seriousness without any prejudgment, except to say don't be over self-critical and destroy something potentially beautiful.
You have, IMHO, the right, power and authority to do anything you like.
Don't let a fool like me or anyone else tell you what you must do to get it right. All I can do is react or not, return to it or not, treasure it or not. The great thing is that you have already measured the picture against your expectations and it is so far unsatisfying. But why? Your not making a pretty post card or you are not expressing some feeling or idea. The former is the area we can all jump in to give ideas. The latter is more challenging.
This is a tough struggle for both you and for all of us who would like you help you achieve your vision.
I can say that the countryside is intriguing and has many photographic possibilities.
Maybe you could show this image uncorrected and some others taken at the same time with different views of the same area. Add a little more of your approach. Are you trying to say something? You don't need to in order to produce a worthy picture! However, you need to know yourself.
Did you decide on the colors?
Are there landscape features (a hut, road, tree, dock, pole and so forth, you have purposely excluded?
If you want it to express a particular feeling, then describe that.
I'm open to the idea that this is a struggle on a more basic level:
How do I develop an image file in Photoshop or other software?
How do I get a pretty postcard landscape picture?
If such are the questions, we can provide many suggestions and then Nicolas will not jump on me for interfering with someone's creativity, (as he indeed should if I did)!
One could ask the question,
"How would anyone here approach making a stunning picture from what's to be seen in this location?"
Asher
