Mossy Creek

[Dwayne Oakes]

Thanks for taking a look !

-Nikon D80/Nikkor 18-200mm VR/Nikon Capture NX2
-1/6 second @ f/8
-18mm
-ISO 100
-Ev -2/3
-VR off

Dwayne Oakes: Mossy Creek​

Take care,
Dwayne Oakes

 

[Asher Kelman]

An existential challenge in a photograph, perhaps?

Dwayne Oakes: Mossy Creek
​

Dwayne,

I find this an unusual presentation with neither the foreground nor the background utterly winning in dominance of the image frame. My weakness for the pastoral, picturesque and the thought of discovering Marion with Robin hood in hardly a clearing, just light filtering through the trees, enough to light their bed of soft autumn leaves. So, of course, Id want much more of the perfectly magic green, so well painted landscape of your background, with trees, bushes and grass.

However, the streaming milky, even spirited water in the closer part of the frame gets my attention, (despite my general lack of affinity for slow shutter milky waters as is the fashion everywhere). Also the lack of the width I'd like in either the landscape or in the water, makes me feel closed in, as if I myself am in the water with the immediate issue of what is happening to me.

So your image here is, perhaps, not constructed to show what's there, but rather to draw attention to ourselves being there, low in the water and lacking the ability to see the world as well as one would like. I find this then, somewhat of an existential and mental challenge and for these reasons, it gets moved to a kind of picture that we can look at in so many different circumstances and get respite, rest, re-calibrated or even reduced to evaluating on'es own worth in saving.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Mossy Creek re-revisited! An arrow points the way!

Dwayne,

There's even more to this picture! The water appears so powerful and dominant on my second visit. One tree is horizontal like and arrow and seems to point in the direction of the rushing water. To me it's interesting how the mind must be working on appreciation even when one leaves an experience! For sure the picture didn't change. I just understand it a little better now, perhaps!

Asher

 

[Dwayne Oakes]

Hi Asher,

Outstanding c&c Asher as always ! Thank you very much ! It seems there are little mysteries
to explore in my work that sometimes get overlooked on the first reaction.

Example would be the little candy cane shape water forms that are in front of the rock
in the MG left, there are two of them side by side. This is where photography (stills) shine
in showing detail. In my opinion that is the reason why I think photography we be around
for some time and not be taking over by the video camera.

Take care,
Dwayne Oakes

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Asher,

Outstanding c&c Asher as always ! Thank you very much ! It seems there are little mysteries
to explore in my work that sometimes get overlooked on the first reaction.

Example would be the little candy cane shape water forms that are in front of the rock
in the MG left, there are two of them side by side. This is where photography (stills) shine
in showing detail. In my opinion that is the reason why I think photography we be around
for some time and not be taking over by the video camera.

"It seems there are little mysteries
to explore in my work that sometimes get overlooked on the first reaction." The capability of a photograph to keep giving a new experience is part of what makes a work of art alive and worth revisiting beyond technical brilliance, beauty, decoration and narrative. Yes you picture has more to give each time I return. Still, the original formulation of zones of water and land did profoundly disturb me and I am drawn to it despite my feeling that this was awkward. Without that struggle, I might have just passed by and said, "Nice" and then , "Next?"

Asher