In Perspective, Planet: Nachusa Grasslands

[Tom Robbins]

First Frost at Lowden Road​

Hello folks, the Midwest was primarily prairie until the mid-nineteenth century. The Nachusa Grasslands in Northern Illinois is an attempt to restore a small portion of the land to its native state. The motivation is laudable, but the scale of the effort reveals its quixotic nature. In this shot restored grasslands are on the left side of the road, the row crops typical of the area are the right.

 

[Tom Robbins]

Second Verse, Same as the First

This one is as underwhelming as the first, no doubt about it.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Tom,

Underwhelming? On the contrary! Sorry for not chiming in earlier, I have been terribly busy.

Firstly, I like the quality of the light in both images. Especially the 2nd one has a painterly look. Re. the 1st one, I am somewhat distracted by the tree on the right and the harsh shadow it casts across the road. It also obstructs the view to the right of the regular crops. Would it be an idea to take the same picture, but move your vantage point forward till you get past the shadow area? Mind you, I am not certain at all that this will improve the composition, I am just thinking aloud .

Thanks for sharing these. I can almost imagine standing there myself and feel the freshness of the frost and the clean air. They both show the dawn of a beautiful day.

Cheers,

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hello folks, the Midwest was primarily prairie until the mid-nineteenth century. The Nachusa Grasslands in Northern Illinois is an attempt to restore a small portion of the land to its native state. The motivation is laudable, but the scale of the effort reveals its quixotic nature. In this shot restored grasslands are on the left side of the road, the row crops typical of the area are the right.

First Frost at Lowden Road​

I also have issues with the shadow. but maybe that's what you want. If so, then we can look at your unique vision with that mind. OTOH, one can nuance this with cropping of the unshadowed lower portion before that.

Cropped​

Then having looked at the result and seeing that the telephone pole loses its base, I go back to your original and nor find it fine as it is.

The shadow, like some bump in the road, is something to get over!

Asher

 

[Tom Robbins]

Hi Asher and Cem,

I certainly can understand your concerns regarding the heavy shadow across the road. It is an unusual choice of composition, isn't it? And, when the dust settles, maybe not a particularly good one. However, I was under the influence of an infatuation with shadows at the time and it took a while to shake off its influence.

I'll blame the whole thing on this one photo taken a little earlier -

Midtown Road, Ogle County Illinois​

As you can see, the rolling terrain and road heading toward a nuclear power plant was lit up with spotty light from a mostly cloudy sky. The world was full of interesting shadows for the next month or two. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Thank you both for looking and commenting.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Asher and Cem,

I certainly can understand your concerns regarding the heavy shadow across the road. It is an unusual choice of composition, isn't it? And, when the dust settles, maybe not a particularly good one. However, I was under the influence of an infatuation with shadows at the time and it took a while to shake off its influence.

I'll blame the whole thing on this one photo taken a little earlier -

Midtown Road, Ogle County Illinois​

As you can see, the rolling terrain and road heading toward a nuclear power plant was lit up with spotty light from a mostly cloudy sky. The world was full of interesting shadows for the next month or two. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Thank you both for looking and commenting.

Hi Tom,

This is simply great. And the shadows work very well in this kind of composition. Were you keeping the best for the last?

Cheers,

 

[Tom Robbins]

Hi Cem,

Ha! Thank you. My used pick up truck was brand new at the time, and clambering up into the bed with gear offered a view of places several feet above ground level. Not a significant change, but enough to provide some little alteration of perspective. Sometimes these little things are all that's needed to freshen the view.