Nullarbor Plain

[RoyVarley]

This is the vast Nullarbor Plain ("Nullarbor" from the Latin meaning "no trees") on the Southern coast of Australia. I plan to do this again - next year (it's three days travel from where I live). So I'd like some opinions regarding how well this image works. I'm trying to get the feeling of vast, harsh, dry, forbidding. But it also needs some "wow" factor. For me, I'm remembering the hiss of the cold wind through the saltbush and the empty, lonely feeling standing there. But for those who've never been there, does this image work?

The narrow strip of sky and the "into the sun" viewpoint is deliberate - does it work? The Nullarbor doesn't have much in the way of "foreground interest" - it's all very much the same - which is why I chose a wide lens and got close to the scrub to get that rough stones texture cf the ground close in. This is a pano, by the way, 3 images.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Photography as a brain challenging experience in itself, like a crossword puzzle

This is the vast Nullarbor Plain ("Nullarbor" from the Latin meaning "no trees") on the Southern coast of Australia. I plan to do this again - next year (it's three days travel from where I live). So I'd like some opinions regarding how well this image works. I'm trying to get the feeling of vast, harsh, dry, forbidding. But it also needs some "wow" factor. For me, I'm remembering the hiss of the cold wind through the saltbush and the empty, lonely feeling standing there. But for those who've never been there, does this image work?

The narrow strip of sky and the "into the sun" viewpoint is deliberate - does it work? The Nullarbor doesn't have much in the way of "foreground interest" - it's all very much the same - which is why I chose a wide lens and got close to the scrub to get that rough stones texture cf the ground close in. This is a pano, by the way, 3 images.

Hi Roy,

It's so good for your photography that you take on something that you cannot easily accomplish. for sure when you get it right, it will rise above the ordinary and you will go to a new level of skill from the experience. Photography can be far more than skillful snaps at the right moment. We can be far more devious.

Let's consider the picture as it is.

Composition: Two horizontal bars of color, a thin strip of blue smudged by white and a brown medley. It appears un-balanced and not bold. Why? I am only just guessing for the moment, as this is my immediate response, but right now it seems that the sky is to narrow and the color too saturated a blue with no detail of interest for the sun. So, in itself, we see no geometric bold pattern there, rather a an ill-formed apparent defect in the sky.

Suggestion: I don't see that the panoramic shape helps project your idea effectively in this instance. Both the sky and thee foreground can be triple in vertical size. The sky with a with a different exposure to describe the light very well and the sky to be clean and perfect, but not appearing over-saturated.

That will give a reason for the central shadows below. The increased real estate will then feature the progressive inverted V of the diverging shadows perfectly rendered in intensity.

Size Reference: I think it's a great idea to add one feature that's your internal reference. This could be one kangeroo or a wild dog, abandoned hut or else a junk car. I'd personally take a picture elsewhere, separately for this key feature at 1/2 the landscape, ground) distance from your camera in this picture and then add that to the current picture at that point, which should end up ~ 1/3 of the way from the left and ~1/3 the height of the entire canvas. That will give it a powerful position but a small size.

When a small, impressive, distinct, highly recognizable and interesting subject/feature is locate at this position you have immediately given scale to the entire landscape and shown how empty it is.

I believe you have taken on a great challenge. Don't stop here. This is very worthy of a long term project. Thanks for sharing.

Just $0.02. I know there will be other differing opinions and above it's your own concept that has to be expressed.

Asher

 

[Clayton Lofgren]

I would suggest that bleak is black and white, or at least reduced saturation.

 

[RoyVarley]

Thanks Asher and Clayton!

Yup - I see your points, Asher. I'll work on my composition skills (a lot...). Next time I try this I think I'll get a bit higher - to get more "ground space". I still want the "into the sun" point of view but I'll try to crisp that up - instead of a blur of white, maybe a crisp dot of sun with a faint corona ring? Dunno - I'll see what I can do.

Size reference - yeah, I was thinking about that when I was taking it. Thought of an animal skeleton but figured it was too cliched. I'll find something else - there are the occasional gravesites, old ruins... 250Km North of here is Cook - an old railway town (population: 4). Might take a trip up there. Lots of Nullarbor to see on the way!!

Clayton, I'm glad you used the word "bleak" because that cemented in my mind what I didn't want the image to say. In my mind, "bleak" has a a sort of forlorn, weak, pathetic association. Whereas I think the Nullarbor landscape is tough, harsh, vivid, "Challenge me if you dare" - and that's what I want to say. I'll work on it.

 

[Asher Kelman]

TRy Clayton's suggestion. It removes the emotional confusion of contrast that the blue sky has on the brown land and instead shows a continuous form, a unity of one thing, this new feeling of bleakness. I myself was surprised to see how effective going to B&W might be.

Still, adding one feature like a lone dog or an abandoned car or building would really complete the picture well.

Asher

Asher