grainy b&w look

[hfaze]

what could i improve on these? i'm trying to work on composition - i didn't pick up enough in art school ... sigh

http://www.kheavy.com/photos/general/110_1062.jpg

http://www.kheavy.com/photos/general/110_1092.jpg

[SPROCKET]

I like the first one better. In terms of composition, it has a nice flow. As a suggestion, I might have also tried taking a second picture with the bottle standing upright on the track, withe the focus on the bottle. then playing with depth of field to compare the results. :)

[ryuwulf]

I liked the first one. Sometimes grain is really good, and helps add to the pic.

bravo!!!

[Radtech1]

I like both of them a lot. Especially the second one. I dont know how much you "composed" it, but it works for me for a couple of reasons. First, I like the framing offset. It would not be as dramatic if it were centered. The empty space is just the right balance. Second, I like the fact that the trees are behind the sign. It almost looks as though the sign were growing from the trees. The white trucks also serve to pull the eyes into the image. All in all, very nice.

I like the first one also, but not as much. At first glance, it looks like a nice railroad shot. But I think that in this case the fact that the bottle is Mountian Dew is a bit of an anacronism. You would do well to reshoot this one using an old (antique store?) bottle of liquor. 4 Roses whiskey perhaps. It would be even better if the bottle were faded and wethered.

But then I look closer at the bottle and see that there is something inside. Now I am wondering if you are going for a "Message in a Bottle" motif. (?) If that is the case, a clear bottle would be better in showing the message. As it is, it is too hard to see.

Either way, I am not sure what you are going for, but I do like the effort. Just tighten up the theme a little bit.

Rad

[hfaze]

you bring up a great point radtech ... neither of them tell a complete story. i was more concerned with an interesting image than any narrative content. i need to work on telling a story in addition to getting a decent image. can't beleive all of this slipped out of my mind! i guess going from art school to the corporate world has had a affected my creativity. :?

after i found the bottle, i looked for something else in the area to set up in the scene and all i found was a Mtn Dew can (!). the tracks were very clean - that suprised me.

thanks for the comments all!

[Radtech1]

i was more concerned with an interesting image than any narrative content. i need to work on telling a story in addition to getting a decent image. can't beleive all of this slipped out of my mind! i guess going from art school to the corporate world has had a affected my creativity.

Listen to the song "City of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie, or by the original, Steve Goodman (if you can find it!). Listen at least 10 times then go reshoot.

If that does not get the creative juices moving, nothing short of a backhoe will!

R