Sun and shadows on farm field...C/C'd be great!

Hey everyone, this was taken one evening as we were eating where I was this summer. Someone said "hey! Go look at the sunset!" So I ran and grabbed my camera and went out the back door to see the sun lacing the trees and mixing with some awesome shadows inbetween and on the fields. I photographed it with what I have right now (see sig), so I apologize for the lack of sharpness. But I hope that you like it, and would I would really like to know if I got it right, so any criticisms or comments are appreciated. Thanks!

R.ticle One

Nobody? Pure suckage? Great? Needs major help? (Well, I hope it's not pure suckage, though if it needs help, I'd really like to know what about it, or if it's an enjoyable shot). Thanks to anyone!

R.ticle One

well i think there are so many objects in the photo. The trees and the sky look very well

R.ticle,

Sometimes, comments are very slow.

You captured a shot that looks very good for no PS done to it.

Tim

Often it is very difficult to duplicate the visual impact of an event by photography. The small image you post here often will not be as dynamic as the real thing. eg have great contrast between light and dark but sill be able to see detail at both ranges. The art of photography is the ability of capturing something that does relay that experience. It may not be exactly what you saw or everything you saw. To do this you may have to narrow in on one aspect or alter your settings to exaggerate contrast, colour etc. Think about composition for what is interesting and what attracts your eye. Usually, simple is better than complex.

Hope this helps.

Joe

Thank you all for your thoughts! Yes, Canonada, it can be difficult to convey what you're talking about, and what you said does help. I did already crop off the bottom of the shot, which contained the balcony on which I was standing, and everything underneath on the porch, to try to (after-shooting) narrow in more on the scene at hand. I hear you on the simplicity thing - I think in this case I wanted to get the whole field in because I have such an attraction to where this was taken, and I did like the way that patch of corn was lit up in the righthand corner like the trees are.

urbandancer, Tim, thanks very much. Ahh, I know, sometimes I get in that newbie photographer stage where, with some shots, I know they're technical stinkers, even if some have content that makes me smile, other ones I'm quite sure of, and then there are some that I really like, but have hopes that others enjoy them too, and really appreciate advice on what could be improved upon.

I am glad to hear that this shot is still pleasing, if a bit busy. From the memory of it, it holds a special place in my heart. But I like to be able to show such things in photos, too.

Any suggestions on PP, further cropping, etc., are fully welcome, if anyone wishes.

Many thanks to all viewers and responders.

R.ticle One

I think here is the issue. You had two objectives in mind when you took this shot. You wanted to make a record of your favorite location and you were taking advantage of unusual light situation at dusk to take a dramatic, artistic photo that would be of interest you and to others who had no connection with the location.

To do this successfully, I suspect in this incidence, it would have been necessary to take two or more images. You could have taken some real nice images of the area, in the soft light just before sunset for record purposes. They would have been very nice and made a good record of the location. Then, when the dramatic light event occurred, you needed to concentrate on that alone.

If possible zoom in on the patch of corn or the grove of trees. Compose an image which shows the unusual lighting off in a drama, memorable way. This could be done by zooming in or moving nearer the corn. These situations only last seconds and often you don't have time to get that ideal shot.

Just my thoughts, hope it helps.

Joe

I really like this shot. The combination of orange/tan and green is one of my favorite combinations. Also this pic had a little bit of mystery for me at first glance. It made me wonder if just the setting sun light is really all that changed the color of the vegetation from green to orange/tan or were the trees and fields partly in fall colors. But then all the rest of the trees are only green, so I had to conclude it is only the sunlight and that makes it all the more interesting and beautiful. Kind of a fall colors picture before fall. A very nice shot IMHO.

Lovely contrast between the green and yellow, nice capture.

I have way better gear then you and would be very proud of my self if I took that shot.
Please remember the photo's that are hanging on the walls of the biggest art houses, were shot on much less then what you own.
Keep it up and you will only get better.

Thank you all very much for your encouragement. Canonada, I do appreciate your thoughts on the composition and an attempt to capture it all in while pleasing others. Unfortunately, this shot is not the crispest, so I don't know how detrimental to it's overall impact closer cropping to certain parts would be, but I will try playing with it! Yes, you're right about such moments lasting just short periods of time - in fact, this is the only shot I have from where I was standing in that light, it was getting dark fast, and in my haste, I ran to the other side of the property to try to catch some more.
Still, I'm glad that I got the whole scene in, nice as it is to me on a personal level. And I will keep in mind what you said for future shots.

BobOh, thanks for your comments and insight/curiousity about this pic. You're right, it's definately a fall looking shot taken before fall fully began, and we can thank the sunlight for leaving some of the trees green.

Frank_Hollahan, thanks very much for your comments.

Renboy - oh, believe me that I'd like to update my gear when I can, but I'm happy to hear that I don't totally suck with what I've got. Thanks for the encouraging words.

Thank you, all.

R.ticle One

Canonada wrote in post #2288454
I think here is the issue. You had two objectives in mind when you took this shot. You wanted to make a record of your favorite location and you were taking advantage of unusual light situation at dusk to take a dramatic, artistic photo that would be of interest you and to others who had no connection with the location.

To do this successfully, I suspect in this incidence, it would have been necessary to take two or more images. You could have taken some real nice images of the area, in the soft light just before sunset for record purposes. They would have been very nice and made a good record of the location. Then, when the dramatic light event occurred, you needed to concentrate on that alone.

If possible zoom in on the patch of corn or the grove of trees. Compose an image which shows the unusual lighting off in a drama, memorable way. This could be done by zooming in or moving nearer the corn.

I would say walk right to it and have it as your main fg subject in your frame.
Also agree with what Joe said.

Very true.

dv2004 wrote in post #2300617
I would say walk right to it and have it as your main fg subject in your frame.
Also agree with what Joe said.
Very true.

Aye, aye, that would be better than an extreme crop. As it is now, I am back in the suburbs - I spent a good chunk of this summer on this farm - whee, perhaps if I go back next year!

I hear you on the short time to get such shots - you should have seen me running around on a hilly field today, freezing my butt of trying to get this tree and that tree, and oh look that path, what about those rocks, etc., as the sun was setting behind me.

Thanks for your input!

R.ticle One