Reactivity

A colour landscape for today, not that you would notice as the colours are very muted, not really what you would expect for August, but given the weather we have had it’s not to surprising. I was not really sure if this image was worth putting on the blog, but as I looked at the short list from that day’s shoot, my eye returned again and again to it, this then brings up the question what is a good photo.

I sort my shots first by technical merit, is it sharp, is it correctly exposed and properly framed, then I sort by artistic merit, is it a strong image, does it work, does it say what I want about the subject. The technical side is easy, the longer you spend taking photos the better you get, both at the sharp end pressing the shutter button and afterwards binning the poor shots, but the arty side that’s where it starts getting difficult. Take today and yesterday’s image, both are sharp and exposed correctly, both are framed to my liking and in that both pass the technical test. Yesterday’s image is certainly strong; it works and said just what I wanted. But today the image at first glance is not as strong, in fact it looks a bit weak, but it works, for me it keeps drawing my eye, first to the barn, that splash of contrast between the roof and the trees, then along the path up the hill, you feel you could walk into this landscape, but stay away from the forest, it looks forbidding in an almost fairy tale way.

I think that is the answer, a good picture is not just the sum of its parts but what you add to it, by looking at the image you change it and it can change you, if it has a meaning for you and if it does than it’s a good image.




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Comments

Mary Z said…
Great photo, IMHO. Strong diagonals - almost an abstract.

I found your place about a week ago, and have really enjoyed it. Thanks.
Marshall Family said…
I like this, a great angle, the landscape looks as if it's been drawn rather than a photo, lovely :)
Maggie Christie said…
I like this one too and all the canal photographs. (And I'm 22 to 42!) Great blog.
aims said…
Looks like a painting Brett! It's beautiful! I would love to take that trail up the hill....
JAMJARSUPERSTAR said…
But August has been so rubbish so far. Actually, so has all of the summer. I'm starting to wonder if we're actually gonna get any good weather. It's been nothing but rain for two weeks here (and I'm already a pale person - no summer = no healthy glow)
Ciao

Scarlet
Anonymous said…
Your photographs are gorgeous! Where are you? I must be beautiful, wherever it is.
BipolarBunny said…
Good stuff. I like the muted colors. I almost expect the Watership Down bunnies to go hopping by.
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Anonymous said…
Great photo (as ever). This one is symbolic - like it is saying a brighter future is just beyond the woods. Love it!
Karma said…
you always have the MOST AMAZING(!) pix!!!

<3 ellie :)
You're right about that forest - it looks rather intimidating. The lines of the field anchored by the barn - lovely, Brett. Well done.

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