My first Landscape print 4 sale! Opinions please

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/04/2004 04:12:06 PM · #1

I have just had my first Landscape photo approved, I've been practicing! But I'd love to get some opinions on it please. Is it any good, please be honest I can take it.

Thanks... Bob

08/04/2004 04:17:26 PM · #2

Honestly? It doesn't hold huge appeal for me. It's a pretty enough scene but not a stunning one. The composition is OK but not particularly interesting. The foreground is fairly bland. I just think it lacks that extra something to make it stand out.

That said, buyers have such varied tastes and not many of us are able to predict with any accuracy what will sell and what won't.

GOOD LUCK!

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/04/2004 04:42:50 PM · #3

Originally posted by Kavey:

Thankyou 4 your comments, I do appreciate it.

This is where I get a little confused so please bear with me. With the composition is there some way that I could improve it for this photo or is it just that the scene does not allow for good composition? I looked at many different angles and wanted to show that the tree was sitting on a mound that has had the surrounding soil carved away and also hide the roadway and power lines near by.

I know that the foreground is bland but I suppose that is exactly what I was trying to show here as the tree has had all the soil/rock removed around it and is now standing on an island with bare gravel all around it and it still survives.

Bob

geewhy

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

08/04/2004 04:55:06 PM · #4

For me,it`s the trees either side that reduce the effectiveness of what you`re trying to convey Bob.
If you could get an angle that isolates the tree in question while showing the expanse of flat ground around it with little else,the impact would be greater.

siggi

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/04/2004 04:56:47 PM · #5

what about leting the tree stand alone, crop out the right.
Or reshoot with only the tree.

08/04/2004 05:08:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by Gurilla:

Thankyou 4 your comments, I do appreciate it.

You're welcome!

Originally posted by Gurilla:

With the composition is there some way that I could improve it for this photo or is it just that the scene does not allow for good composition? I looked at many different angles and wanted to show that the tree was sitting on a mound that has had the surrounding soil carved away and also hide the roadway and power lines near by.

I know that the foreground is bland but I suppose that is exactly what I was trying to show here as the tree has had all the soil/rock removed around it and is now standing on an island with bare gravel all around it and it still survives.

It's just that there are too many bushes of different heights and the overall pattern made by them doesn't have a particular "shape" that appeals. I can understand that you chose the angle to hide roads and powerlines - sometimes the restrictions that kind of problem imposes make it impossible to find an angle that makes a strong composition.

And I see that you've deliberately included that barren foreground to show the soil erosion - I guess, for me, it's still not giving a "desolate" or "eroded" feel but IS introducing a bland block of colour.

I'm just not sure that the subject holds enough interest to make a really great shot BUT I hesitate to say that since one does sometimes come across stunning shots which feature what most would have walked past without a glance!

Sorry not to be more helpful!

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/04/2004 05:14:31 PM · #7

Like this?

Is that better, I think it is! Bob

08/04/2004 05:16:29 PM · #8

Definitely better than the original but... just not enough to rock my boat.

BUT, as I said elsewhere, I have no insight on other peoples' tastes so you might find others like it more.

pitsaman

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/04/2004 05:21:40 PM · #9

Originally posted by Gurilla:

I have just had my first Landscape photo approved, I've been practicing! But I'd love to get some opinions on it please. Is it any good, please be honest I can take it.

Thanks... Bob

Sky - boring blue
Light - basic daylight
Special light effects -none
Interesting subject(s) - none

I'm not buying it ...

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/04/2004 05:40:42 PM · #10

Originally posted by Kavey:

Definitely better than the original but... just not enough to rock my boat.

BUT, as I said elsewhere, I have no insight on other peoples' tastes so you might find others like it more.

Kavey, siggi and geewhy thankyou all so much for taking the time to help me.
You have helped me to look at this photo differently and hopefully I will learn to do that on the spot when I take my next photo.

Bob

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

08/05/2004 08:03:14 AM · #11

You're welcome...

Imagineer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/05/2004 08:17:41 AM · #12

I think you really have to consider why people buy prints. Will you hang this on your wall? Why would anyone else? Many photographers here would sooner hang their own work, but if they do buy another's print it's gonna have to be special.

I've sold only three prints (I don't know who bought them):

For someone these images made the cut, but there must be thousands of prints on the site that no one shows any interest in unless they're friends or family of the photographer or if they want a 'famous' shot on their wall! I don't ram my prints down people's throats - yet - but I'd like to know how many DPCers have bought prints from other DPCers, and how many visitors are just guests buying prints...

Message edited by author 2004-08-05 08:18:43.

siggi

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/05/2004 08:40:44 AM · #13

Yes, but its a bit tight crop on the left side.

You could try cloning out the tree in the background.

Originally posted by Gurilla:

Like this?

Is that better, I think it is! Bob

Message edited by author 2004-08-05 08:41:33.

cghubbell

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

08/05/2004 08:54:19 AM · #14

Originally posted by Gurilla:

Bob,

Try to think about the goals you have for an image. In this case, I read that your goals are more photojournalistic than artistic. This is based on the title, "Misguided Conservation" and your statement of trying to show the mounded dirt as a subject. I believe that as a photojournalistic image, this subject works. I prefer the more tightly cropped second interpretation as it is more to the point.

Now let's look at the goal of DPC prints: To sell art that people will hang on thier walls. Sometimes photojournalism isn't attractive, or aesthetically pleasing. To me, this subject fits that model. I would suggest that you consider this piece as a foundation for a photo essay or collection and surround it with other examples of misguided conservation - I would expect that you probably get something like that printed in a small circulation magazine or newsletter. Probably not ideal for DPC Prints though...

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/05/2004 09:40:10 AM · #15

Hi siggi.
The second one was simply a quick crop and save to see how it looked once cropped and show an example of how much better it looked.

Originally posted by cghubbell:

Yeah, I've been called lots of things but never artistic! ;-) I believe you are right although I had never really thought about it before. As a Horticulturalist and somewhat environmentalist when I see something as rediculous as the method used to try and conserve that tree I feel that it makes a good example of misguided conservation. Could I see this hanging in a persons home or office "NO", I could however see it hanging on a wall in some sort of environmental or landcare office or as you mention below maybe their newsletter or calendar.

[quote]Now let's look at the goal of DPC prints: To sell art that people will hang on thier walls. Sometimes photojournalism isn't attractive, or aesthetically pleasing. To me, this subject fits that model. I would suggest that you consider this piece as a foundation for a photo essay or collection and surround it with other examples of misguided conservation - I would expect that you probably get something like that printed in a small circulation magazine or newsletter. Probably not ideal for DPC Prints though... [/quote]

That is a great idea and again not something I had considered.

My enthusiasm to add to dpc prints was greater than my tallent! I should have simply posted here for feedback. I know I will find other examples and so I'll do as you suggested and gather a few photos for a collection.

Wow I have learnt so much in two days... Phew..my head hurts.

Thanks again Guys... Bob

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/06/2004 12:54:07 AM · #16

Ok I'm back.

Its impossible for me to get back to that tree for at least a few weeks and thanks to Gordon who gave me a few pointers and an example via email I decided to revisit the photo and see what I could do. This is what I have come up with it is far from perfect but I hope you all agree is is a vast improvement on the original.

Bob

siggi

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/06/2004 04:51:18 AM · #17

Now that composition is much better.
I would work a bit more on the color though or fade the yellow a bit more out at the bottom.

08/06/2004 05:30:14 AM · #18

Originally posted by Gurilla:

Definite improvement - the touch of bush at lower left balanced the tree. Like the tinting - would play with that more.

I agree that it seems your intent was more photojournalistic than artistic, perhaps, but I still think an image of this type of journalism, where there is no element of a quick capture of a split second action, requires attention to composition etc to really work.

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/06/2004 08:28:32 AM · #19

I have to say, this exercise has made me think in a different way to taking photos. I was out today after shots for Feet. I hate feet BTW but it made me think about what I wanted and need to capture for my idea. So I hope that the improvement is already starting to show!

Cross fingers...
Bob

08/06/2004 08:31:08 AM · #20

Bob
Someone so open to experimenting and learning and so willing to put in the time and effort will surely improve faster than lazy, procrastinating individuals such as myself!
GOOD LUCK!
PS I hate feet too but made myself enter coz I thought it would be good for me. But I couldn't bring myself to focus on anyone else's feet but my own. I don't even like my husband's feet!

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/06/2004 08:45:02 AM · #21

Originally posted by Kavey:

lol Kavey the worst is yet to come... We gotta vote on them! One One One Comment "Not appealing to me" One! lol

Bob

pearcer

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

08/06/2004 08:48:50 AM · #22

I like feet. They stop ya from draging ya bum on the ground. lol

08/06/2004 08:52:30 AM · #23

Originally posted by Gurilla:

Originally posted by Kavey:
[...]PS I hate feet too but made myself enter coz I thought it would be good for me. But I couldn't bring myself to focus on anyone else's feet but my own. I don't even like my husband's feet!

lol Kavey the worst is yet to come... We gotta vote on them! One One One Comment "Not appealing to me" One! lol
Bob

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to vote on them - I don't want to be unfair because other peoples' feet make me feel nauseous. Might sit the voting on this one out.