Saturday, February 25, 2006
over-wintering
Colour - to break the b/w and monochrome pattern to date! This is a scene that might have been seen before the advent of corrugated iron: keeping cattle outside. Dairy herds are nearly always kept in sheds during the winter but these beef cattle have to endure the mud. I have kept the picture in colour to show the effect on the field (see the green beyond the far hedge). This was exposed for the sky and developed twice out of RAW and combined. To the left is the Teifi valley and the small town of Newcastle Emlyn; this farm is at 145 metres.
Permalink / posted by and copyright of John Ellis : 12:38 PM
Comments:
John: an excellent use of colour :-) The mud is just so obviously MUD, and the central green and red patches jog my eye away from any thoughts about monochrome.
The double processing has been very well done. You've avoided the flat look that often results from such processing. The light balance between sky and cow is good.
Mixing aesthetic and technical a bit - I like the repeating pattern of the ears on the two main animals. This would be even stronger if you could get the ear on the far right of the shot to stand out more from the background animal. Not sure how you would achieve this, however.
We have a broch in our little valley. Originally it would have been surrounded by a scene such as this. Historic Scotland now keeps the mud at bay.
Realities of modern farming!
I've used the double exposure trick from RAW, it is a really good tool and this example is very good.
Today we went for a walk (13.5Km)and went to an area where snow was still on the ground (we don't get snow here!). Whilst on a bridleway we got passed by a slurry tractor. I chased it up the lane to a white field but it disappeared over the brow. We stopped to take some pictures and then I heard it coming back. I got the camera set up but when he appeared over the horizon he was close to a big hedge. As he turned to go back down the field he turned the slurry spray off! All I wanted was the black slurry splattered all over the white snow. That's photography!
I too like the two heads and ears. I also like the fact that things go through the edges of the image, it is a part of something bigger.
Ha! I forgot to mention the 'going through the edges of the image' bit.....it is what makes the photo. The two animals are isolated and are individuals, yet they are part of the herd, farm, and countryside. Blame red wine and the distraction with ears for not mentioning this first off.
Rex - farmers can be very uncooperative! My worst was having got into a good position whilst watching silage-making, the tractor broke down! I'm intrigued to see that you walk in kilometres! Anyway, bad luck about the snow shot - I'm sure you got some others at the time.
I would have liked a wider angle lens here. Given the circumstances, I just had to get on and select a composition: any. Colin, I agree about the ears. The only way out would have been patience to get a change of Friesian from black to white but when you start looking at cows they are remarkably reluctant to change position! Presumably the broch in your glen is a good subject for pictures?
a real rural impression. well executed processing. to keep it in color was a ggod decision. would have also worked in b/w but the color adds much more sense for the mud and dirty cattles. also the clouded sky. the compo is also well executed. like how the cattles are positioned without leading into the sky (hope u understand what I mean). love the old tree RHS. only the the part right to the right cattle appears a bit too dark. if u had used a wider angle lens u had to move forward. wondering if the cattles would have 'cooperated' ;)
Thanks for the comments Michael. If I had gone into that mud (and muck) I would have had to take my boots off in order to drive the car!! You bring out the challenge of using a wide-angle lens well!
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The double processing has been very well done. You've avoided the flat look that often results from such processing. The light balance between sky and cow is good.
Mixing aesthetic and technical a bit - I like the repeating pattern of the ears on the two main animals. This would be even stronger if you could get the ear on the far right of the shot to stand out more from the background animal. Not sure how you would achieve this, however.
We have a broch in our little valley. Originally it would have been surrounded by a scene such as this. Historic Scotland now keeps the mud at bay.
I've used the double exposure trick from RAW, it is a really good tool and this example is very good.
Today we went for a walk (13.5Km)and went to an area where snow was still on the ground (we don't get snow here!). Whilst on a bridleway we got passed by a slurry tractor. I chased it up the lane to a white field but it disappeared over the brow. We stopped to take some pictures and then I heard it coming back. I got the camera set up but when he appeared over the horizon he was close to a big hedge. As he turned to go back down the field he turned the slurry spray off! All I wanted was the black slurry splattered all over the white snow. That's photography!
I too like the two heads and ears. I also like the fact that things go through the edges of the image, it is a part of something bigger.
I would have liked a wider angle lens here. Given the circumstances, I just had to get on and select a composition: any. Colin, I agree about the ears. The only way out would have been patience to get a change of Friesian from black to white but when you start looking at cows they are remarkably reluctant to change position! Presumably the broch in your glen is a good subject for pictures?