Thursday, April 19, 2007
reed bed
The mouth of Afon Nyver (afon is river in Welsh), about 1/2 mile short of the sea at Cardigan Bay.
Permalink / posted by and copyright of John Ellis : 7:16 AM
Comments:
I'm struggling with this one. It seems to have all the right bits, but I'm not involved. I only wish I knew why.
I get a greater level of abstraction if I make the image square (around the middle section). Why that should be more attractive to me in this case I am again not sure.
The best I can come up with is that I don't feel that I'm paddling and it seems like I should be.
I hope the others are more helpful!
John -- here is the sand you were missing, though it is definitely not Florida-style sand!
This is working well for me -- I can walk right along the edge of the water and then wade back into the middle of the reeds to the right (except I'd hate to leave footprints in such a scene -- maybe that's why Colin wants to paddle). I've never seen reeds just like these. They are quite beautiful. I'd like to know what color they are.
The changes in texture are interesting, from the soft looking hills in the back to the reeds, and whatever is behind them (stone?) Then the dark sand and rippled water. I'm there.
Your two replies don't help! They reflect the slightly schizophrenic thoughts I have about this. On the one hand I love it but I also have the sort of doubts Colin has, nor can I pin it down.
Colin - I did a casual square for a CD cover here:
http://www.johnelliseone.co.uk/gallery/photo.php?photo=838&u=5742|2|...
It seems to work a bit better but then I still want to see more.
Christina - it is not sand, it is mud, in which I am standing. Thirty seconds later, after trying to get to the stones on the left, I ended up without my boots, covered in mud, on a cold day in March. You can see it in colour at:
http://www.johnelliseone.co.uk/gallery/photo.php?photo=837&u=777|6|...
John,
Yes, that square was the one I created. It seems to bring the water closer somehow. Talking of which....I was, of course, using the word 'paddle' in a loose way. I was more thinking boots and gaiters than sand and sunshine. The words 'warm and dry' are normally applied to coats, not the weather, around here.
The sparkle on the tips of the reeds is magical. The composition feels slightly off - pan to right? - but the light is gorgeous.
Once again my lack of knowledge of your landscape is showing. Apparently I'd not have gotten too far with my imagined wade!
The color of the reeds is as I'd imagined it, and the mud looks much less inviting (more like mud) in that version.
The square is better in the way mentioned by Colin, yet it doesn't work for me on the left side that way. Perhaps a crop from the bottom? Since I'll do anything to put off the work I have today, here's my attempt:
http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/431455#145494682-L-LB
Matt - I think that, in hindsight, there were quite a few shots I should have taken before my wellies came off!
Christina - your crop looks good, as does the square. I now think that of the two original versions, the colour is better. Hope you got your work done!
My turn to be off - to Dublin. Back Thursday.
For me the delight of this image is in the echo of the shape of the reed bed in the shape of the 'mud'.
Christina's crop emphasises that echo, however I am happy with this composition.
I was thinking square too but upon viewing I find the one presented here first at Stills to be the more balanced. I found the rocks to the left and the expanse of mud a little distracting versus the super textures of the water, reeds and background trees (and even the sky). Cutting the left side off makes the little stream towards the back right become very pronounced and with the full landscape version the rocks to the left seem to balance out the shot for me. I'm enjoying this one very much and it's interesting how an initial crop idea drastically changes ones initial appreciation. Good work.
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I get a greater level of abstraction if I make the image square (around the middle section). Why that should be more attractive to me in this case I am again not sure.
The best I can come up with is that I don't feel that I'm paddling and it seems like I should be.
I hope the others are more helpful!
This is working well for me -- I can walk right along the edge of the water and then wade back into the middle of the reeds to the right (except I'd hate to leave footprints in such a scene -- maybe that's why Colin wants to paddle). I've never seen reeds just like these. They are quite beautiful. I'd like to know what color they are.
The changes in texture are interesting, from the soft looking hills in the back to the reeds, and whatever is behind them (stone?) Then the dark sand and rippled water. I'm there.
Colin - I did a casual square for a CD cover here:
http://www.johnelliseone.co.uk/gallery/photo.php?photo=838&u=5742|2|...
It seems to work a bit better but then I still want to see more.
Christina - it is not sand, it is mud, in which I am standing. Thirty seconds later, after trying to get to the stones on the left, I ended up without my boots, covered in mud, on a cold day in March. You can see it in colour at:
http://www.johnelliseone.co.uk/gallery/photo.php?photo=837&u=777|6|...
Yes, that square was the one I created. It seems to bring the water closer somehow. Talking of which....I was, of course, using the word 'paddle' in a loose way. I was more thinking boots and gaiters than sand and sunshine. The words 'warm and dry' are normally applied to coats, not the weather, around here.
The color of the reeds is as I'd imagined it, and the mud looks much less inviting (more like mud) in that version.
The square is better in the way mentioned by Colin, yet it doesn't work for me on the left side that way. Perhaps a crop from the bottom? Since I'll do anything to put off the work I have today, here's my attempt:
http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/431455#145494682-L-LB
Christina - your crop looks good, as does the square. I now think that of the two original versions, the colour is better. Hope you got your work done!
My turn to be off - to Dublin. Back Thursday.
Christina's crop emphasises that echo, however I am happy with this composition.