Here comes the sun.
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
Before I got my tripod I too had problems with the looking down thing so I understand where you are coming from!!

Fields of green
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
I see what you were going for and reading what you have said I think if you had possibly had 1/3rd land and 2/3rds sky this would have given you more of the effect you were looking for :o)

Fields of green
by zardoz

Comment by zardoz:
Thank you again for your comments Talj. I see what you mean about lack of focal point. It is interesting what you have to say about shooting it in landscape format. I was going for an impression of the landscape under a big sky and decided to experiment with portrait format landscapes. I guess it just doesn’t work because, as you say, the composition simply lacks interest and focus.

Here comes the sun.
by zardoz

Comment by zardoz:

Originally posted by talj: Lovely leading lines, i feel this shot would again be better as a landscape to allow you to get more of the hills in. Can I ask why you "Shot blind with the camera held high above my head"?

I was drawn to the texture and colours of the shoreline and wanted to give the feeling of looking down at it. But I couldn’t seem to get that view from a normal standing point. So I simply held the camera as high as I could, pointing well down and trusted to luck and the cameras review function :-)

Distant Shore
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
I like the light on the hill in the distance, gives the ground a lovely colour. I agree there maybe too much water in the foreground but feel that maybe if there had been better light on the water and foreground trees this would have helped you carry off the big expanse of foreground water IMHO

Thrush
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
Beautiful detail and good DOF, the background colours really add to the shot as well :o)

Windows
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
Nice light on the windows and the reflection is great, especially with the ripples in the water :o)

Here comes the sun.
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
Lovely leading lines, i feel this shot would again be better as a landscape to allow you to get more of the hills in. Can I ask why you "Shot blind with the camera held high above my head"?

Fields of green
by zardoz

Comment by talj:
It certainly looks like a nice day :o) I like the colours in the shot but feel the composition needs some work. Firstly I would have positioned myself so the trees on the left were not poking into the frame as I feel they are quite distracting. Secondly, although from your description I get the feeling you were capturing the nice day for me there is no real focal point in the shot. As the shot stands at the moment the half sky half land portrait isn't easy on the eye and I may have gone for a landscape orientation rather than portrait.

Is this a place you can revisit? Looking closer at the shot, across the water I can see what seems to be a nice curve in the land at the edge of the water, this to me would make a better place to stand to give a leading line and some foreground interest and detail that drags the viewer in and makes them want to look around at the rest of the shot.

Untitled V
by zardoz

Comment by zardoz:
Thank you for the comment Rafwhett. An interesting question and I am inclined to agree with your comments. I chose b&w simply because I wanted to experiment with and learn the different ways the conversion can be done. I have a few colourful landscapes in my portfolio already and wanted to add something a little different. I still have much to learn about b&w conversion. It’s ironic realy because when I used to shoot film just about all I ever did was black and white.