Od subject; New image Critique wanted

[tbob]

I have been told I am in a bit of a rut photographically. I seem to spend all my time shooting old abandoned barns in grain fields . I have decided to try a new genre and try shooting an old abandoned house in grass.

Since this is a big jump for me I would like opinions and critique. Not knowing where to go in processing this subject I tried both colour and black & white.

Spent too long on the colour version and, as is my wont, I have lost all perspective on where it should go. I cannot tell if it is too bright and saturated or just right.





The out of camera, with sensor spots removed, for people to play with give me their versions

[Kodiak]

… I have lost all perspective on where it should go.

Would these suggestions please you somehow?

[Shadowman]

Both of the color versions look like they could have been shot at different times of the year. I prefer the first because of the warm, rich colors. The B & W version is nice also, makes the place look even more abandoned.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Trevor I loved the pale colors in your SOOC. If it was my image I would improve the sky to make the clouds stand out more, but I wouldn't increase the saturation.Lovely scene with lovely natural colors

[deetheturk]

Hi Trevor, I had a quick play with your image in Lightroom and here is my rendition








Cheers David

[bnnrcn]

David's edit is similar to what I meant . BTW your barn shots have been so beautiful that I will always be happy so see some more of them

[benm]

I would suggest trying to crop both top and bottom to give it more of a panoramic look.

[Mike Buckley]

I wonder if I'm the only person who thinks that there is no fundamental difference between shooting old abandoned houses and old abandoned barns.

I have been told I am in a bit of a rut photographically.

My response to that is that you are instead regularly returning to a favorite realm that you have refined to sublime perfection.

By the way, I like this scene a lot. There are innumerable renditions of it that can work successfully, as do your first two renditions.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Trevor. Glad to see that you're stretching yourself artistically. From barns to houses and grain to grass is indeed quite a leap. And don't sell yourself short, you got some trees in there too

I like the composition, great colors, and an interesting sky. On the technical side, it looks like the SOOC version suffered a bit from the camera over-correcting WB due to all the yellow/orange trees and grass. I think your the first version you posted looked pretty good as far as bringing back the color without being over-done. The only suggestion I can make would be to perhaps apply a gradient filter and brighten the foreground a bit while leaving the sky as-is.

As far as the B/W version.... well, why?

[vaez]

my favorite is 3 but with color sky 1
and b&w is nice

[tbob]

I am still mulling over the versions. The straight out of camera is just a bit too washed out for my taste. It was shot overexposed to get as much detail in the shadows in grass as possible. It is early morning, just after sunrise and the light is quite red. I was aiming to recapture the feeling of being there The actual scene is more colourful, however not to the extent of my version. I think I may have to reduce the saturation a bit, cool it off a bit and lighten up the foreground grass. The versions have helped and I am grateful for the efforts.

Definitely have to go back with a fresh mind/eye and take another crack at it. Funny I can tell the processing is not working but haven't the foggiest clue how to get back out of the pit I have dug. This image is near to where I want but I was chasing my tail with every new version being more of a wreck than the previous. Once again the minds at CinC to the rescue

[Mike Buckley]

As far as the B/W version.... well, why?

Just when I was barely beginning to think that you had finally realized that resistance is futile.

[tbob]

I wonder if I'm the only person who thinks that there is no fundamental difference between shooting old abandoned houses and old abandoned barns.

The difference is immense. People live in houses. Although I have been on several farms where the difference between the cattle shed and the house is about that fine. I saw a sheep and two chickens on the couch in the house at one place. The sort of place you strain the coffee through your clenched teeth to remove the larger bits.

[tbob]

As far as the B/W version.... well, why?

I was so lost in trying to process the darned thing I thought maybe a complete absence of colour might be appropriate.

[bnnrcn]

Hi again Trevor . When you feel you are lost in PP, it might be a good idea to leave the image aside for a day and look at it again the next day. It really helps because your eyes get used to the image and colours if you work on them too much . But if you take a break , when you look at it again , you see things differently

[Kaye Leggett]

I like the first image, you may have looked at it for a long time, but really it is good. Like Binnur, I often leave and go back to photos - another strategy is to have them as your screen saver for a few days - then you see it at different times of the day and I find the image either grows on me, or I decide I don't like it.

[AB26]

Must say, I like it.

Hope you like this rendition.



Perhaps:

[IzzieK]

I think David's edit helps a lot, Trevor. I have been in a photographic rut for two years -- I know the feeling...Now that I had wet my feet again, I have more enthusiasm to follow the fire of the beast in my belly. I hope you do too...

[tbob]

Andre; I feel maybe somewhere between your version and mine. I want to retain the full size of the sky with the cloud detail and darkness. The sky is always an essential part of the prairie landscape and I need to include it; at least for my own pleasure. The grass may be best less colourful than mine and a bit more than your version.

I appreciate the versions always good to see other vision of my images