Log Pile

[xpatUSA]

Inspired by the thread about Stephen Shore and talk of shooting "ordinary things", I thought of my latest tree-felling activity and the resulting clean-up work. Before I got into photography, I had snapped a log pile or two, one in France IIRC and a big one in Canuckistan long ago.

The purpose of this shot was to record work done before it rots and to do my very best as regards lighting, depth of field and excruciating sharpness (after all, we're talking Sigma here, ho, ho). Therefore, seekers of perfect composition and correct aspect will likely be disappointed.

Here we go (detail looks best when image is clicked on and then expanded to full screen):



Sigma SD1M with 50mm macro f/2.8 EX DG

Upper right-hand log slightly blown on it's top edge :-(

Comments welcome . . .

[Shadowman]

For some that's not so ordinary. Nicely captured.

[Rebel]

Its a nice shot Ted, I really like the light.

I would crop it a little tighter though

[xpatUSA]

Its a nice shot Ted, I really like the light.

Yes, a matter of waiting for the Texas sun to attain a suitable angle. It was behind some trees. When it gets higher and more direct the contrast gets perhaps too much.

I would crop it a little tighter though

This OK, d'ya think?

[Rebel]

Yes, a matter of waiting for the Texas sun to attain a suitable angle. It was behind some trees. When it gets higher and more direct the contrast gets perhaps too much.



This OK, d'ya think?

Much better for me

[Ziggy]

Looks like a big pile to me.

[ShaneS]

That's a lot of work and a nice record of it Ted! I prefer the tighter crop that Matt suggested but might have left a bit more of the foreground as I really like that shadow.

[IzzieK]

To fall those trees need muskels,mate! so leaving that falling up to you. In the meantime image-wise I like both of them. The first one is a work of art -- the sun light you put emphasis on, the sharpness is very nice but I like the smoothness of the woodcut too even when not enlarged. The second is too natural looking though that needs just a tad (not as much as #1) more brightener to look more natural. I like both.

[xpatUSA]

I prefer the tighter crop that Matt suggested but might have left a bit more of the foreground as I really like that shadow.

Good point about the shadow, Shane.

The first one is a work of art -- the sun light you put emphasis on, the sharpness is very nice but I like the smoothness of the woodcut too even when not enlarged. The second is too natural looking though that needs just a tad (not as much as #1) more brightener to look more natural. I like both.

Thanks, Izzie, glad you liked them. The second image was supposed to be a simple crop of the first, so maybe I touched something without realizing it.

Brightening was a general problem for me with this image because, even though the sunlight was coming through trees, it ended up with a good few specular highlights that I didn't like. As I use nothing that can do Layers or Masks, all my adjustments are global in RawTherapee - thus, in cutting down the exposure compensation slider to reduce blown highlights, a certain dullness appeared. I should really go back and try the tone curves again . . .

I'm not done yet - I do also have a fusion program to try on it.

[bnnrcn]

Lovely light, I like both versions

[Wavelength]

Excellent; love that golden tone....

[marlunn]

both really nice, I think there is another image in there of a real close up with just the log ends, the colour and texture is really good and will stand out well

[xpatUSA]

both really nice, I think there is another image in there of a real close up with just the log ends, the colour and texture is really good and will stand out well

Thanks, probably get more texture in June when the sun is at a more shallow angle to the cut faces?

[flashback]

Ted, playing around with the second edit, hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of trying an even tighter crop. To me this works better since the interest really is just the end of the logs and the light that falls on them. I'll take it down if you wish, just easier to show than describe.

[xpatUSA]

Ted, playing around with the second edit, hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of trying an even tighter crop. To me this works better since the interest really is just the end of the logs and the light that falls on them. I'll take it down if you wish, just easier to show than describe.

I see your point and no need to take it down. My interest was in recording the work done so the whole pile was of interest to me which is why I cropped the second image as I did.

But there certainly could be an "inner image" which would be more arty in intention. I'd like to see the sun more overhead for such a shot with much more shadow in it, including in the end-grain and saw-cuts.

[TonyW]

The first version looks good but I think I prefer the latest tight crop. The colours, patterns and shadings of the ends of the logs make the picture for me.

I like the markings on the ends. An expert could probably tell you the age of the trees and what the weather has been over the last fifty plus years.