Winter garden

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted January 29, 20044,304 views19 comments

The view from my office window, 24 hr after the snowstorm and 5 stories below. In the summer this is a garden featuring exotic grasses; winter and snow mute the colors but leave the patterns.

Canon EOS 300D with 28-135 IS lens at 50 mm; 1/320 sec at f6.3, ISO 800 and 2/3 stop overexposed. PSP for adjustments to local and global contrast, local and USM sharpening; also cloning out some stray branches creeping over from the edge of the frame. It was a cloudy day and lighting was very diffuse.

Any comments and advice will be appreciated.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by James Milligan on January 29, 2004 at 10:59 PM

This is a very nice composition. A stark, almost BW photo, yet enough color to add interest. It must be nice to have an office with a nice view!
Jim

Registered on November 1, 2003, 39 Posts, 109 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Hudon on January 29, 2004 at 11:03 PM

This is cool, Richard. At first, I was having a hard time figuring out the scale, still am actually. Well seen.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 315 Posts, 2246 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Miller on January 29, 2004 at 11:20 PM

Reply to Mark: The trees are about 15 feet high; the grass "bushes" about waist high. The photo was taken from 5 stories above, which produces a good deal of foreshortening.

Rich

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 90 Comments

Comment posted by Hank Pennington on January 29, 2004 at 11:47 PM

This would make a superb large print. It's remarkable both for its strong graphics and fine detail. I bet it would draw people all the way across a room, then hold them. I can't imagine a nicer shot- even in the summer!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 1532 Comments

Comment posted by Mary Dennis on January 30, 2004 at 9:48 AM

Hi Richard. I think you've got a real interesting composition here and find it kind of intriguing that the sense of scale is difficult to figure out. The organized clumps of grasses and the relatively equally spaced trees really speak loudly of the hand of man don't they? There is something harmonious about this that appeals to me.....not sure how to explain, but I like it!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 290 Posts, 2897 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Erhardt on January 30, 2004 at 9:59 AM

<I>"There is something harmonious about this that appeals to me.....not sure how to explain, but I like it!"</I>

Exactly my thoughts too. This is <I>really</I> nice!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 245 Posts, 2421 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Schroeder on January 30, 2004 at 10:19 AM

Yes I agree that this is a very pleasing image.
I had trouble as well figuring out the scale until I read that you shot if from 5 stories. I thought the grasses we cacti :)) and was wondering how they'll survive this chilly blast.
Very nice work

Registered on November 1, 2003, 147 Posts, 518 Comments

Comment posted by Skip Layman on January 30, 2004 at 10:35 AM

Fascinating compostion. I really like it. I would be tempted to convert this to black and white, I suspect it might be even more striking.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 558 Posts, 1704 Comments

Comment posted by Brett Borup on January 30, 2004 at 11:06 AM

For me, this is one of the most beautiful and interesting images I have seen on this forum in some time! I love the composition, the fine detail that is accomplished (even at this file size), your choice of exposure, and the minimal color. While this image would look interesting in B/W it is the color that really makes this image interesting to me. Don't change a thing, in my opinion. Rez it up and print it large!

Brett

Registered on November 1, 2003, 14 Posts, 15 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Creel on January 30, 2004 at 11:13 AM

Very nice. All the elements seem to fit well exactly where they are.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 104 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on January 30, 2004 at 12:03 PM

Beautiful Richard. I love how the trees stand out so sharply against the snow.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 30, 2004 at 12:49 PM

Rich: I'll echo the positive comments. I could tell it was an "aerial" shot but it is even more impressive since it was shot through a window. Exceptionally well seen. ><>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Pete D on January 30, 2004 at 2:58 PM

I like this because it looks like a pen and ink drawing.

I'd whiten the white. I'd also more one floor up and two offices to the left because I want to free the trees from each other and avoid the one intersection of the arc of grasses with the tree in the back left. But knowing me, I'd probably decide it looked better from where I was at first...

Pete D.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 590 Posts, 1794 Comments

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on January 30, 2004 at 4:57 PM

The simplest compositions always look the best, IMO. But can be the hardest to see or pull off. You succeded very well here. Very pleasant and tranquil. I can almost hear the silence and feel the cool air.

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Uhlig on January 30, 2004 at 6:23 PM

Very nice Richard. Well composed.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 304 Posts, 1567 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Morrison on January 31, 2004 at 9:35 PM

This is really cool. The curve is excellent. I also like how the compression flattens the images makeing it one-dimensional. It's very unique and well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 36 Posts, 413 Comments

Comment posted by Danny on February 3, 2004 at 2:27 AM

Exceptional comp and balance. What a view. The natural flow is beautifully worked. Congrats on the pick Richard, so very well deserved IMHO.

Danny.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 165 Posts, 1345 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Elliot on February 4, 2004 at 7:53 PM

All has been said and I think this would make a beautiful Christmas card also. Congratulations on your weekly....may go farther.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 126 Posts, 540 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Miller on February 5, 2004 at 7:41 PM

Thanks for all of the kind remarks.

I'll try to remember to post another version in about 9 months, when these trees have colored leaves - the whole area looks dramatically different.

Rich Miller

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 90 Comments