Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/10/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Not to beat this photo into the ground, but Adam's comment about the Nobska Light photo being a "formal" image triggered something in the back of my mind. Also, after B.D.'s comment earlier yesterday, I was mystified as to why he choose one particular crop and I chose another. Here are the two: B.D.'s crop (at least I think this is what you meant, B.D.): http://gallery.leica-users.org/SAILING/03_9_0071_bd_crop My crop (Actually I cropped this is even tighter than the the image I first posted in order to emphasize my point): http://gallery.leica-users.org/SAILING/03_9_0071_rst_crop After staring at the two of them side-by-side for a while I realized that in B.D.'s crop, my eyes tended to follow a zigzag path along fence to the lighthouse. In mine, my eye motion was almost all vertical, up along the fence posts to the tall structure. In B.D.'s there was, figuratively speaking, a path open for the viewer to approach the lighthouse around the fence post to the right, in mine there was none. The fence became a barrier. B.D.'s says, "Come in," mine says, "Don't." There is more motion in B.D's, more stillness in mine. Not sure just why I chose the tighter crop. It was not made with much thought beforehand. It just seemed more appropriate to the photo in question, and possibly, to the site as well. (There were lots of fences and a many No Admittance signs around.) It's been an interesting discussion. Thanks. >Thanks for your response and your alternates, Richard. > >In my experience a formal image - like the lighthouse - is about >shapes and textures and light and dark and stillness. People, almost >always, bring motion and focus - our pattern recognition engines want >to SEE them and know what they're doing. > >Obviously, as in nude fine-art photography, all of those things can be >a part of the composition. But nudes seldom have faces and seldom are >"in action" although I can think of exceptions to both of these. > >Of course you framed your image with those folks in mind, but I like >both your suggestion and B. D.'s as well. > >Thanks! > >Adam (snip) -- Regards, Dick Boston MA