Lines of Power

http://www.benhall.co.uk/pics/linesofpower2.jpg

I tried making the horizon (artificially) level but didn't like the feel of it - I like how it all slopes down to the convergence point.

Edit: removed the wonky version and replaced with straightened version

Ben this is a great shot with a wonderful range of tones. I like how you've positioned the vanishing point in the frame and the movement of the grasses (with a very slight blur), suggesting a winding day is captured so perfectly.

Although you may have tilted the horizon on purpose, I personally think this takes away from a stellar image. but that's the only thing I see as a negative. I really like the way this image "feels".

Regards,

MikeV

P.S. Can you add more data about the camera used/film used and settings.

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Originally Posted by Michael Van der Tol

Ben this is a great shot with a wonderful range of tones. I like how you've positioned the vanishing point in the frame and the movement of the grasses (with a very slight blur), suggesting a winding day is captured so perfectly.

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Thanks Michael!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michael Van der Tol

Although you may have tilted the horizon on purpose, I personally think this takes away from a stellar image. but that's the only thing I see as a negative.

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Yes, I know what you mean - for the same reason, I went to correct it, but it really changed the image for the worse. If there's interest, I'll do a quick "fix" and post the straightened version too, to illustrate it (because I very well may be wrong on that decision.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michael Van der Tol

P.S. Can you add more data about the camera used/film used and settings.

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Sure. Canon 450D with the 18-55 kit lens. F8, ISO200, 1/800th, at the 18mm end, -1/3 exposure comp, aperture priority mode.

I used Lightroom to post-process using a variety of options - general tweaks to warm up and give some contrast, the usual sort of stuff. Then I did a variety of adjustment brush stuff, including dodging and burning the grass, the fence and the road edges, and I also darkened the horizon as you got further from the convergence point (so that point is the lightest) to try and draw the eye even more.

I added a gradient to darken down the sky, then I converted to greyscale and played with the various colour luminances to get a grey image I liked.

From there, I went into Photoshop, resized, added a border and did some sharpening for the web.

And looking at it again, I'm starting to agree with you that the angled horizon is too distracting... It does slope down that way (it's hilly there) but it just doesn't look like that in the image...

Thanks for your great feedback!

I do find doing good B/W images challenging, so I'm really trying to learn how to process them to improve them - this is certainly better imo than the raw shot, which was pretty bland...

Also, looking at it again, it suffers a bit from having the horizon mid-frame. I did this because I wanted to get a decent amount of foreground in, and also a decent amount of overhead cable. I remember while framing it, I tried a more conventional approach, but I did feel I wanted a decent amount of cables in there, to create and support the leading lines.

I actually like the horizon being in the middle, because then you get the end of the fence aprox. 1/3 up in the picture. Maybe a little too blown out white some places, but nothing big.

This is one of those pictures which seems nice and clean at first, but when you study it you start to discover some really interesting details. I love it :)

Hi Ben -- I prefer the level version. It still has the strength of the lane and the wires to pull you into the photo. The original led my eyes off the side of the photo. I didn't even see buildings near the horizon on the left. Great shot and a good eye!

cheeers
EJC

Great image; can't add anything to that which has already been said.

Thanks for the positive feedback!