Ed Ries  


Desert Solitaire by Ed Ries

April 2018 - Desert Solitaire

About the Image(s)

Originally this was a 4x5 Tri-x image made with a 210mm lens. In Photoshop I emphasized the foreground cactus and tried to deemphasize the background while maintaining the context of the setting. My objective was to create a real sense of texture and the feeling of sharp needles in the sometimes eerie light found in the high desert.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted




Ella Schreiber   Ella Schreiber
Hi Ed... To my eye you conveyed a real sense of the texture of the desert... B U T ... not high desert... High desert does not have saguaro cactus and is typically characterized by other vegetation. I like your composition very much... If this were my image, I might consider increasing the saturation a bit and/or a levels adjustment in the sky and background as the image looks a bit flat. It might make the foreground cactus stand out more. I had the similar experience with a flat image... take a look at my monkey... prior to sending it, the image looked ok, but, when I saw it posted it looked entirely different and a bit flat... Could it be from the posting??? who knows.   Posted: 04/10/2018 18:55:53



Ed Ries
Ella thanks for correcting my geography. In haste I loosely used the term high desert. Actually as I recall I think the image was made in Joshua Tree National Park in Calif.
or in Saguaro national park in Arizona. And I agree the image does look a bit flat. I think I over worked the original.   Posted: 04/10/2018 20:54:04



 
Hi Ed. After reading Ella's comment, I am left with little to add. I would definitely increase the contrast Great idea, but needs more punch.   Posted: 04/13/2018 07:15:16



Peter Clark   Peter Clark
Ed - I am in two minds about your image! I like the juxtaposition of the two cacti, but agree with the others that overall the image is very flat and does not convey your previsualisation of the textures and sharp needles.

I also find that the sky with it's strong patterning and somewhat darker tones is drawing my eye away from the main subject.   Posted: 04/18/2018 04:27:03



Ian Chantler   Ian Chantler
Hi Ed
I like Peter really like the positioning of the Cacti as said by the other group members have a play with the contrast,levels and maybe highlights and shadows on adjustment layers because there is definately a very interesting image there it just needs a little bit of coaxing but keep with it   Posted: 04/18/2018 15:14:38



John Gilkerson   John Gilkerson
Ed, this is an image which I feel has great potential.
I would suggest working on the image taking account of the group comments.   Posted: 04/19/2018 02:43:43



 
Hi, Ed!

Very similar to abstract art. )   Posted: 04/20/2018 02:54:25