Valerie Pohio  


Tekapo Powerlines by Valerie Pohio

August 2020 - Tekapo Powerlines

August 2020 - Valerie Pohio

Original 1

August 2020 - Valerie Pohio

Original 2

About the Image(s)

Every time I drive up to Christchurch, I go past this line of power poles and always mean to stop and photograph them, but for some reason am always in a hurry. It appears, some time ago, I did take the time, but the light wasn’t very obliging. Consequently, the original image is pretty flat and dark, but the information is all there. I cropped it as I felt a panoramic style best suited the composition and then got to work with Curves, bringing out the oranges of the tussockland and some detail in the sky. I cleaned up all the dust spots by creating another layer and using the spot healing brush. I also colour in the power pole that has caught the light. I quite liked the overall effect, but took the post processed image into Nik Analogue and turned it into a grainy, gritty triptych which I thought was a little different. The process has pushed the image and there is a little artifacting on the poles. Not sure how to deal with that. Any hints?


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




 
Simple, clean interpretation of a peaceful scene. It looks like a scene someone might see on a cross country drive. I like the feel of the Nik filter, it adds just enough mood. I not sure about the corner burns on the images though, maybe if they were not so dark. I've never done a triptych, so not familiar with any general rules for use. I do like the fact that it's a triptych, but I think I would have liked it more if the mountain were on the right end of the picture. In the picture order, the power lines seem to lead my eyes to the right so if the mountain were on the right, it has a natural resting place still in the scene.   Posted: 08/06/2020 21:21:26



Karl Leck   Karl Leck
Hi Valerie, My mind sees the panorama as a starting point for a composite, but that's because I have trouble leaving well enough alone. You took it in a different direction by breaking it into 3 segments and arranging them in reverse order along with enhancements and vignetting for artistic effect. That's a creative effort that I would not have imagined. It worked in that reversing the order of the pieces required me to look at them closely and think about it. If they were on a gallery wall, viewers might try to rearrange them like solving a puzzle. The vignetting makes them into 3 individual pieces, and less a part of a whole. Very interesting! Karl   Posted: 08/15/2020 11:12:02



 
I'm not versed very well in post-processing, so you are all speaking Greek to me. For what it's worth, I like the middle photo. The eye follows the poles nicely up and over. The fence gives size and a straight line to compare to poles going over the hill. I think it's by far the best composition of the three.   Posted: 08/20/2020 16:29:53



Judith Lesnaw   Judith Lesnaw
Val, I really like the panorama. The simplicity, muted colors, leading lines reflect a very stark landscape. The triptych is fascinating to study. By disrupting and reversing the flow towards the peak, you created a sense of moving backwards and viewing the scene in the rear view mirror - you have reversed time and unsettled the viewer.   Posted: 08/25/2020 13:49:14



 
I like the creativity -- the way you put the panorama together backwards. Years ago I drove the road past the ponds on several occasions in the summertime. With the sun setting, the telephone wires on those poles can light up magically. You are so fortunate to have such wonderful scenery nearby.   Posted: 08/29/2020 12:36:32