Trey Foerster
March 2023 - Iola Backroads 9
Original
About the Image(s)
A slightly overcast sky provided the opportunity last December to once again venture out into the farmland in Central Wisconsin and got this shot at 4:30 p.m. I lined the sub over the left peak of the barn on the left third and thought the crisscross paths of Whitetail deer provided some texture to the foreground. Tech stuff: ISO 126, f/11, 1/125 sec., manual exposure, flash mode no flash, 7mm focal length. I lightened the shadows to reveal the silo, which sits on the right third, and the barn and brought out the color of the oak leaves. I also added a “peach” color tinge to the sky and cutoff the cornfield at the bottom of the image. RAW processes through LR, then put into PS before I used TopazStudio templates.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Hi Trey, I really like the color scheme in this image, it's very pleasing to the eye. The contrast between the white snow on the ground and the warm sunset in the sky, along with the yellow-brown leaves on the white tree trunk, creates a beautiful and inviting atmosphere.
I also appreciate the full foreground in the original image, which added another layer of straight, divided lines and interesting patterns. Unfortunately, it seems that the image was cropped, and this foreground was lost.
Initially, I was concerned that the image might be too busy, but upon closer inspection, I realized that the old house in the background is only visible during the winter season when there are fewer leaves covering it.
Overall, I think the post-processing on this image is excellent and has resulted in a perfect and beautiful final product. Thank you. Posted: 03/25/2023 21:02:20
I also appreciate the full foreground in the original image, which added another layer of straight, divided lines and interesting patterns. Unfortunately, it seems that the image was cropped, and this foreground was lost.
Initially, I was concerned that the image might be too busy, but upon closer inspection, I realized that the old house in the background is only visible during the winter season when there are fewer leaves covering it.
Overall, I think the post-processing on this image is excellent and has resulted in a perfect and beautiful final product. Thank you. Posted: 03/25/2023 21:02:20
There are two barns in the image, one with a silo on the right. It's rare to see such a setup in my neck of the of the woods and that's why winter is the best time to capture this particular locations. You, Brian, and Jacky both indicated that I should have left the cornstalk stubble in the image. What does that add - a more definitive foreground, a contrast of shapes, or just a border? Corn stubble isn't appealing to me a country boy but I am interested in why urban dwellers may find it adds to the image. Thank you. Posted: 03/26/2023 13:25:40
Hi Trey. I have not attempted to anything to replicate your processing processing of the silo, hose and trees as this works works well. I have changed the crop and the position of the sky, moving it to the right, also painted in the bright part of the sun with a light matching sky colour, to remove the blow out of the sun. The sky has also been left soft and subdued balancing with the remainder of the image.Leaving in some of the corn stumps adds a layer which helps step the viewer into the image. Overall the image now feels softer and subtle in colour. Its your image of course and if you prefer your original, excellent. This is purely an alternative view. Posted: 03/26/2023 00:21:56
There are two barns in the image, one with a silo on the right. It's rare to see such a setup in my neck of the of the woods and that's why winter is the best time to capture this particular locations. You, Brian, and Jacky both indicated that I should have left the cornstalk stubble in the image. What does that add - a more definitive foreground, a contrast of shapes, or just a border? Corn stubble isn't appealing to me a country boy. As to the sun and "blowout", that's something I have been watching so highlights are not blown out - despite what some judges may see in competitions! I did reduce it with a circular gradient in RAW but it's always hard to determine how much of the light you want to diminish. How do you decide? Posted: 03/26/2023 13:33:29
Jacky Lee
Thank you for sharing this captivating landscape photo from the farmland in Central Wisconsin! The overcast sky and the colors just before sunset create a wonderful atmosphere, and I appreciate how you've managed to capture this moment.
Your composition, with the sun aligned over the left peak of the barn on the left third, is a thoughtful choice. Your technical settings seem well-suited for this shot, and the post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop, along with the use of TopazStudio templates, has truly enhanced the overall image.
I notice that there is a house on the right-hand side being obstructed by the trees. While it does add some depth to the composition, it might be worth experimenting with a crop or a different angle to see if it could further improve the balance of the image.
Overall, I think you've done a fantastic job capturing the essence of the rural landscape, and the color and light adjustments you made have brought out the best in the scene. Thank you for sharing your work with the group. Posted: 03/26/2023 08:51:57
Your composition, with the sun aligned over the left peak of the barn on the left third, is a thoughtful choice. Your technical settings seem well-suited for this shot, and the post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop, along with the use of TopazStudio templates, has truly enhanced the overall image.
I notice that there is a house on the right-hand side being obstructed by the trees. While it does add some depth to the composition, it might be worth experimenting with a crop or a different angle to see if it could further improve the balance of the image.
Overall, I think you've done a fantastic job capturing the essence of the rural landscape, and the color and light adjustments you made have brought out the best in the scene. Thank you for sharing your work with the group. Posted: 03/26/2023 08:51:57
There are two barns in the image, one with a silo on the right. It's rare to see such a setup in my neck of the of the woods and that's why winter is the best time to capture this particular locations. You, Brian, and Jacky both indicated that I should have left the cornstalk stubble in the image. What does that add - a more definitive foreground, a contrast of shapes, or just a border? Corn stubble isn't appealing to me a country boy but I am interested in why urban dwellers may find it adds to the image. As far as a crop, I intentionally wanted the 2 triangles of the roof lines and the cylinder of the silo adds to the contrast of shapes. Unfortunately, there is a road to the right of the image that I didn't want to show. I am interested in the your thoughts of crop. Thank you. Posted: 03/26/2023 13:28:32
Such a beautiful presentation, looking like a dreamland. The cloudy sky with spot of Sun, the snow bound foreground and the trees with a background of houses, it is a feast of my eyes. The textures on snow have increased the beauty of the picture. No mark of human element is also another attraction of the show. Thanks for sharing and like to see this type of scape with my own eyes. Posted: 03/26/2023 11:22:06
Thank you Sanat! I rather liked the deer trails in the snow and felt it added some texture to the snow. Posted: 03/26/2023 13:35:37
Trey:
Another fine pastoral scene from your neck of the woods. The afternoon sun gives a hint of warmth while the snow in the foreground clearly conveys the cold. The deer tracks are a nice touch. Could you soften the sun which is slightly blown out and bring up the silo that seems a bit too dark in the shadows?
Mark Posted: 03/28/2023 09:56:11
Another fine pastoral scene from your neck of the woods. The afternoon sun gives a hint of warmth while the snow in the foreground clearly conveys the cold. The deer tracks are a nice touch. Could you soften the sun which is slightly blown out and bring up the silo that seems a bit too dark in the shadows?
Mark Posted: 03/28/2023 09:56:11
Mark, as in a response above, on my computer the sun is not blown out (no red in it on the histogram). This brings up the question of how "dull" such an object has to be not to be seen as "blown out". I reduced it with a radiant gradient in RAW. There is no "definition" to be regained in such an instance, so what is the measure? I struggle with that. Posted: 03/28/2023 10:08:13