Tom McCreary, APSA, MPSA
October 2024 - Chain shadows
Original
About the Image(s)
This was taken last month at the Mountain Farm Museum in Smokies National Park. This is not what I normally think of for a museum, as it is a grouping of old buildings along a stream. I was there fairly early in the morning so the sun was fairly low on the horizon, which created more shadows. This chain was on the old barn. I liked the texture of the wood, the shape of the old chain and the shadow created. I converted to mono since the image was pretty much monochromatic anyway.
I did crop some off the top and bottom, especially on the bottom as there was a light area below the black which I thought was distracting.
I converted to mono in Photoshop, and did increase the contrast some.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Tom, I think this image in monochrome is a well done conversion and composition. Not only the iron chain, but the texture of the wood. The shadows add a nice bit. Posted: 10/03/2024 23:34:27
Thanks, it is a very interesting chain. Posted: 10/04/2024 00:02:31
Interesting, indeed. I can see someone fabricating it just for the purpose. Cool. Posted: 10/04/2024 01:04:29
Hi Tom,
The moment I saw your mono image, I thought, how I wish he had a few more links in the image. Then I saw your original and discussion about the bottom crop. In all, I think I would prefer to see the extra links. But yes, it's a bit of a toss-up. Posted: 10/04/2024 03:14:03
The moment I saw your mono image, I thought, how I wish he had a few more links in the image. Then I saw your original and discussion about the bottom crop. In all, I think I would prefer to see the extra links. But yes, it's a bit of a toss-up. Posted: 10/04/2024 03:14:03
The strong shadow is such a strong feature in the image that I think that the dark area and distorted shadow below it are a distraction. If I was there at a time without the shadows, then the lower links would be good to be left.
I was there only a couple of weeks before all the flooding in the area of North Carolina. I had just come down the Blue Ridge Parkway and had spent a night in one of the towns that they showed on the news as flooding. What a tragedy! Posted: 10/04/2024 12:01:28
I was there only a couple of weeks before all the flooding in the area of North Carolina. I had just come down the Blue Ridge Parkway and had spent a night in one of the towns that they showed on the news as flooding. What a tragedy! Posted: 10/04/2024 12:01:28
Strange how we in the DC area experienced nothing other than a 10 days of moderately rainy weather, after a drought period. I am not even sure any of our rain was from the hurricane periphery. We had no winds at all.
You are not the only friend we know who passed through the south recently. We have heard lots of stories. Such devastation. Posted: 10/04/2024 15:36:59
You are not the only friend we know who passed through the south recently. We have heard lots of stories. Such devastation. Posted: 10/04/2024 15:36:59
You have seen a good detail, Tom, congratulations for it!
I like very much the lights and the shadows of the photo, with one exception: the dense black strip of the bottom part of the picture. Perhaps the photo could be improved by slightly cutting the bottom of the pic, and to use generative refill to change the rest of the bottom black shadow in the right part of the photo. But, of course, we should try it to see if it works! Posted: 10/10/2024 11:21:17
I like very much the lights and the shadows of the photo, with one exception: the dense black strip of the bottom part of the picture. Perhaps the photo could be improved by slightly cutting the bottom of the pic, and to use generative refill to change the rest of the bottom black shadow in the right part of the photo. But, of course, we should try it to see if it works! Posted: 10/10/2024 11:21:17
I agree - it is a different sort of chain with the twisted links, I wanted to crop much of the area above the hook so that it didn't detract from the chain - so a tighter crop to reflect that you have had to crop the bottom off. I would also crop off some from the left. That emphasises the chain and also leaves negative space to the right. I think the black at the bottom provides a stopper so it doesn't bother me. Posted: 10/10/2024 19:39:36
I thought that photographers in Europe like to have more room around the subject? That said, I do like the crop, it leaves plenty of wood above the chain. I also agree with you about the black area at the bottom serving as a stop. Posted: 10/10/2024 19:48:27
We do, but that is for wildlife, not inanimate objects! Posted: 10/11/2024 09:27:03