Wes Odell
About the Image(s)
“Plowing”
It isn’t often that you see a person driving a four-horse plow and doing it for actual farming. I caught this young man doing it in a wet and grassy field (difficult), probably for his father’s family. Yes, the grain is film noise in the b&w version, but it doesn’t bother me because it is “of the film era.” Conversion via the PS #6 Channel Mixer method, some contrast adjustments, some dodging and burning; and of course a trial conversion via the Nik Silver Efex which I discarded.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Stephen Levitas
Very interesting to see this. Where were you? In Amish country in PA? We were there some years back, stopping at a country inn for a local family-style meal. Right outside the window, we saw this same thing, but it was a young woman with the same size team. She was on a small standing platform. As she made her turn at the end of the field near us, she smiled and waved to us.
My only thought about the image is that the far horse has a lot of very bright white patches.   Posted: 11/03/2024 22:44:57
My only thought about the image is that the far horse has a lot of very bright white patches.   Posted: 11/03/2024 22:44:57
Wes Odell
There is a small community of Anabaptists (don't ask me to explain) just north of Waco, Texas. They live the old style much like the Amish and do a lot of farming and making things by hand. It's open to the public, but not widely known. Called Homestead Heritage.   Posted: 11/03/2024 23:45:58
Manel Puigcerver
An interesting and nice documentary photograph. By the way, excuse my ignorance, but... what is the #6 Channel Mixer method?
A question/suggestion: have you tried flipping the photo horizontally? It's something I often do, with sometimes surprising results.
Finally, I agree with Stephen that the white spots on the horses are somewhat overexposed; that could be corrected with luminosity masks and the photo will surely improve.   Posted: 11/05/2024 15:24:32
A question/suggestion: have you tried flipping the photo horizontally? It's something I often do, with sometimes surprising results.
Finally, I agree with Stephen that the white spots on the horses are somewhat overexposed; that could be corrected with luminosity masks and the photo will surely improve.   Posted: 11/05/2024 15:24:32
Wes Odell
PS #6 refers to Photoshop6, from the mid 1990s, the first really good version for photographers and which put Adobe into the game. We used a tool called Channel Mixer to convert to B&W.   Posted: 11/05/2024 16:22:23
Manel Puigcerver
OK Wes, thank you very much!!!   Posted: 11/05/2024 19:43:38
Wes Odell
Yes, the white spots on the outside horse are distracting, but they're real spots as evidenced in the original color photo. ie, some horses are white and partially white.   Posted: 11/18/2024 20:10:53
Stephen Levitas
Yes, I think Manel is right to suggest a left/right flip.   Posted: 11/06/2024 08:03:19
Tom McCreary
Of course he is in Texas, he has a cowboy hat on. Interesting that there is a group like this in Texas. As mentioned above, the horse on the right has blown out white spots on it which distracts from the image. I did try reversing the image, but then the team and rider seemed to be going toward nothing and out of the frame. This way they are coming into the frame, much better composition.   Posted: 11/15/2024 18:52:39
Wes Odell
Yes, the white spots on the outside horse are distracting, but they're real spots as evidenced in the original color photo. ie, some horses are white and partially white.   Posted: 11/18/2024 20:09:32
Jennifer Doerrie
That's interesting. I am not familiar with this group near Waco. Although the subject matter from a bygone era here tends to suggest a monochrome image, I actually prefer your color image here. The color helps add more separation between the horses and driver and the background, and the field looks so lush and green in the color image. I agree with Tom that I prefer the composition as you have it with the horses and driver moving toward the left into the frame rather than moving out of it.   Posted: 11/25/2024 05:40:36