Wes Odell
November 2024 - Plowing
Original
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.
9 comments posted
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
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
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
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
OK Wes, thank you very much!!! Posted: 11/05/2024 19:43:38
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
Yes, I think Manel is right to suggest a left/right flip. Posted: 11/06/2024 08:03:19
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
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