Jennifer Doerrie

May 2023 - Flooded California Orchard

About the Image(s)

Flooded California Orchard

March 4, 2023
f/8
1/160 sec.
ISO 640 (trying to stop wind, but may have needed to go higher)
-0.3 exposure compensation
24-105 mm lens at 84 mm

It was especially challenging to get spring orchard blossom photos this year due to the almost constant rain this spring. Therefore, I gave up and tried to incorporate some of the wet weather into the photos. I think this image is similar to some I took a few years ago where the orchards were being irrigated to protect from frost damage, so the weather story may not be as prevalent as I'd hoped. In addition to the rain and water, the wind also presented some challenges. Does this image work in spite of the wind-blurred water, or does it just look like I had an unfortunate accident with the blurring tool in Photoshop? Also, I'm wondering whether the contrast needs more adjustment, particularly in the whites? Thanks.

8 comments posted

Diana Magor

I think this is rather beautiful with the blossom reflecting in the flooded areas between the trees. I don't think there is a problem with the water and I didn't really see that it was still raining. For once I think the contrast is fine! Cutting out the tops of the trees means that it has almost become a pattern picture.
If we had puddles of water between the tree rows we would probably be worrying about the bad weather and what it might do to the roots and the potential harvest. But we normally don't get drought so this much water lying around would be the result of bad weather for a period of time. Posted: 05/11/2023 06:44:26

Stephen Levitas

Ditto on what Diana said. I really like the the wind-blurred water texture. It is so interesting, it is worth seeking out. I remember your prior image. Posted: 05/12/2023 22:06:28

Tom McCreary

A very nice pattern image. The water looks very good, and the contrast is very good. Going to mono seems like a good choice. I am guessing that the blossoms were white with not much color. What would you think about reversing the image? Posted: 05/13/2023 08:42:48

Diana Magor

Actually I think the original direction is better as we read from left to right so going away to the right hand corner seems the correct way. Posted: 05/13/2023 08:50:29

Jennifer Doerrie

I believe I've attached the correct original here. It makes sense to me to have the image weighted more heavily to the right rather than "blocking" the viewer's eyes from entering the image on the left as readily. But given Diana's response, this may be another situation that's a matter of personal preference. Posted: 05/23/2023 00:18:32

Somdutt Prasad

Love the water blurred effect, would have been too clinical without that.
Posted: 05/14/2023 02:04:38

Wes Odell

When in doubt and when I feel that there is something in the image worth while (and there is in this one), I try a flipping of 180 degrees which I did and then cropped some off of what became the bottom. Not sure I like it better, but I've seen a lot of these flips recently and some are great. Up to the viewer, of course. This is just an fyi. Posted: 05/14/2023 18:52:29

Jennifer Doerrie

Thanks for the idea. Posted: 05/23/2023 00:19:47

PID Digital Dialogue

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