November 9, 2024
My Big Mistake
I had created Harbinger No. 60 just before I published my last newsletter, and even though I knew better, I rushed the image so I could include it in the newsletter.
Big mistake.
My normal procedure is to process it, let it sit for a few days, then look at it again and make more changes. I repeat that process over and over and over again until I no longer make any changes, and that process sometimes can take a month.
Only then do I know that the image is finished and ready to be released.
But in my haste to get it into the newsletter, I only made two processing passes. As I included it, I had this subliminal feeling that there was something wrong with the image, but I pushed that thought into the back of my mind, rationalizing that the image was “good enough.”
Then I showed the image to a friend who kept looking at the bottom of the image, and then he asked if the ground was right below the crop line. At that moment I realized what was wrong with it; it was poorly cropped.
It just felt wrong.
And so I re-cropped it to include the ground, and that made all the difference in the world! I hope that I would have figured this out eventually, if I had followed my normal routine of revisiting the image over and over and over again.
But I was in a hurry.
And so I’ve learned (once again) to slow down, take my time, there’s no rush.
What a big difference such a little thing like a crop can make!
The composition of the image is interesting and thought-provoking in several ways. The black and white contrast, the silhouettes of the trees, and the single small white cloud are all strong visual elements.
What might be distracting:
The cloud: The size and placement of the cloud stand out a bit compared to the other elements. It might be a bit too large and too centered.
The trees: The uniform arrangement of the trees might seem a bit artificial. Moving one or two trees or breaking up the line could make the image more dynamic.
The crop: The bottom part of the image might seem a bit empty. A tighter crop that focuses on the trees could yield more interesting results.
Suggestions for the image:
Cropping:
Tighter crop: Focus on the trees, cut off the empty areas from the bottom and top.
Different composition: Try focusing on just one detail, such as a single tree or the interaction between the trees and the cloud.
Post-processing:
Increase contrast: You can further increase the black and white contrast for a more dramatic effect.
Modify the cloud: If the cloud is distracting, try fading it out a bit or moving it in the image editing program.
Vignetting: A slight vignette can help draw the viewer’s attention to the center of the image.
Experimentation:
Different perspective: Try taking the picture from a different angle or distance.
Different time of day: Changing the time of day can completely change the mood of the image.
How I would crop it:
Personally, I would choose a tighter crop that focuses only on the trees and the cloud. I would cut off the bottom part to eliminate the empty area and also cut in a bit at the top to make the image more dynamic. I would also try to fade the cloud a bit so that it blends better with the other elements of the image.
Ben.
Ben, thanks for the morning laugh!!!
You’re welcome!