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!
My post processing workflow is very similar to yours ,Cole.I sit with a photograph for several days sometimes a couple of weeks before I even think about posting it. Myself I don’t like to critique another person’s work,cause I don’t know or couldn’t even understand their vision.
Re: critiquing
Agreed!