From today's graveyard jaunt

I was looking for a suitable grave for the weekly - don't ask - but found this.




Sigma 30mm f1.4 at 1.4 ISO 100 and 750th.

All C&C welcomed.

Mike

Well 55 views & no comments. I'd much, much, rather have honest criticism than indifference.

It's no surprise that I like this one, as I have a current fascination with limited depth of field, although as with everything photographic, I tend to go ott. Not so in this shot Mike; I love the warm tones of the stone & the sharpness of the text against the textured surface where the face has come away. The fact that the focal plane is exactly where the best light is was not an accident I assume.

I must get around a few graveyards if ever the sun returns.

I like this shot - particularly the dof and lighting.
What might improve it is to crop the top 25% or so - leave just enough
to emphasise the dof.

Definitely a nice perspective!

Good one Mike but I still prefer the one you put in the weekly competition, Textures I recall. I like the differential focus but would prefer to see a greater area of sharp focus.
I've prowled around graveyards myself and have some examples which might end up in The Forum one day.

I know what you mean about the top area but cropping will (I think) make it even less well balanced. Possibly I should have shot along the length of the ivy and used the DOF that way.

Graveyards are funny places - they have so much human interest in them and so many different textures etc.

Yes David it was textures. Same graveyard which I think is probably the only one in Stourport - I can't think of another but the Catholics must have one I guess. I'm not strong on religion. I think the graveyard is at least as old as the town as Stourport only became established in 17 something with the canal.

Mike

Makes my eyes hurt. There's not enough there for me. I would perhaps have been looking for more of the ivy in focus (as above) and changing the tilt to vertical or going out a bit further for more context. or I would have been trying to pick out the top words in focus "aged 70 years".

Doug

Well I did look at it earlier but found it lacked a bit of life

I didn't really but I do agree with the idea of cropping the top off, despite it been out of focus the lettering at the top of the image is far too large and dominant, it distracts for the focal point.

It's an intriguing shot, I like it. However I also agree with Doug, would have preferred the words to be horizontal and the tip of the ivy to be in focus. Also the bright root top right is a bit distracting.

Peanuts, Bob - my 'Assembly' post has notched up 143 views and not a peep (barring my own corrective) from anyone so far. Possibly an 'indifference' record? (BTW thanks Tim for your comments AND posting them on Flickr thereby not undermining my record!). Am beginning to wonder if sensitivity about taking pictures of children in the UK extends to making comments on photos featuring them?!

Apologies, Mike, for the distraction. You know my thoughts on this image. Like the idea but not the execution. Looking at it again, I agree that getting the ivy in focus (or DoF) to the tip is pretty critical.

I think based on the comments here and looking again if I were to do this again I would probably shot so the length of the ivy was in focus and I think that would still deploy the minimal DOF at 1.4 (which I confess was almost a 'because I can' application) and avoid the issues raised. Thanks for all the comments which are appreciated.

I like it but have to agree with what others have mentioned, the tip of the ivy being in focus would hold more interest.
But I really like the image, the idea is really great and attention capturing.

As for the tip being in focus it was the desire to have Charlotte sharp that took me that way. I'll never get the same light again so a reshoot is probably not feasible.

Really like this but I too hanker for the tip of the ivy to be in sharp focus. Also agree that some cropping of the top would add emphasis.

Think the texture of the sound and crumbling stone is very good and you were lucky with the light as you say it could never be repeated.

Although I would like to crop this I admire your composing particularly for having the idea, it is great to see everyday things from a different angle and for that I thank you.

Just as a matter of interest this is the original




What crops are people suggesting? Ignoring where the focus lies for now.

Mike

I'm firmly in the the original camp,very unusual perspective which has it's own unique appeal, cropping may loose the effect of the overall composition.