Monologs...

In an earlier thread, I posted a pic of a log in the park and have since been playing around with a B/W version. However, I took a few shots of dead wood and logs in the park at the weekend so I thought I would post a little series...

First up, the revised version of the shot from yesterday, which appealed to me because it reminded me of a black hole...




Worn end:




Timber Crumble:




Crud catcher:




Any C&C appreciated. I generally add a bit of a colour tint to B/W shots, as I have here. It would be interesting to know what people think of that in general. Personally I prefer it more often than not (but not always) to 'pure' B/W

Regards

Now I know that folk have got the impression that I don't like B&W - true often I don't - but these - they really appeal to me.

The first one - those swirls round the 'black hole' absolutely wonderful [ hiding from George after that word was used ]

The next one - the cross section and the cracks developing in it - very nice

Crumbly timber - it shows very clearly how it's crumbling in layers , but no two bits are the same

last one - colour is interesting , nice layers in the wood but I don't really like the collection of grunge - I think I would have liked to see that with the stuff out .

Tim, I like your initial image at the top. The striations in the bark are interesting and good to look at. They have a nice rhythm, too.

The rest of the images are kind of banal and don't elicit as much interest to me.

I felt a better crop was in order which helps provide a better emphasis on those striations and keeps my eye from wandering right, out of the shot. - here:

[IMG]http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/paulyrichard/4858045526_87dc550e68_ztim.jpg[/IMG]

Good evening, Mat.

As a woodworker & naturalist of *(^^$£"")years, I find your images full of timber's strengths & its weaknesses.
That you capture those qualities with such elegance is inspiring.
The monochrome suits the subject v. well, in my opinion.

In "Timber Crumble", who's that figure standing left of centre, bottom third, admiring the cliff/quarry face?
(a bit like those psychiatrists' tests... what do you see in this picture?

Thanks for letting us see.

Coker.

Mono+logs - my kind of humour Mat! Careful or you'll get a reputation like me for 'groanworthy' lines...

No 1 is my pick of these, and IMO the conversion / treatment of this edit has improved it over the copy on your previous post too.

Thanks for the comments and feedback folks, it is much appreciated - I'm also glad you liked the title () and Paul - you are spot on with your revised crop I think (thanks).

Regards

Tricky one, this. I don't feel comfortable (yet) using words like banal - but that's because I'm new here still, and don't think I've earned the right.

Pauly, on the other hand, is an old hand here, and has 'veteran's rights' (which I'm sure he'll deny, of course ) - but I have to say I totally agree with everything he said, plus his crop of the top shot (which is my favourite overall).

Without his crop, the lines in the top shot definitely lead the eye out to the right, and draw attention to the dark spot top right, which diminishes the effect of the black hole (which is a perfect analogy).

I liked Worn End next best, but for me there's a slightly-annoying whiter line that starts at around 7 o'clock on the clock face, and comes inwards, almost acting as a lead-line, but then it does an unconventional swerve away from the centre subject, and sorta vanishes away into a line going 11 o'clockish. That bit just bugs me, a tad, and I'd be tempted to tone it down/clone it out, and concentrate on the otherwise beautiful convergence of the rest of the shot.

Timber Crumble, I think I would like more if there wasn't that 'hairy bit' in the lower-centre area, and I would absolutely want to chop out the whitish area at the bottom left (which completely distracts the eye). Certainly, without those, the top half/two-thirds make an attractive 'layer cake' effect (which I initially saw as like the top of an apple crumble, and figured that was what had influenced your choice of name for the shot).

Crud Catcher, honestly, does nothing for me at all. I don't hate it, but I don't like it much either. The lead-lines are all too spurious, and lead out of the shot, not in. I don't think placing anything in the V as a 'focal point' would've helped much, and would've been too 'obvious'. Perhaps controversially (but honestly, though) the human male in me realises I'm not used to seeing that shape, in that orientation. Rotate it 90 degrees clockwise, and you'll see what I mean. THAT shot, for perfectly explicable and clichéd, obvious male-orientated reasons, is much more compelling! How shallow am I? I'd be tempted to change its name, though, if you display it that way round...

Neil (and indeed everyone else!) many thanks for detailed and thoughtful comments. I almost always find the comments here on the forum very useful, whether on my own shots or indeed others'; and appreciate the constructive feedback often seen. I also find it fascinating to see the different things which people take out of the pictures. Makes me keep wanting to take more

Regards