Woodentop

I was oh so tempted to enter this for the weekly but it's not that woody really.




K20D Sigma 50 (macro)

Mike

Well...I love it. And I absolutely see some nice woody structure down there.
So what is keeping you from entering? It sure makes a change to all those trunks and tree stumps. It's getting a real forest out there in the weekly.

That's a beautifully crisp and detailed little 'mini garden' Mike. The lighting is sumptuous.

Can't see the wood for the trees?

I'll guess I am not the only one.

Well I'm going to push the number of views up on this one -- I keep coming back to it!

I must like it. Yes... I do like it, but I don't know why.

Thanks guys - I like it too but I feel it isn't quite right but I was so lucky with the sea. The colour and reflected clouds are wonderful. I can and will return to this post

Mike

A wonderful shot: I even like the mysterious background. Good lens, isn't it?
Very much my sort of photograph.
Regards,

Andrew

mikew
nice, clean and sharp.

well seen

James

Thanks James.

Andrew yes it is a nice lens but not as nice as the 30/1.4 for general use and boy can it hunt sometimes. Great macro lens though.

Mike

That sums it up nicely. A nice crisp, clear image. I like it a lot.

Very nice, and quite a microcosm of plant life as well.

This is not a critism, but a question. Why did you not crop out more of the background to concentrate on the post?

I think it's brilliant, even with the background, (rule of two thirds)

Jack.

That's a good question. Try it and see and then I think you'll see that while the top of the post is quite interesting it lacks a sufficiently coherent whole to carry the composition. The colours are also a bit overly green and chaotic to my mind. By having that lovely sea in the background I got a very calming colour and I also got to include that twiggy out of focus plant.

Also I moved the rectangle away from the centre of the composition which I think in this case is good. The downside is that I included too much concrete wall and also those fussy bits down the side of the post. But on balance I think having the demanding area in a wider space gives it context and greater strength.

I had my 70 mm lens with me so I could have just shot the top of the post so it was a very concious decision not to. I couldn't use my 30 which I probably would have preferred as I couldn't get close enough - it seems to render colours lightly better.

I hope you don't mind a rather lengthy and slightly pompous reply. I love hearing why people choose the compositions that they use and what decisions they take when shooting - that way I learn more.

Mike

It is brilliant, that was the reason for my question. Is it better because the post is not in the center?