Country Winter Nights

[catinsoldier]

Passed this old barn several times in the last couple of weeks. Tonight I had to try.
C/C encouraged.
Thanks for looking, Keith



Make = Canon
Model = Canon EOS 40D
Date Time = 2010-01-31 20:26:44
Exposure Time = 30"
F Number = F10
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 100
Metering Mode = Partial
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 65mm

[stang0011]

Nice capture, they were courteous enough to place the street lamp in a great spot for you!

[AlexGac]

Wait for a full moon (or close) and do it again. That lamp really is in a perfect spot. Unfortunately most of the image is completely black, void of anything but weight. If you were going for that oppressive blackness, then you got it.

With a full moon you could still capture the yellow light of the street lamp but then also get the surroundings with the dim, blue light of the moon. It would still give that feeling of isolation/separation that I think you're trying to communicate, but it would also bring out additional details and add that feeling of "the rest of the world" to it.

Whoa, just saw that this was a 30" exposure-- it must have been a lunar eclipse!

[LeeR]

Originally Posted by AlexGac

Unfortunately most of the image is completely black, void of anything but weight. If you were going for that oppressive blackness, then you got it.

I think I would take the opposite approach and include more rather than less black in this image. Imagine this image mostly black with the lighted area representing a small area near the bottom. What kind of thoughts would that convey?

[AlexGac]

Originally Posted by LeeR

I think I would take the opposite approach and include more rather than less black in this image. Imagine this image mostly black with the lighted area representing a small area near the bottom. What kind of thoughts would that convey?

That would probably be an effective strategy, too. Either way, I think our points are the same: the photo as shot doesn't quite nail home a clear theme or message from the artist.

[donniecs]

I like the shot and the limited but contrasting colors that you get with the street light. I feel that the street like was a double edge sword though because everything outside the subject is so dark, it gives the street light the appearance that it is just floating out there unless until you look closer. I found that a bit distracting, I might have either edited the light out in post processing or as suggested above, shoot with more ambient light and capture a bit more detail from the surrounding scene.