Landscape In Portrait

[Dodge]

Well I was out and about this weekend, got my Mojo back after a couple of weeks of apathy, and experimented a little with framing my main subject with whatever was around, looking to create something a bit different using my 11-18 wide angle. In particular I'm quite curious if the composition 'works' or not. (My wife says it sends her eyes funny).

Thank you in advance to anyone who has time to help,



Camera: Sony DSLR-A350
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 11 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

[windrider86]

I really like this but am not sure about the top railing. Try cropping it out it may give it a more open feeling

[Surprised]

I'm with windrider86 here; the top part of the gate seems very heavy. Given the feedback I received in a recent thread I'm not 100% convinced this wouldn't be better in landscape either. But big kudos for the creative intent!

[Henry Wilt]

I've got to say I like the idea and the effect of looking through the gate/fence. I would definitely crop the fungus off the top railing but that's because I just hate fungus.
I would like to see what it looks like with it cropped at the top of the top railing and at the bottom of the bottom railing (and preferably in landscape but you'd probably have to reshoot, so no go) to give a real feeling of viewing the scene beyond through the gap.
Thanks for sharing, it's given me some food for thought.

[Dodge]

Thanks for the great feedback !

The original shot is actually in Landscape and this was a crop taken from it. Reason being, I was slightly off angle with the shot and found the slight angle of the top rail a bit off putting in the final image.

I tried Windriders suggestion but the problem was, that cropping the crop left it a bit too tightly cropped. It's one of those pics that just doesn't look quite right however I seem to crop it

I'll definately try reshooting I think, as the concept is intriguing me, taking on board everything that's been said, so thanks everyone for your input on this.

[Ben Holder]

I agree with everyone else; great subject, great exposure, the top beam just feels like it is crushing the otherwise great photograph. I would definitely go back and re-shoot though.

[Jojie]

+1 ... the top beam is in the way. The first time I saw the pic, it directed whre the beam is and I had to work out what I was looking at.

[BigFuzzy]

Heya Rog,
I like the idea and attempt.
Did you consider shooting it in landscape mode and use the wood above/below to create a 'letterbox' type of frame?

[Dodge]

Thanks again guys for all the comments.

Blimey, you gave me so much to think about. I got carried away with it and have had great fun experimenting with all kinds of crops. Hopefully, when I do try stuff like this again, it will be with a much clearer idea of what I need to take into account.

I did 9 crops overall (won't bore you with them all, so sit back down ). Final conclusion was that I didn't like how the gate barred you from the pic rather than let you in. But, ever determined to make some use of the gate, I abandoned the portrait idea and went for some Seat of the Pants Freestyle Cropping.

At one point I considered a shot without the gate, but decided that was cheating. Anyhoo, here are the two I liked best, taking into account all comments. I realise the crops are very tight, but It's giving me lots of food for thought for when I get back outdoors, so many thanks to anyone who manages to bear with me LOL.

First based around the no top bar suggestion http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/...5f46ca1f_b.jpg

Second based on the top bottom frame idea http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/...9e5b352c_b.jpg

So I'm wondering, do either/both of these work as a composition? I'm afraid I've been playing with the pic so long now, I lost all sense of right and wrong.

[RLucas]

Roger, from what I see of the first image you posted, if you would, crop about a third of the top rail off, and a third of the bottom rail. Since you are framing the landscape with the gate, it will put your horizon in the top third of the "frame". It will also put the diagonal area of the field where it moves from green to yellow at an intersect with the X brace of the gate on the bottom right. It will make a very pleasing image, with nice leading lines, with almost a square crop, and the letterbox quality Al was referring to. I hope you can follow my ramblings?