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[Michael_2010]

Hello All!

I’m still trying to learn how to compose shots with my ultra-wide and so far my results have been a little bland. In fact, I’m now thinking it is better suited for special effects type photography rather than landscapes. I’m attaching the following with a couple of questions.

1) Is this boring? Could I have done something to make it more interesting? It is a roadside shot taken at daybreak. I couldn’t climb the fence and mingle with the cattle. So, that was a little limiting.

2) Whether it is sunrise, or sunset, I prefer that the sun be better defined. Not just a bright spot in the sky with a lens flare. What controls that? Aperture? Focal length?



Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 10 mm (Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM)
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[jcore]

Michael, I think there's alot going on in this photo. I'm not sure if I want to see more clouds, more sunrise, more cattle or more landscape. I think good shot, especially for one of those "spur of the moment" shots. If you were only 2 feet taller and could minimize the fence! :-) I'm not sure what controls lens flares but looks like you had a star filter on. I've heard spending alot on coated UV filter but I can't see dropping $100

[Nicole]

I've been trying to figure out whether or not I like this photo. My first response was: I like it, it's not really boring. Then I thought, but, it's missing something. Then I'm kind of back to: it could be a better shot. Mind you, it's all opinion and I'm trying to work out my thoughts on it as well.

So, first of all, I like the way the sun is, I like the flare and I like the effect the smaller aperture gives it. I'm a fan of having the sun like that. You could probably dial some of that down through the use of filters or having a shorter exposure, but that would impact the rest of the shot too.

I also like the leading lines of the fence. Speaking of that fence, the first thing I'd probably do is crop it in on the right a little bit so that I got less of the really dark area and the fence went totally to the end of the frame without that bright piece of grass at the end. So about where that style of the fence ends. It also gives it the illusion that the fence continues on even further. I know that it actually does go on, but because the type of fence changes and because of that green grass it almost creates a bit of an illusion that the fence has ended.

Now the part I'm most unsure about what I would do in the future or to fix it has to do with the dark are on the right side of the frame and the darkness of the fence. The grass is so bright and green, and the sky is gorgeous, but the fence is kind of the start of a darker undefined area. Actually, in some ways, cropping it like I was thinking before might take care of a lot of that. I wouldn't go too overboard trying to lighten the area, and I would think that you would have lost the sky / light if you had waited much longer.

Hope that helps a bit!

[NgaiHill]

I like the fenceline too and see it as the feature of this picture. I like the sunrise and think you capture it at just the right moment. My first thought after reading your post and looking at the picture was to ask; what is the subject here? You've made reference in the title to the cattle but they are so small in the scene that it seems to me the the fence is the subject. If thats not the case then perhaps you could've moved right up to the fence, camera on top so as to eliminate it from you picture. Or driven down the road further so you were closer to the cattle.
I like it mostly as is, I agree with above that cropping the right so the wooden fence appears to continue out of frame would make it stronger.

[Michael_2010]

I hear ya! I almost like it too, but it just misses for some reason.

You are right about losing the light. I pulled over at that spot, because I preferred the wooden fence over the wire. All the cattle were further down or back against the tree-line. I thought about jumping in the truck and trying to get closer to the cows, but the sun was rising fast and I knew it would end up just being a cow shot if I tried to move.

Oh well, on to a new challenge.......

[Michael_2010]

Originally Posted by NgaiHill

I like the fenceline too and see it as the feature of this picture. I like the sunrise and think you capture it at just the right moment. My first thought after reading your post and looking at the picture was to ask; what is the subject here? You've made reference in the title to the cattle but they are so small in the scene that it seems to me the the fence is the subject. If thats not the case then perhaps you could've moved right up to the fence, camera on top so as to eliminate it from you picture. Or driven down the road further so you were closer to the cattle.
I like it mostly as is, I agree with above that cropping the right so the wooden fence appears to continue out of frame would make it stronger.

You make a very good point about the main focal point of the photo and that topic has been discussed many times on this forum. After reading your comment, it is clear to me that what I was seeing in that field on that morning did not translate through my camera. To me the whole thing was about the cattle. There had to be hundreds of those solid black cows spread all over those very nice pastures and that is what got my attention.

Then when I stopped and setup my camera, the cattle became secondary for some reason. Funny how one can see that all day long while looking at shots taken by others and still miss it in their own work.

Thanks for the input.

[NgaiHill]

I've had a few of those 'nice photo but where's the focal point?' kind of shots. If there are a lot of cattle there perhaps going back at sunset will give you other opportunities. The light usually lasts for longer around sunset than sunrise and the cattle may be in a better spot to capture both them and the fence. Look forward to seeing more!