* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #868 / Revived #088 on 2024 12 04 *

Nice reflections of that line of doors

Fishermen at Dawn, Pelahatchie Bay, Summer and Fall

Maybe 'Siamese Twins"

Pleasant image. A little suggestion to clone out a branch in the middle on the bottom.

Or maybe "Who's the fairest?" As if looking in a mirror, perhaps.

What I see vs. what I feel.

I've just returned from a photo workshop in the Pantanal region of Brazil. We were especially targeting Jaguars, and had wonderful success. The two images below are different takes on the same shot. As I started to process it I realized that the "photojournalistic" version (the first picture), while effective, didn't seem to capture how I felt when looking at the scene. This got me thinking about the recent conversation here about emotion in a photograph. So I tried a different version that seemed to better represent the drama I was feeling as the Jaguar lay in wait for it's prey.

I'm interested to hear which of these resonates with you, and of course why. Or possibly what you might suggest to further enhance the mood.

Warrior

I had been photographing at the shoreline. I was leaning against a wall about chest high that separates the beach from Pacific Highway. These three jumped on the wall and came walking toward me. They were inches away when warrior kid raised his weapon and they passed by, giggling. Everything's a game at that age.

I thought nothing of the image until I saw it in post. I like the triangular shape the group and the gesture creates.

BTW, ignore their warm gear and the grey tones of the sky. There is no cold, grey, foggy, wet weather in Southern California!

Ever!

Rich

On this day 10 years ago, I had to abruptly pull over on a freeway to snap this look of disapproval at my poor driving skills. Near Radium, BC.

Canon/Canon EOS REBEL T3/EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS | 1/100s | 𝑓/5.6 | ISO100 | 55/1mm

Yes, mountain goats are known to have little patience with displays of bad driving. It's a tough job, but someone's got to keep an eye on those clowns behind the wheel!

Rich

It almost sounds like you are apologetic for "altering" the image. Without exception, the raw image out of the camera is just the starting point for my final rendering of my intention for the final look, whether cropping or tonal control.

It's your image. Make it look the way you want! In any respect.

Nice image of a jaguar on the prowl (and a dragon fly). Yes, image two is more dramatic and interesting.

Rich

Exactly my thought.
With the grass a bit darker, we have something like a spotlight on the cat. And it deserves that spotlight.

The sunset colors are beautiful and the image has a surreal quality to it as the swans seem to be marching along in a line or dance with the seagulls.

Rich

Good eye.

The boat house has an almost humorous quality to it with the unlikely drooping and twisting of its lines.

How do those doors even continue to operate?

Rich

After I posted this earlier today, I continued to work on this shot. Here's a version that goes even further - maybe too far??

I didn't want to comment before about the whites (the white fur on the jaguar's face) being blown out in the previous images. (Such discussions get terribly out of control on these forums). Here, it looks like you lowered the "exposure"/lightness of the image, recovering those highlights. But now the midtones need to be lifted somewhat as the overall image looks too dark/flat as is.

I think you need to decide what you want the image to look like and just say so. And that's that. Image correction by committee is the Internet at its worst.

Rich

I like this one the best. It looks very nice on my screen.

I like the way the jaguar now stands out against the background.