Morning in Topanga Canyon - comments please

gpgold

I've started going for a morning walk again after losing my way for a while and falling out of shape - which becomes much easier as we get older. Anyway, I have added a pair of birding glasses to my normal compliment of camera gear. This is a great way to start the day.

I saw this rock and thought it might be an OK B&W, let me know what you think. I have come to see real beauty in the chapperal, but it is an aquired taste and was slow to come to this NJ native.

The original:



the conversion:



regards,

Gary

Andy

hiya gary

i think that the shot suffers from too much rock and not enough surroundings... iow, it could benefit from a wider lens, or 100 paces stepping back

also, could do with a bit more contrast in the far off mountains, bw really screams for this...

thanks for posting!

gpgold

andy wrote:

hiya gary

i think that the shot suffers from too much rock and not enough surroundings... iow, it could benefit from a wider lens, or 100 paces stepping back

also, could do with a bit more contrast in the far off mountains, bw really screams for this...

thanks for posting!

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the input. I will take another look at the composition on my next walk there. On the contrast part I am never sure how it will look on line when I am in PS on my computer. But I agree that I should have punched up the mountains now that you bring it up.

regards,

Gary

gpgold

gpgold wrote:

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the input. I will take another look at the composition on my next walk there. On the contrast part I am never sure how it will look on line when I am in PS on my computer. But I agree that I should have punched up the mountains now that you bring it up.

regards,

Gary

Improved background version



Not a lot to work with, but an improvement I think.

Angelo

g'mornin' Gary.

I agree with Andy. Too much emphasis on the rock in the foreground rather than the surrounding landscape and you clipped the top of the mountain peak.

But good for you getting out-and-about again. Hiking can be so much fun and healthy too! :

gpgold

Angelo wrote:

g'mornin' Gary.

I agree with Andy. Too much emphasis on the rock in the foreground rather than the surrounding landscape and you clipped the top of the mountain peak.

But good for you getting out-and-about again. Hiking can be so much fun and healthy too! :

Angelo,

Thanks for the comments. I'm sure the rock will be there for another attempt the next time I hit that trail. Hiking is especially fun with my pal 828!

regards,

Gary

Higgmeister

Hi Gary,
I don't have much to add since Andy and Angelo pretty well covered it. My questions surround the purpose of the shot. The rock is obviously your subject. What about that rock are you wanting to share? I think the B&W helps accent the shapes and textures. I see texture in the rock, but not enough to grab my attention as is with the rock shapes. I'm not sure about this part, but it seems that there are too many plants in front of the rock and it distracting. Just my opinions and observations.

I like taking and looking at pictures of rocks. Most of my shots I wouldn't share because they don't hold interest to others, but I like them all the same. I like this rock. It looks like a siltstone with inclusions which is interesting to me, but I'm strange like that:D.

Also, just a thought, Andy and Angelo mentioned stepping back away from the rock. You may also want to step in and try to find and interesting shadow or inclusion that would grab the viewer. Just an alternate idea.

Have fun,
Chris

Note: Rock are my friends:):.

gpgold

Higgmeister wrote:

I don't have much to add since Andy and Angelo pretty well covered it. My questions surround the purpose of the shot. The rock is obviously your subject. What about that rock are you wanting to share? I think the B&W helps accent the shapes and textures. I see texture in the rock, but not enough to grab my attention as is with the rock shapes. I'm not sure about this part, but it seems that there are too many plants in front of the rock and it distracting. Just my opinions and observations.

I like taking and looking at pictures of rocks. Most of my shots I wouldn't share because they don't hold interest to others, but I like them all the same. I like this rock. It looks like a siltstone with inclusions which is interesting to me, but I'm strange like that:D.

Also, just a thought, Andy and Angelo mentioned stepping back away from the rock. You may also want to step in and try to find and interesting shadow or inclusion that would grab the viewer. Just an alternate idea.

Have fun,
Chris

Note: Rock are my friends:):.

Chris,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have some rock shots I like that I took at Joshua tree. Actually when I saw this rock I thought that with the plants and textures it might make an interesting B&W study. I have in the past posted some shots form the chapperal that I liked in terms of subtle color and texture that did not create much interest in others. You are in the Reno area and must be exposed to environs similar to Topanga. There is a real beauty, but I need to find the right way to capture and share the feeling.

regards,

Gary

Higgmeister

Hi Gary,

gpgold wrote:

Chris,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have some rock shots I like that I took at Joshua tree. Actually when I saw this rock I thought that with the plants and textures it might make an interesting B&W study. I have in the past posted some shots form the chapperal that I liked in terms of subtle color and texture that did not create much interest in others. You are in the Reno area and must be exposed to environs similar to Topanga. There is a real beauty, but I need to find the right way to capture and share the feeling.

regards,

Gary

People see rocks all over the place and for them, they are just rocks. There are so many different types of rocks, each with it's own characteristics (color, texture, reflective index...) that large volumes are written on this stuff (Geology). Most of these people here do have an appreciation for rocks, they just don't understand it as such. If you look at shots of Yosemite, all you are gawking at is a very large rock:D. I think the root problem here is that people take rocks for GRANITE. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Seriously, you have given me an idea. I think I may do a rock study of the area around here. Either it could be interesting, or very boring.

Take Care Gary,
Chris

Mongrel

Hey Gary, how's it going?
I've been looking at this shot for a bit now....

Some thoughts-

As Andy and Angelo suggested-too much rock and not enought surroundings is *one* possibility Next time step back and work on placing the rock somewhere in the frame and include the surroundings.

Here's a couple other angles you may want to explore-

1. I would try getting down low (on your belly low ) and shoot up from the base of the rock.

2. (This ties in to what Chris was talking about I think) I would try getting very close to the rock (eliminate everything but the rock), and find some interesting detail of it to shoot. Your lighting will play an important part in this.

3. Try and time your visit to take advantage of the *good light*-early morning or evening time when the shadows are long and the light is more diffused. You will probably find the rock bathed in some sweet light that will give some interesting shadows to play with.

Great idea, just needs a little bit of *work* to bring out the best of it.

Take care,

Mongrel

gpgold

Mongrel wrote:

I've been looking at this shot for a bit now....

Some thoughts-

As Andy and Angelo suggested-too much rock and not enought surroundings is *one* possibility Next time step back and work on placing the rock somewhere in the frame and include the surroundings.

Here's a couple other angles you may want to explore-

1. I would try getting down low (on your belly low ) and shoot up from the base of the rock.

2. (This ties in to what Chris was talking about I think) I would try getting very close to the rock (eliminate everything but the rock), and find some interesting detail of it to shoot. Your lighting will play an important part in this.

3. Try and time your visit to take advantage of the *good light*-early morning or evening time when the shadows are long and the light is more diffused. You will probably find the rock bathed in some sweet light that will give some interesting shadows to play with.

Great idea, just needs a little bit of *work* to bring out the best of it.

Take care,

Mongrel

It's going well - hope things are good for you too! Thanks for spending the time to reflect on this shot. I am going to try to get back tomorrow AM for another try. Your suggestions are very useful - we'll see what happens.

regards,

Gary