Bill Jennings's Photoblog
Watch the Point!
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 17 May 2009 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
Agave plants appeal to me for the sharp images they create, pun intended. This specimen at Anza Borrego mid-day - the shadows further highlight how sharp the leaves are on these desert icons.
I am really trying to learn how to "see" in monochrome. It's frustrating for me to not be able to do better with this style of photography. It takes practice, and learning to see what works.
I especially like AM3's Jerry's work, and would love to hear other links of work you find especially compelling for monochrome.
Jerry also recommends some techniques in black and white in this excellent blog.
I'm still playing with square cropping, like I did for Pause and for Cabo Sally Hangs Ten.
Just made it home after a month of travel - posted a few photos from my journey to within 48 miles of the antartica circle: at nearly the longest day of the year: hence, there was 21 hours a day of sunlight...
Thank you for your patience while I was out of touch.
I do hope you followed Bob Kelly's blog (my roommate) while he is still traveling - he is now on Easter Island - and will be updating his blog for some time to come - please check it out!
@Onlymehdi: Thanks Mehdi. It was fun to find a subject that worked in broad daylight!
Dulcie from Danville, United States
Yes, 'sharp' and clear, and many of the surfaces remind me of the striations on canyon walls. Good job...and the square crop works on this image.
17 May 2009 7:13am
@Dulcie: Dulcie - thought about you today - drove through east bay to grandparents, and remembered you'd be near: thanks for the comment on the crop and image.
P J W Miller from Chase Terrace, United Kingdom
This is not a bad mono, plenty of detail in the image and an interesting composition
17 May 2009 7:18am
@P J W Miller: thanks - still working on it - but I can't seem to get one that really pops, like so many I see on AM3. I will keep trying. I am sure this community will help me improve.
@Marie LC: Merci! Thank you Marie
@Didier DE ZAN: Thank you Didier. I did think BW suited this image best.
zOOm from Paris, France
Great work on black and white, great point of view too. A graphic macro.
17 May 2009 8:35am
@zOOm: Thank you zOOm - as you say, the value in the image, in my mind, was the play on the graphics in the plant. Appreciate the visit and comments.
Linda from Riga/Sigulda, Latvia
fantastic shapes, a great black and white shot, i'm struggling very much with one right now
17 May 2009 9:00am
@Linda: Linda, me too. It should work, but for some reason it doesn't. Wish I knew why. I may ask for feedback in critique my image forum.
@Monte Stevens: Thank you Monte
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Very grapgic... Contrasted B&W suit very well to this composition, good choice.
17 May 2009 12:01pm
@Evelyne Dubos: Thank you Evelyne. Have you noticed how many great B&W photos on AM3 are from France? I surely have, and it's great to hear your comments from Le Mans.
Roman from Thunder Bay, Canada
This is a great macro, Bill. It has a very rich and pleasing tones to it and I like the play of patterns here.
cheers
Roman
17 May 2009 12:07pm
@Roman: Thank you Roman. Glad it appeals to you. Bill
Aubain from Honolulu, Tonga
Have you tried different points of view? Perhaps try to rotate he focus 10/15 degrees counter clockwise, so the spikes go towards the upper left corner.
17 May 2009 12:29pm
@Aubain: I will try that next chance I have. I was fighting the sun's angle, and also now close I could get without being pricked... But I feel there is a better photo here, and I want to experiment with the Agave until I find it!
@Kaddy: Thank you Kaddy.
@B. Thomas: I was surprised by how much texture is actually in the agave - giving the patterns. Thanks for your comments Barbara.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Ok, here we go again with me being truly honest...Not one of your better shots, for me.....kind of just lackluster.....impact's really not there...don't know if it's the wrong subject for b&w....or what.....But what I DO love is the use of that square crop....it doesn't work on all photos, but when it's used...I really like it alot!!
Happy Sunday to ya!!!
17 May 2009 2:32pm
@Susan: Susan - I love that you are comfortable with me, to tell me what you think... I also like that you gave me some hope on the square crop !... The image should work, as it has contrast, patterns, and is not a traditional "portrait of a plant shot" - but for me, it's impact is also missing. I need to figure out why, so I can improve. May post this to "critique my image" in AM3 forum.
@Moridi: Thank you Moridi for your visit and comments.
@Daniel: Great comment and pun! Like your quick wit.
sawsengee from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
excellent macro in b/w.....superb use of light & shadows to bring out the beautiful forms & shapes of the agave
17 May 2009 3:59pm
@sawsengee: thank you Sawsengee. I didn't realize how much texture and pattern the agave had until I started photographing them. They are a great subject for B&W.
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
A magnificent B&W study, Bill. Bravo. You should be proud of this and I hope you invest in some high quality museum rag on which to print it.
17 May 2009 4:40pm
@Stephen Phillips: Stephen, I may print this - but you know, it still bothers me a little bit - as these comments point out - it definitely evokes a wide range of responses. Glad to hear you are getting busier - hope that's all positive.
Ajay from Pune, India
At a matter of fact, there are too many points and then each point has it's own too many points. That's just too complicated. But this black and white shot has only one point that it is just brilliant.
17 May 2009 6:26pm
@Ajay: It's too complex - and the eye doesn't know where to look. You're absolutely right. More to study and consider. Thanks for pointing out the one point that is just brilliant: that should be what I consider next time.
john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Marvelous composition and detail. Superb tones.
17 May 2009 7:40pm
@john4jack: thanks jack for your kind words and uplifting encouragement for what works in the photo. Bill
dkc from Xanthi, Greece
The repetitive pattern is great. I really like the shadows too!
17 May 2009 8:07pm
@dkc: Thanks dkc. The high contrast of nearly noon was actually a benefit in this photo!
Mariana from waterloo, Canada
Wonderful macro . You got 'a point of view ' in this shot :)) Very lovely BW !
17 May 2009 11:04pm
@Mariana: Thank you Mariana. Glad you saw the point in this photo. Don't let it prick you, they are quite sharp.
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
This is pretty spectacular! Love the clarity and shadows! :) Fantastic composition
18 May 2009 2:43am
@Magda: thank you magda - glad you liked the composition, the patterns, and the clarity.
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
amazing composition here Bill -- that goes for subject matter and processing too!! 5 stars!!!
18 May 2009 1:06pm
@dj.tigersprout: Thank you DJ ! I'm not as convinced this is a 5 star image, as it should appeal to me (has contrast, texture, etc.) but still bothers me, for reasons I can't finger yet. Thanks for the kind words, though. I share this with you, as I respect your composition and processing capability...
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
hmm -- ok i have looked at this again -- and i still think it is ROCKING! :) granted i haven't seen it at 100% so not sure how it would look at full size -- but at this size it is very crisp, there are wonderful striking diagonal patterns, it is a natural abstract -- there is simply LOVELY tonalities throughout -- white / shades of gray / black and a magical metallic blue gleam!!! composition is spot on and VERY STRONG!! just reading through the comments you have the nod from a considerable number of the heavyweight photo judges: Evelyne loves the composition / subject matter and contrasted tones!!! Zoom loves the composition and the very graphic effects of this piece. Daniel weighs in with one word (sharp) -- but that is all it takes when he is impressed!! Marie LC says it is a wonderful b/w and excellently framed and Stephen Phillips implores you to be proud and print it up -- and i agree completely!!! my rating still rings true in my ears and to my eyes!! the only thing that you might want to try would be lightening the image -- try this in photoshop (just a tad) and see how that feels to you. once again -- 5 stars!!!
18 May 2009 8:25pm
@dj.tigersprout: You've given me a great deal to consider here - really appreciate the detailed second look and summarization of this thread with considerations of the contributors : you put some serious time into this - thanks for getting to the point !
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
i should also add -- i would be VERY VERY pleased if this were an image of mine!!! :)
18 May 2009 8:27pm
@dj.tigersprout: That also means a great deal to me - appreciate the third look !
@Marie: Merci. Glad you liked the graphic.
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
Brilliant image. I, too, find these plants fascinating.
19 May 2009 10:41pm
@Steve Rice: Steve, it seems so surreal to see the fields of Agave in the dessert. I hope to visit the blue agave fields in the tequila region of mexico someday - to see how they convert the chaos into order - I bet the pattern on pattern opportunities there will be abundant. Thanks for the brilliant comment.
starCosmosBleu from bedford.Qc, Canada
Nice light and details..i still have to re-try this monochrome approach to get as good results like you do here...lovely
20 May 2009 2:44pm
@starCosmosBleu: thank you marcel - I'm still learning how to think and shoot process in B&W - there are others on AM3 that have this mastered; for me, when I see it working, it's exciting.
@Karthik: thanks Karthik - glad you liked this one!
@jamesy: thank you - glad you liked it's B&W treatment.
Kris from Superior, United States
Gosh! This reminds me of something the late Edward Weston would shoot! Wonderful capture and lighting!
27 May 2009 11:38am
@Kris: That's a very kind comment Kris - I appreciate the reference to such a great photographer...
Canon EOS 40D
1/1250 second
F/11.0
ISO 400
70 mm