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Posts tagged ‘tree’

Chiaroscuro – the light and the dark ….. inspired by Ansel Adams

I would think that most photographers have been inspired by the work of Ansel Adams. I know I have. Ansel Adams was a great exponent of chiaroscuro. The art of using strong contrast in a picture where light subjects are set against a dark background or conversely dark subjects are set against a light background. When used creatively it can work so well in monochrome photography. As well as adding depth to an image, it can be used in a very impactful and dramatic way.

Over the years I think I have learned to see in black and white. To understand how a scene or particular subject will translate to monochrome. To seek out compositions which when processed make an interesting and pleasing image. I am helped of course by the camera having a black and white preview but I need to spot the potential image first, long before I reach for the shutter button.

It’s not very often that I only post a single photograph, let alone provide an explanation as to why I enjoy the result. On this occasion I considered this picture of a dead tree in its skeletal form worthy of doing so. My reasoning – well for me it’s a good example of why I love black and white photography.

The horizon line virtually splits the image in half. Light adjoins dark. The uppermost branches stand out against the bright clouds. I have used the dark areas in the sky to prevent the eye wandering outside the frame. The lower part of the tree is bathed in light, enhancing their shape, texture and form. They contrast so well with the dark background of nearby trees and hills in the distance. I like the inclusion of a building, just to the left of the trunk. This adds scale and depth to the image without it being a distraction to the main subject.

At the time of taking, I ask myself how can I process the image to best effect. Will I need to darken parts of the sky and in the case of this image, where do I place the branches of the tree to make the most pleasing composition. I would like to think the answers to all these questions have resulted in an image which you can enjoy.

I have many photography books which I probably don’t look at as often as I should. One of these books is ‘Ansel Adams – 400 Photographs’. A truly wonderful collection of his work spanning many decades. His use of light and dark, form and texture, all of which he brings together to enhance the composition. Every page is a lesson in the art of great photography and includes many examples of how chiaroscuro is used to excellent effect. A book for every photographer’s shelf.

New Project – It’s early days

It’s very early days as far as my new photographic project is concerned. For a variety of reasons I have only ventured out on a few occasions with my camera since the turn of the year, however this will change as the daylight hours start to get a little longer.

Each trip has been very worthwhile as I start to familiarise myself with the area I have chosen to photograph. Even if the conditions aren’t perfect, the shutter is always released. Sometimes the purpose is to simply record a place and a composition I would like to revisit when the light is more favourable.

For the time being I thought I would share with you a small selection of images which only make me want to get out and about even more!

Thinking outside the standard box!

There are of course many standard aspect ratios which photographers use on a regular basis to crop an image. The obvious ones that immediately spring to mind are 3 x 2, 5 x 4, 1 x 1 and 16 x 9. There are very good reasons why these are widely used but there are also images which require a ‘non standard’ approach. This picture is a perfect example.

Tree in Winter’s mist

As I look out of the window and type these words, I can see a blue sky; the sun is shining; a gentle breeze moves through the trees and I know if I stepped outside I would be greeted by a pleasant temperature of about 20c. Not hot, but quite acceptable for the middle of August.

What’s not to like?

Well I don’t want to complain or come across as if I am wishing my life away, because neither of these statements are true. However at this time of year I do start to look forward to the autumn and indeed to the winter. These seasons suit my photographic style so much better. The days are shorter, the sun is much lower in the sky, the trees have lost their leaves and the weather has the potential to be so much more atmospheric.

This photograph – ‘Tree in Winter’s mist’ – is typical of the conditions I like. The sun has yet to penetrate the early morning mist, and the tree is bereft of its summer clothing, revealing its winter skeletal form. Nor did I have to get up at 4am to find the sun this low in the sky. A distinct advantage as far as I am concerned!

As I come to the end of this short entry, the sun is still shining outside and the garden looks as though there is work to be done. So out I venture with a trowel, shears and a garden fork. In a few weeks time I am more likely to be tempted to grab my bag, select a camera and a couple of lenses and see what the autumn season has in store. I can’t wait, but in the meantime I shall enjoy the rest of the summer and tidy the garden.

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Early morning dew in Snowdonia – one from the archives

Having posted a few images taken in Pembrokeshire recently, I thought I would return to a Lightroom folder named Snowdonia, which I visited back in November 2015. I stumbled across this photograph which I had never processed before. It had just been sitting on my hard drive but I am rather glad I found it.

I remember the morning it was captured. The tree was backllit and the early morning light glistened on the heavy dew which had formed on the grasses overnight. The dark background was the perfect foil for the solitary tree.

There is always the temptation to process images soon after they were taken but there is also an argument that you should let images mature, untouched for many months and then return to them at a later date before processing. Something which was dismissed at the first edit, is re-discovered and what a pleasure this can be. Not only finding a ‘lost’ image, but in the process remembering the visit, the location and the conditions…….. a very worthwhile exercise in my view.