Valerie Ann Phillips: Garden Early October 2011

These photos were taken one bright afternoon in October. The shape of the stump intrigued me, and I took three shots at various angles and proximity.

Initially I was not happy with the photos (hence not placed on the blog earlier), but upon reappraisal they have some merits. For this reason they are now included, as are simple crops of each of them.

(632)

f/7.1; ISO 400; 1/40 second; focal length 36mm

The colours of this photo are very pleasing and complementary, showing the beginning of autumn.However it could be improved by cropping I feel to concentrate the eye on the features of the stump. ( See below).

The stump itself is a good subject having an interesting S shape, with mixed textures of smooth, rough, holes, knots, moss leaves and broken branch shoots.

(633)

f/7.1; ISO 400; 1/25 second; focal length 25mm

This is a more pleasing photo. The stump is set in context with the wildness of the garden to give a quite different feel to the photo. The textures of the stump are less important as it is not the whole picture, with the contrast of the leaves - both live and dead, twigs and berries being involved. The sapling seen in the top right hand corner acts both as a frame to keep the eye within the photo, but also proves a delightful contrast with the light shades of the stump.The leaves and berries also draw the eye in. The hole in the stump is almost central & is the initial and most important view, with the darkness at the base of the sapling also drawing the eye. However the thin twig on the left hand side above the stump is a distraction which pulls the eye out of the photo.

A cropped image can be seen below.

(634)

f/7.1; ISO 400; 1/30 second; focal length 42 mm

As it stands it is no better than the other photos - but can you see the face?

Cropped version of 632.

Cropping has improved the photo, but I feel that the green leaves at top left and bottom left are a distraction, whereas those on the bottom right act as a contrast and barrier to bring the eye back into the photo. The stump should fill more of the frame, but I find the angle pleasing.