Nikon CP900 digital camera. 35-mm equivalent settings 38-115 @ 115 mm. 1:9.9, 1/152 sec. Handheld.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), January 02, 1999

Answers

A simple, pleasing composition that is the photographic equivalent of Haiku. I like the overlap of the two curving reeds that form a triangular shape echoed by the reed in the foreground. And the vertical reed kind of "anchors" the composition.

-- Barbara Kelly (kellys@alaska.net), January 02, 1999.

Two big curves, one little curve; two broken reeds and one straight reed: a cursive alphabet and an exclamation point.

Great! How utterly simple and effective. This is what I mean when I ask my students why they have to "get it all in". How little you can use to say so much. You don't need mountains and glaciers to create an effective image of winter, six reeds will do! I do hope there is some detail in the snow to give real-life wiewers assurance that this a photograph.

When will you be giving a seminar or workshop on the west coast? With a long critique section.

Frank

-- Frank Kolwicz (bb389@lafn.org), January 03, 1999.

Thank you, Barbara and Frank, for the comments. I'm glad you enjoyed this one.

Regarding Frank's point on the background, the reeds protruded from ice covered by a shallow, flat layer of snow. The shot was taken on an overcast day resulting in very uniform, diffuse lighting. That left little if any gradient or texture in the background. Yes, hard to prove it's a photograph.

As to the seminar, I'd love to, but first my apprenticeship has a long way to go. In that regard this forum, with its many varied posts and strong level of commentary, has helped a lot. In the meantime I hope to keep shooting and try to capture a few more images that appeal.

Thanks again.

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), January 05, 1999.

Garry, this is one of the best examples I have ever seen of keeping it simple. Yet on the other hand to find something as good as this composition with your eye is not simple at all. It's a wonderful use of lines. And it's a perfect job on the exposure. Good job and good shooting to you.

-- Kurt Warner (kew3@mindspring.com), January 05, 1999.

I opened this page and my first reaction was "Damn, this is good". Ever so rarely do we see so much perfection on this site -though it was not intended to show perfect images in the first place..! Admittedly, the repeated technical information with your images (.."digital camera"..) never fails to make me giggle: "let's see what lousy snapshots you get with that." But every time I find your images are among the best of the photo.net contributions. I guess digital has the future :)

(Disclaimer: I fully subscribe the old adagium that the image counts first, and hardware is just the instrument).

Best wishes,

-- Albin Hunia (a.hunia@dlg.agro.nl), January 06, 1999.

I really like the image, in its simplicity but instead of diffused lighting, a side-light would make this image even better. The light would bring out the snow detail and stand the reeds out from the snow a bit more.

-- Phil Johnson (phillip_j@nac.net), January 06, 1999.

The subtlety and quiet peacefulness of the image speaks for itself more loudly than any critique I could offer.

-- Duane Galensky (duane@wild-light.com), January 08, 1999.