[nichpr]

It is snowing again today here in Michigan and feel prompted to post this shot.

I know many of you will want to see the entire cone. I must have taken 20 shots of the entire cone before feeling that the subject here was not the cone so much as the snow that dusted the cone and the boughs - so I zoomed in closer to put the focus on the snow. I used a black cloth draped in the background to ensure that the snow would stand out. f36, 3 sec, natural light, ISO 200, tripod

[Rob Barron]

This has been taken with real thought and care so well done. If I am honest the only thing I would change is the cropped cone. I would either like to see the whole cone or a heavier crop so that it looks cropped rather than incomplete if that makes sense.

But that aside this is very well done, it would have been disastrous with flash so using natural light has given it a lovely balanced exposure across the shot while the natural shadows on the cone give it the depth.

Good work,
Rob

[skipper954]

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

This has been taken with real thought and care so well done.

I agree with Rob.

However, I think that the composition could have been made much stonger if the cone were on a diagonal and there was less black space to the left. This might have easily been done by merely tilting your camera, then both the cone and snowy needles would have been angled.

skip

[fionaB]

mmm cant make up my mind on no cone or more cone on this........... any chance u can post one with the entire cone........ that aside it is a lovely image and certainly well thought out!

Fi

[Markulous]

Controlled the exposure very well - be so easy to burn that snow! Do think it'd be better with less cone and so less black on the LHS (and as Rob says, will look more deliberately cropped)

[nichpr]

Here is an image of the full cone. The exposure is a bit different but it gives you an idea of how the entire subject appeared. Just didn't seem to be anything special in terms of subject rendition.

Skip, I tried several times to rotate one of the shots of the full cone and could never get comfortable with the result - these cones hang heavily on the branch and as a result hang straight down - the diagonal just didn't seem natural. That said, I still kind of liked it and will post one of them tomorrow for your perusal.

Markulous and Fiona, I also tried a tighter crop and I think I can see what you mean. I have another shot of just a snow covered branch (with a nice diagonal, Skip ) that I think may be what you had in mind. Wish I could post all of them but understand that I can only do one per day. So today I'll post the full shot and the others over the next couple of days.

Really appreciate your input on these - great way to hone your craft.

[Rob Barron]

Paul, I just wondered whether a slight angle might strengthen this a bit so have had a little play to see what you think. You might decide that a vertical cone is more natural, just thought I'd see. I gave it a bit more contrast and saturation as well but it was the angle I was really wanting to see.

Cheers,
Rob

[skipper954]

Your play works very nicely, Rob

[nichpr]

Thanks for the input everyone.

- Paul