Then sometimes I get the sense a composition is “right” without being able in the moment to define why or what makes it “right.” These moments result in photos with “something” but “something” undefined.
This was one of those photos my subconscious requested.
Perhaps in this case it was a simple pattern — the mind loves patterns. There’s 3 main subject trees/tree groupings arranged in a triangular pattern, 1 large Hickory tree on the left, 2 beech tree trunks in the front middle group, and the dark tree on the right has 3 main trunks — 3-1-2-3. My subconscious may have found this pleasing. Or perhaps it was simply the varying tonal range of those three subject tree groupings — I can’t be sure.
But, for me it has “something.” I don’t see it as a great photo but I do find it pleasing. I also knew when I took it, it was destined to be B&W.
I’ll spend time during post-processing trying to identify what it was that attracted me to an image such as this, not to learn something of the image but to learn more of myself.
I like there’s an undefinable element to photography. It gives individuality and creativity room to roam and adds a little mystery. :-)
Post-processing included the use of Adobe Lightroom 2, Photoshop CS4, and Nik Silver Efex.
First, I love the image, and yes, I agree, it’s the mystery that keeps me coming back. The mystery and the surprises.
Chris, Thanks, the photo is the results of one of our favorite plugins, Nik Silver Efex. I like how it allow you to convert and fine tune an image into B&W.
That “something” is part of what I love discovering about photography Earl. The more we learn about how our brain works and how we naturally respond to certain graphical elements, the more interesting images become.
I see nice repetition in this image of triads. The three groupings of trees, the three trunks in the foreground, and the three splits of the tree cluster on the right. I think humans in general respond to triads more favorably versus more static even numbers, and certainly repetition of a concept helps enhance communication. Maybe all of this occurs unconsciously, but there are definitely common elements to some of these themes.
There’s much we don’t know about ourselves, the world we live in, the universe itself and how it all relates. I think man has a need to explore both inwardly as well as outwardly.
Here’s an “out there” thought — we agree humans respond favorably to triads and from geometry we know it takes a minimum of three points to define a plane. Now these two things seem totally unrelated but are they. Is there some universal principle of stability of threes that subconsciously influences our minds?
I like exercising my brain once in a while on notions such as this. ;-)
Hi Earl,
Great photo, rich details and I love “black and white”. It definately has “something”….something that draws my eye towards it several times. Thank you for sharing.
Alan
Alan, thanks and I’m glad it has “something” for others as well.