Author Topic: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint  (Read 1832 times)

Randy Stout

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If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« on: March 03, 2018, 00:43:54 »
The reeds on the background almost make me think of brush strokes. This adult common loon was imaged last summer in Michigan.
Bit of a windy day, so some turbulence in the water, which is a nice change from the dead smooth conditions I usually look for.

Curious about folks take on the yellow flower in the background.  I toned it down some, but wonder if it still seems distracting, to bright?

Nikon D500 600VR  f/7.1   1/1000s  ISO 500.  Taken from my little boat

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

Seapy

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2018, 01:00:10 »
Oh my goodness, never really commented on someone else's nice photo before but here goes... Just my thoughts, since you ask.

Like you say the background looks like brush strokes, really nice.  I think it needs cropping more at the left, there is very little interest at the left, although I think the subject needs plenty of space in this image.  The head (eye?) seems dead centre, too symmetrical .  The yellow flower is fine, I hadn't noticed it until I read your text.  There is nice reflection and ripples, like you say it's different from dead calm mirror smooth reflections, although they can be spectacular.

Just my two cents.
Robert C. P.
South Cumbria, UK

Anthony

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2018, 11:55:12 »
I think the yellow flower is an essential part of the composition.
Anthony Macaulay

armando_m

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2018, 14:53:04 »
I like the choppy water it makes it different , and would be a challenge to paint  ;)
Armando Morales
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pluton

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2018, 19:55:36 »
Very pleasing, satisfying shot that bears repeated viewings.  I think you made the correct call with the yellow flower.
Keith B., Santa Monica, CA, USA

John Geerts

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2018, 20:00:58 »
Beautiful indeed !   Agree with Keith.

Randy Stout

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2018, 23:04:07 »
Thanks everyone for their thoughtful input.  Much appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

JKoerner007

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2018, 02:14:31 »
The reeds on the background almost make me think of brush strokes.

Well said and delightful image: painterly, colorful, bright, and happy :)

Nicely done.

Ron Scubadiver

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2018, 05:24:31 »
This is a lovely waterfowl capture.  I were a painter, I would probably be doing naked women, or abstracts.  Lucky for the NG crowd, I can't paint.

Kuri

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2018, 09:53:06 »
Randy, but I thought you were a painter, and I thought this was what you painted.   :)
Very nice photo.

jgould2

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2018, 17:48:04 »
Hi Randy.

The reeds look great, very painterly. The bird from down low is spectacular. The yellow dot is totally distracting, I would completely clone it out. I would also crop a little more off the left side. Thanks for sharing.

JIM

Randy Stout

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2018, 18:05:54 »
Jim:

I have done several versions of this one.  Below is a intermediate one with the flower toned down greatly.  I love the yellow flowers at that site, but when you are limited to the camera's viewpoint, they can be pretty strong, where as in person, not so much.

Cheers

Randy

golunvolo

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2018, 21:25:03 »
Im a big fan of the original as the blue smear, red dot eye, yellow do flower and overall green makes a perfect primal color counterpunch to de monochrome subject. There is a reading of the image as an abstract color details and palette very much to my liking that dimisnishes if you take out the yellow. I can understand that its presence can be distracting but is actually a part of the composition and appeal of the image for me.

    Great point of view too

Chrisar

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2018, 23:28:43 »
Fantastic shot ! I really like colours, bokeh and the blue reflection of the wake. Thanks for sharing.

Randy Stout

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Re: If I was a painter - this is what I would paint
« Reply #14 on: March 21, 2018, 18:06:38 »
Thanks the comments.  I appreciate the artistic assessment. After all , if it is to be a mock painting, it should be more than just a copy of reality, it should be an interpretation.

Cheers

Randy