Composition and simplicity...part 2

[Matt. K]

Re my first post on this topic.....Thanks for your comments everyone. I appreciate them and they inspire me to look more closely at my images and try and apply some kind of barometer as to how they might be perceived by others. I've had this image kicking around on my computer for quite a while now, and every time I come across it I get stopped and need to linger and look at it awhile longer .It has grown on me, passed the test of time, and the deeper I look into it the more satisfied I am that has its very own MOJO, that being subtlety and beauty and balance and texture and wonderful shapes and lots of complicated compositional lines that support each other in a fragile way….The tree leans strongly to left and yet seems to sit perfectly balanced in the image space. It has mystery and magic to me and is a place where elves and angels dance when no one is looking. Sure…I could punch up the contrast so that it hits you between the eyes….like a band that makes the drummer go louder so folk will listen….but I want viewers to work when they look at this image. I want them to feel the stillness, smell the blossoms, and drink in the beauty or what nature can create. This image is not for shouting.
I get it that we all have different tastes, and thank Christ for that. I get it that some will not give it a passing glance because there is nothing of interest there for them. And I respect that others may even dislike the image. But in the end I photograph for me and me alone, even though I love to share my images with others and enjoy their criticisms and comments. Like most photographers I get a pleasant feeling when others admire and enjoy an image that I post up on the forum. But perhaps unlike many photographers I get no sense of failure or disappointment when folk say they don’t particularly like my images. I’ve been doing this for far too long to feel any sense of insecurity or fragility in my work. And I encourage you all to feel the same about your own work because that’s where creativity springs from. Do your own thing…follow your own path and grow your own unique vision. And then post your images here on the forum so the rest of us can kick the shit out of them. In a nice way, of course.
As my way of saying thanks I am now posting a very simple image. Much easier to look at. A quick glance is all it takes. No effort required. Enjoy. Or not.

[chrisk]

You talk a good game Matt. lol

I still can't get over the mushiness of the first. I like the 2nd. It is simple and the stark diagonal line gives it a really striking impact.