PotW - February 15, 2011

[gstark]

I don't much like HDRs. The technique is often overused and overdone, and it induces unrealistic elements into an image that is then subsequently represented as real. Did somebody mention "EnergyPolice"?

The image that I've selected this week seems to fall right on the borderline for me in these areas. The colours are perhaps a little intense. I think it's slightly oversharpened. it could, perhaps, do with a little bit of cropping at the bottom lh corner to remove that tiny bit of fence that we can see.

Having said that, I'm going to remind everyone that PotW is not about a perfect image, but it's about what grabs the selector. And this image grabs me.



The three subjects are all looking at me. Not the photographer: they're looking at me. And you. (Ewe? It is NZ, after all) They're staring us down, in fact. While the background scenery is spectacular, the fact is that we keep looking at the cows staring us down: the one on the left, the two on the right, and then back to the one on the left.

While I might (personally) prefer to see the intensity if the hdr scaled down, the sharpening pulled back a nudge, and the cropping I've described (above) applied, none of that detracts from the baseline qualities that this actual image possesses, and thus the photographer's intent, that we see here.

Dervish16 has done a great job, and deserves recognition for that.

Here's the original thread.

[bigsarg7]

Fantastic, congrats to Devish16, deserves to be awarded potw for all the effort put in!

[PiroStitch]

Congrats on the POTW! Well picked Gary!

[Alex]

Congratulations Devish16! An excellent image. Great choice, Gary.

Alex

[biggerry]

Gary, there are 4 subjects, ones just got her ass towards the camera!

Nice shot Devish16 and nicely picked Gary!

[surenj]

Love this one. A whimsical portrayal of these creatures.

[colin_12]

Way to go, nice. I would watch out for the fourth beast though.

[Matt. K]

The image has commercial value and would be brilliant on a milk carton or pack of beef....or butter. Or cheese pack. If I were a CEO I'd grab it with both hands because it is just so bloody charming.

[Raskill]

Nice, I like this image, and I like what you said Gary.

Art isnt about things being technically perfect, it's what grabs the viewer. I mean, heck, look at most 'modern' art.

Nice choice.

[petermmc]

I agree. Very nice choice. Though the 4th cow in the distance in the middle far left really was not that impressed :)

Peter Mc

[zafra52]

"I don't much like HDRs " for the same reasons explained
above. However, the fact that you cannot help but looking
at the animals makes it for me.

[the foto fanatic]

There is just a feeling of peaceful rural life here - very bucolic.

And of course, wonderful scenery.

I love it!

[surenj]

Define: Bucolic

# peasant: a country person
# arcadian: (used with regard to idealized country life) idyllically rustic; "a country life of arcadian contentment"; "a pleasant bucolic scene"; "charming in its pastoral setting"; "rustic tranquility"

[dervish16]

Thanks for all you comments guys and I'm sorry for the very delayed response as I didn't know where to see the POTW. Yeah I agree I'm over HDR images but when I was in New Zealand I didn't have ND Grad filters so I did some HDR's instead (bit too much) but I still like it too for the punch it gives. Yeah was going to take the railing out in photoshop but never got to it haha. Once again thanks for all you comments and I am so thankful for this.