Lens-Artists Challenge #410: One Photo Edited
Looking Back at Lens-Artists Challenge #154 — One Photo Two Ways
Sometimes, when I’m composing an image, I can’t be completely sure which way to go. Sometimes it’s whether the scene will be more dynamic in monochrome; other times, it’s a matter of an expansive landscape versus a close crop; and still other times, I’m not sure whether I should use a portrait or landscape orientation. For this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge #410, Ritva invites us “to explore the different methods you use to create images. Capture the same subject through a variety of unique approaches.” Be sure to read her post and see her own examples. This challenge is also a revisit of Tina’s original Lens-Artists Challenge #154, One Photo Two Ways.
I’ll share three photo pairs I captured at Big Bend Ranch State Park, each one built around a decision like the ones above.
Color or Monochrome
Let’s start with color versus monochrome — a decision I usually make during post-processing rather than in the field.
Whenever I see real drama in the sky, I lean toward monochrome. I can push local contrast much harder in black and white than I can in a color file, without the color casts or noise that heavy contrast work tends to introduce. That’s exactly what happened with this Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): the color version gives me the scene, but stripping the color out lets those sweeping cirrus streaks and the plant’s bare, gestural stems do the work instead. I ended up favoring the monochrome. Which do you prefer?
Landscape or Close-Up
The second set is a vast landscape versus a close-up, and it’s the pair I went back and forth on longest.
I switched to my superzoom (Nikon P950) to pick out the detail in that eroded rock formation (it’s not a cropped image), but I kept wondering whether the tight crop was really more compelling than its counterpart — the wider frame that shows the land falling away around it and more of that dramatic sky. When it came time to pick one for this post, I went with the wider shot (captured with a Sony A7RV and a superwide-angle lens). The rock formation still reads clearly at that distance, and the extra sky gave the image the scale and drama I remembered feeling standing there, which the close-up couldn’t hold on its own.
Portrait or Landscape Orientation
Finally, the last set asks whether a subject is better suited to portrait orientation than landscape.
This Spanish Dagger (Yucca faxoniana) bloom pulled me toward a portrait crop. Turning the camera let the flower fill the frame edge to edge, and the leaves’ upward lines carried more of a sense of the plant’s growth than they did stacked into a wider, landscape crop. Comparing the two, the portrait version won out because the composition matches how the plant itself is built—vertical, radiating, reaching.
Last week’s guest host, Steve Hyde, brought in amazing responses with your best-ever and beautiful photos. I hope you’ll join us this week for Ritva’s challenge. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag so others can find your response in the Reader.
Next week, Sofia will lead us with another fun challenge. It goes live Saturday at noon Eastern. I hope to see you there. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history. If you don’t want to miss any future challenges, please consider subscribing to the team members’ websites. Here they are:
- Tina of Travels and Trifles.
- Patti of P.A. Moed.
- Ann-Christine of Leya.
- John of Journeys with Johnbo.
- Anne of Slow Shutter Speed.
- Sofia of Photographias.
- Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes.
- Ritva of Ritva Sillanmäki Photography.
- Beth of Wandering Dawgs.
That is the story behind the shots. For more like this, enjoy these related stories: Big Bend Ranch SP, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Ocotillo, Spanish Dagger, Texas, Wildflowers, and Yucca. Until the next shoot, keep chasing the light and the wonders it reveals.
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PR
Amazing! I like both versions of each subject.
Egidio Leitao
Sometimes the edits make the photos so different. Thanks for writing.
Kirstin Troyer
These are great. The up close of the spanish dagger is cool…those are all great edits.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your kind remark, Kirstin.
Leya
I agree with your thoughts on the photos, and you demonstrate clear examples of them. I have made the same reflctions and ended up in the same conclusions. Most frustrating for me, is sometimes the horisontal versus the vertical choice. Great shots.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the analysis, Ann-Christine. I agree about the horizontal x vertical. In the example with the Spanish Dagger, several people liked the horizontal better. I’m still unsure.
restlessjo
Good to watch an expert at work, Egidio. I love the stone close-up xx
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for your kind words, Jo. xx
Rebecca Cuningham
Great examples of different focii, Egídio. The color versus black and white, the portrait vs. landscape and the close up versus far away show how differently the edits can transform the photos.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your input, Rebecca. I appreciate it.
Sofia Alves
Nice, Egídio! I love your approach this week, it shows a different way to think about it. All your photos work so well!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your feedback, Sofia. Much appreciated.
Steve Schwartzman
So you managed to get an ocotillo in after all.
The zoomed in version of the rocks makes the clouds a more central element. The wide-angle version offers the sweep of the land. Each has an advantage.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the comment, Steve. Those two photos look so different. Each emphasizes a different aspect of the land.
Anita
Interesting comparisons, Egídio! I’d go for the color version of the Ocotillo, although the dramatic sky does stand out more in black and white. I definitely prefer the wider view of the rock formation, and for the Spanish Dagger I’d choose the landscape version too. I rarely use portrait orientation myself, and I think it works beautifully here.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for taking time to share your comments, Anita. I very much appreciate that.
Pepper
I really liked your edits, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
I’m glad you liked them. Thanks, Pepper.
Tina Schell
Three excellent choices to illustrate the photographers’ need for both imagination and technique Egidio. I’m not one for a crop like the rocks with the sky but you were SO right on that one. It’s all about that glorious sky!! I also liked your choice with the opener but must admit the branch leading out of the frame is not my cup of tea. I’d have shortened that just a bit to leave some sky just above it. Personal preference only of course!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Tina. Now, the rock close-up is not a crop. I zoomed with the Nikon P950 to capture just that. I do agree with you about the Ocotillo leaving the frame. I confess I only noticed that after the post was up. I often look around the frame to remove those distractions, but I missed that one.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Egidio, your choices for these images were spot on! The vertical orientation of the yucca makes excellent sense. Great advice on how to decide on black and white for a sky. I agree texture is the key. Although I like color, you brought out the interesting shadow of the plant.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a million, Terri. I appreciate your comments.
Toonsarah
Exercises like this are always fascinating. I’m with you on preferring monochrome for the first shot, I like both versions of the second, but with the Spanish Dagger shot I actually prefer the landscape format which I find more unusual and striking 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Sarah, I like these types of exercises, especially when we hear feedback such as yours. The Spanish Dagger landscape version creates a more unusual view than what we’re normally used to. That is good to hear. Thanks for your comments.
photobyjohnbo
Like you, I decide on B-W conversion only after seeing the image. Landscapes with dynamic skies often help me lean to the monochrome as well. They have so much more character. I am looking forward to working on my submission. Your post helped me to shape my response to the challenge. Thanks, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback, John. I’m glad the post will help you shape your response. I’m looking forward to it later in the week.
Joanne
Nice images, Egídio. I especially liked the monochrome conversion which depicts the sky clouds very nicely.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback, Joanne. I appreciate your comment.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Thanks Egígio for sharing your thoughts about this topic. Comments Ocotillo in Color – I like the original. on the second photo, both work well, great photo, you cannot go wrong here, but I prefer the landscape. The last image I would go with the landscape one, the vertical tell an other story that I also appreciate
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about the images. I appreciate that.
Vicki
Great solutions to the challenge, Egidio. In fact, I think I might have done that same rock edit myself. I think the close-up is stunning.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Vicki. That rock was surprising to me. The two images look so different.
pamperrault21
These are three really impressive examples! Thanks for sharing them with us. pp
Egidio Leitao
I’m happy you liked them. Thanks for writing.
Anne Sandler
Great choices and edits Egidio! I like how the vertical of the cactus emphasized the flower, and how could you crop out that beautiful sky in image #2.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Anne. That sky is what called my attention in the first place.