Does this work as a straight print? Breaking the Cap, Brazos Valley Texas

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  Fixcinater

• Jun 29, 2017

I would try a split tone and dodge the whole lower area on the harder filter time. I see the whole ground area as being too high in contrast which competes with the cloud. Split tone would allow you to print the dramatic sky as is, and retain some of that detail without a mask as you say.

 

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  adelorenzo

• Jun 30, 2017

I like the pump jack as-is, the look is very graphic and draws the eye from the white clouds.

Agree that the rest of the foreground is too high in contrast which is distracting and looks unnatural.

Have you tried a tighter crop to get rid of the light gravel at the bottom?

 

• davela

• Jun 30, 2017

I love this shot! Captures the wide open spaces and crazy, violent summer thunderstorms of Texas just beautifully

 

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  mgb74

• Jun 30, 2017

It is a great shot. But since you asked, I'm with adelorenzo in cropping out the light gravel. Then I would burn in that white tank next to fence a bit so it's not distracting.

 

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  bdial

• Jun 30, 2017

I don't mind the foreground, though I'd probably burn the gravel a bit. I think the pump jack works in silhouette.
Very nice!

 

• ChrisBCS

• Jun 30, 2017

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it. The gravel is harsh. I was even using a polarizer for it. It is BRIGHT white limestone and the sun was very low behind me. I dunno if I want to crop, but I can definitely burn the gravel at a softer grade to build midtones and make it less harsh. The goal of me doing this straight print was as an exercise in selecting proper exposure and print paper grade for a negative.

 

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  Jim Jones

• Jun 30, 2017

I'm with mgb74. Cropping the bright gravel gives better results with less effort than reducing the brightness and contrast. You can then crop from the left to maintain the square format, or from the top to a 4x5 format. Aside from the gravel at the bottom, it is a fine capture as is. Getting any detail in the pump would only lessen the photo's punch.

 

• grahamp

• Jul 1, 2017

I think you could print a touch lighter, and let the selenium bring up the shadow texture. Unless you are going for a colour shift, selenium acts like a really fine burning in mask for the smallest shadows