Burning Shoes (2)

[MEKent]

Hi Guys,

Had the Farrier out to our horse today, he gave me permission to capture some detail shots of his work. I took around 10 decent pics, but would like to know which people prefer between these two. I've only ever asked for comparison once before, but I'd still appreciate C&C on whichever you prefer and why.

I have used lower JPEG quality than normal, seems to have impacted them somewhat. However, the burning one is crazy high ISO as it was indoors in a dark stable.

Sizzling:

Burning-Shoe-2-AP by Evansie, on Flickr


Burning:

Burning-Shoe-AP by Evansie, on Flickr

Thanks, feedback always appreciated!

Mark.

[PeteRob]

Interesting. I have never seen this done. If you get another opportunity suggest to introduce more context. Zooming in is great for detail but the bigger picture for the ignorant might be more useful. Nice images

[nimbus]

^ WHS. I looked at this earlier, but had to go out and didn't have time to post. Close detail is fine, but I felt these were a bit too cropped looking, losing the context. A slightly wider view might have helped the dof and sharpness here as well.

[MEKent]

Thanks for the feedback.

RE: Context, while I can appreciate that a wider picture may have given the viewer more, all that would be is slightly longer arms on either side of the hoof - nothing which couldn't be lost and still tell the same story. Perhaps the problem here, or rather the challenge, is that these pictures are too focussed and you have to have some background knowledge of the subject?

I didn't want to include the Farrier, as the yard is messy and horrid! I had to be specific in this instance.

Perhaps something like this would be more appealing in this instance?


The Farrier Shoe Remove by Evansie, on Flickr

Thanks again, always appreciated.

Mark.

[gray1720]

If you'll excuse the groanworthy simile, I think this might be a horses for courses thing. I do know what is going on here, can see it straightaway, can almost smell it in fact. The first I think suffers because of the big out-of-focus hand at the top, which is distracting, but I love the moody near-abstract feel of the second one.

I dunno how you'll get on with the ultimate test, the RovingMike verdict, but I'd be very pleased to have made a set of images half the quality of these. There are some weaker ones in the Flickr set (IMO of course), but there's also a group of really strong ones that hang together as a set, and personally I really like seeing the work, not the farrier, being concentrated on.

Adrian

[RovingMike]

Yep, I'm with Gray on this, no more context for me, but some sharpness or greater DoF mightn't go amiss. But even soft as they are, it seems to add some interest.

[nobby400]

I like them particularly the first one it's got an old film feel to it.

[MEKent]

Thanks for all of your comments.

Yep, I'm with Gray on this, no more context for me, but some sharpness or greater DoF mightn't go amiss. But even soft as they are, it seems to add some interest.

I don't have an excuse for this softness. My Tamron isn't the quickest to focus and the light was lousy, ideally when he revisits I will have more time and less rain! I'm also still learning than 200mm at F2.8-F4 isn't anywhere near as much DoF as I get at F2-F4 on my little 23mm Fujinon.

I removed some writing from the horse shoe which, for some reason, makes the image seem softer as you have nothing to focus in on the curve. It does look better without the text, however.

As a series though I was pleased with most of the keepers! I'm trying to think of different subjects/trades I could focus on at a Stables and this was the main one.

Thanks again, always appreciated.

Mark

[MEKent]

If you'll excuse the groanworthy simile, I think this might be a horses for courses thing. I do know what is going on here, can see it straightaway, can almost smell it in fact. The first I think suffers because of the big out-of-focus hand at the top, which is distracting, but I love the moody near-abstract feel of the second one.

I dunno how you'll get on with the ultimate test, the RovingMike verdict, but I'd be very pleased to have made a set of images half the quality of these. There are some weaker ones in the Flickr set (IMO of course), but there's also a group of really strong ones that hang together as a set, and personally I really like seeing the work, not the farrier, being concentrated on.

Adrian

Thanks Adrian, really nice of you to say - but I'm a little upset you don't think my energy saving lamp is a competition winner? Damned cheek! ;-)

Mark.

[andytraill]

Awesome pics. Had a wee go at the first. Just flipping it (ok, tiny crop too) might seem weird but as westerners we look left right then rest back on the left (presentation class factoid.. still rubbish at it lol) so the intention was to take away a bit of the focus on the big hand. Dunno if it works? Also, is there any more of the bottom and left that has been cropped out that could be reinstated (that might help a bit too IMHO)? Just the bottom of his hand on the hoove really I mean.

[andytraill]

Thanks for the feedback.


The Farrier Shoe Remove by Evansie, on Flickr

Thanks again, always appreciated.

Mark.

I really like this one something very pure about it. Just the way his hands are and the way they are working with the tools on a "beast of burden".

[MEKent]

Thanks for the comments Andy! I really like the coloured one I posted afterwards too, as I said before I've not done detail but was pleased for a first attempt.

I like the crop you offered, but I'm not personally convinced on the horizontal flip - I've done this to competition entries before to make things flow more smoothly too, but not sure it's needed there? It does offer a solid right side to the frame though.

Thanks again,

Mark.

[Geren]

Second one for me. It has a painterly feel to it, is full of flowing movement, interesting textures and depth.