February+March 2011
The story behind it
01/02/2011
I am on a Winter walk in the Forêt de Soignes, possibly the largest beech forest in Europe and where the tallest beech tree in Europe lives. I followed a narrow path, along a simple and very nice creek. I was surrounded by silence, solitude and remarkable trees. Some birds followed me, ahead, from twig to twig. It was snowing. I was very much inspired by the context and by the setting. I had the time to admire it, to practice several techniques and make many photographs.Text also available in audio (below, #1).
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Comment
Technical issues
01/02/2011
There are two particular techniques that have resorted to, for this photograph. I stitched 10 photographs, resulting in a photograph that is printable at around 150cm x 40cm (with no up-sampling). I also decided to use a very wide aperture, at f1.8, making use of very small areas in focus, such as leaves, twigs and some falling snow-flakes. This plays in contrast with the remaining unfocused areas, with nice bouquets. It is as if I let Nature "decide" what would be focused.Text also available in audio (below, #2).
Critial review
01/02/2011
The result easily transmits the sense of tranquility, silence and solitude, in that place. There is something of magical, dream-like. The final, long landscape shape contributes to this. The unfocused areas, its bouquets and the remaining focused details of snow flakes, leaves and light twigs, also play an important part in the final outcome. The composition is simple and rather set aside, being strongly overcome by the mentioned use of the focus.Text also available in audio (below, #3).
Where you should place it
01/02/2011
This photograph needs good lighting, with directed and localised spots, to bring out its details, and ultimately its feeling to whoever observes it (not unusual, right?). I'd suggest a light yellow passpartout, possibly relatively wide, with a simple wooden frame. Definitely needs a large print and it will deliver the most important - emotions.Text also available in audio (below, #4).
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