Barren and Boring

[Dan Cope]

Ok, so we all love colorful sunsets and fall foliage. We get excited about photographing a fresh snowfall. Even green summer hillsides can be dynamic in the right lighting. But what about November in West Virginia when none of those elements are to be found anywhere. I attempted to see if I could find a composition that would accurately depict this time of year and be compelling enough to draw a viewer in even when the scenery is mostly barren and boring.

Nikon D7100
ISO 100
12mm
f/11
1/80 sec

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[James Staddon]

What a great personal challenge! I know EXACTLY what you mean!

I may have played around a bit more with the texture in the rocks, looking for a shape or pattern of some sort. My eye is really attracted to the beautiful texture in those rocks.

I find the tree stump quite amusing. Quite out of place, both in the fact that it’s in the water and that it’s chainsaw-cut top doesn’t fit in the natural surroundings.

I’m glad you included the top of the hill on the left; it adds some shape. Maybe it’s just me, but perhaps the whole image is unbalanced, heavy on the left. The trees on the right sort of help direct the eye back into the scene after the eye follows the stream down from the stump.

Perhaps experiment with various shutter speeds with the water.

[Dan Cope]

Thanks James for the insightful response! The out of place stump is actually what caught my attention. It gives you something to think about and wonder how it got there! I assume it washed downstream in high water at some point and lodged in the position it’s in. I found it intriguing but perhaps my aging and feeble brain is easily intrigued! 🙂

[James Staddon]

The more interesting, thought-provoking things you can add in “barren and boring” photo the better! That’s one of the things I just love about landscape photography . . . it’s amazing how ugly some locations can be that great pictures are taken.

[Author]

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