Tom Brott  


The pruner by Tom Brott

May 2026 - The pruner

About the Image(s)

This image was taken several weeks ago while visiting a winery in central New Jersey. I found this gentleman in a small peach orchard pruning some of the new growth on the trees so when the fruit was ripening on the branches they would not get too heavy and break the branches and hurting the trees. I likes the effect the sun was then highlighting the new growth and blossoms now just starting. I used spot metering to try and capture as much of his face as possible through the branches while also trying to show him in action along with the tools he was using.

Canon R5, f/8, 1/1250 second, ISO 2000, 500mm lens and hand held. I know the ISO was a bit high but the sun was darting in and out of the clouds very rapidly in the later afternoon.


2 comments posted




Jen Fawkes   Jen Fawkes
HI Tom, I really like your choice of image this month. The story is clear (the man pruning) and the presentation of the story is well done, with nothing to distract behind the man. I agree with you that the angle of the sun works well to highlight the new growth and his expression of concentration is clear. Your choice of settings has worked, although an ISO of 2000 was probably unnecessary (but I do understand how fickle light can be). This would be a nice image as part of a portfolio.   Posted: 05/17/2026 16:40:29



Karl Leck
(Group 3)
Hi Tom, This is a good capture of a fairly mundane job. I'd like to see a vertical image where the worker's whole body is shown to better convey that he is working way off the ground. The lighting is good. Check the histogram to possibly increase contrast and bring a bit of dark or black tones into the image. Karl Leck Group 03   Posted: 05/17/2026 20:33:06



 

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