Gloria Grandolini
October 2024 - NATURE’S APULIAN SCULPTURE
About the Image(s)
This is another image from my trip to Puglia.
Puglia’s defining landscape feature are thousands of very ancient olive trees.
Although other Italian Regions have a tradition of olive trees
the Puglia ones are particularly ancient and with very interesting shapes.
This particular one caught my eye. It truly looked like a sculpture.
And also had a defying attitude and an almost human form if one used the imagination.
2 questions:
1. Would you agree it is a Travel photo even if it is “just” an olive tree
2. I struggled with the sky. Those days were pretty gray and I wish there was more blue or texture in the sky.
Are there suggestions to improve the sky while keeping with the rules of the Travel group?
I did try a version using the sky masking feature of Lightroom, but I understand that it
would not meet the guidelines. I also tried B&W but I really likes the browns and greens.
Shot with Canon R5 handheld
42 mm with RF 24-105 F4 L IS USM
1/500 at f/10 ISO 640
Minimal editing with Lightroom - little cropping on both sides the right side, and adjusted exposure and whites/blacks.
10 comments posted
I followed your recipe and masked the sky. Then I pushed the white balance toward blue. I am not qualified to 'rule' on legality. My understanding is you may change things like hue and satuation. Shifting the white balance seems innocent to me.
Then I simply did what you suggested and cropped a great deal of the sky. Now the image has a bit more feel of pano landscape.
BTW my Italian uncle gave me a gallon of black olives for a Christmas present. My nickname was the olive kid.
So I really like your image! Posted: 10/02/2024 19:17:21
(Group 2)
I really like this image. I have never been to that location and it is not one that is heavily represented in PT competitions. Therefore, it will likely gain acceptances simply because it's unusual. I like the really eye-catching tree in the center foreground, though it feels a little off-balance as the right side of the image is kind of weak. I agree with Richard's editing suggestions, it really helps the sky and I also feel that the changes are within the guidelines.
I wonder if you have any frames where you moved to your right, bringing the two sides into more compositional balance? As I said, I think this works as is, but there may be some stronger possibilities in your archives.
I agree with trying this in Monochrome, that had not occurred to me. If nothing else, you will then have another image for another division.
Lillian Posted: 10/09/2024 18:10:36