This image was taken a couple of months ago. I've always liked it but have never been able to figure out exactly how to make it work, if you know what I mean. I took it out today to play with it some more. This b&w version is what I've come up with. It's still not quite right in my eyes. The slightly tweaked color version is also there for comparison. I have cropped quite a bit out of the left side. When at the photographers house we went over some of my images that I had brought along and one of the things he said to me was to "always ask yourself why". Well that's a great question, but most of the time my answer would be "because I like it". Now as I'm going over my images I find myself looking at them with an even more critical eye than I ever had before, and I'm becoming disgusted.... just another landscape, just another flower, just another....blah blah blah. I never thought that "why" could be so difficult to answer. If I can't answer "why" does that mean that an image is not worthy? It's just like that saying does this image "say something" (another one that I hate). I'm sorry for rambling on but I had to get this inner turmoil out. Don't mind me.... again this image is one of those that I can't answer why to.

and the original color.....slightly tweaked, and majorly cropped in PS.

woops......actually the color version isn't cropped. I thought I had cropped it.....oh well.

I don't think you always have to ask yourself why at all, it's good to ask but if you don't know doesn't stop it from being a good shot. I do tend to ask myself if what I see will work as an image or more like can I make it work ; ) I really like the colour version of this, nice depth to the colour in the water & all that space really highlights the weirdness of that thing hanging there. It looks like it's about to fall & that really adds some tension to the image. It works, ok

I agree with bev in every point. In the color one I can feel in my stomach how I imaginate it falling.

If you can't think of better answer to "Why?" (other than "because I like it"), instead think: "Why not?" Well, that's how my mind works anyway. It helps me address the things I need to work or improve on. (I am one of my harshest critics hehehe... and parents don't count.) LOL The images above are really sharp! I think I like the b/w version. I think. (I can't decide!) :-) (*

does this image "say something" (another one that I hate). :-( It always says something, 'Chelle. Maybe the only thing it says is that you were there, and it meant something to you, and you thought it worthwhile to create something about it. Maybe it means something more; portraitalists manage to capture something of their subject. Photojournalists portray a time and place. Maybe the image is just a lession in how to competently photograph a bowl of berries, or bring out the textures in a pile of rocks, but the lesson itself is important. It doesn't have to mean anything more that your reason for wanting to create it. I do not have any big answers, or expect anyone to take this all as more than a pleasant hobby to have some fun with. Maybe in the end it is all the same as a dog marking its territory. I hope it means more, but I do not honestly know. If you look over your Gallery every one of your images say something about you, even those that are "just another flower". Some of them put quite a lot of you into them, and not in the obvious sense. I think your friends here recognise that, which is part of why we like having you here. If you look through my Gallery, I even have some (uggh!) Fractals. Do these "Say" anything? I think the colors and shapes are nice. Why? Because...

Thanks guys....I think I'm leaning towards the uncropped color version now...I think..... 8~@ And thanks for putting up with my babbling..... :~) @Crystal...he's actually a very nice man, I think he was just trying to import words of wisdom (or something) having been a photographer for 30 some odd years, and he was not putting my images down in any way, but trying to get me to see things in maybe a different way. I think maybe my vision differs from his quite a bit which is fine. He does however have something I need..."darkroom knowledge" and I intend to get as much of that as I can from him, so that is why I am bothering with him. :~)

I also think that the color version stands over the b/w one...
...The diagonal position and the likewise reflection of that wooden thing somehow requires to be framed in a wider format as their geometry creates a sense of expansion towards left, and that wider frame is provided by the color version. In the b/w one, the eyes are blocked to explore towards left, and it's not pleasing.
...In the b/w version, many layers of textures with quite similar tonalities are merged into each other and given the fact that the subject matter also has similar tones, the meshwork of textures cease to be supportive elements to the subject matter, and they tend to become the main attraction camouflaging the subject matter. On the other hand, one can pick out every fine texture layer in the colored version, and given the fact that the subject matter has distinctively different colors than the rest of the image, those beautiful textures provide fine support to the subject matter.
...Easily discriminating the fine textures from each other in the colored version is very pleasing for being more informative about this particular scene from nature.

My, didn't I talk too much..?!
Who the hell am I to critique with such "expertly" attitudes..?!! :-P

But, dear Michelle, you know these are all IMHO, and I think these "why"s and "why not"s challenged me..! :-)

nice..for me the second works best cuz of the wide angle crop ya've done there.....a vertical crop doesnt work for me in this one...and most definatly the color, love that..b/w is good...but man, sometimes color just beats it..here it creates more depth then the b/w i think....and for why? drink bud dry.....

Well, here I am late to the party...we have already had many words of wisdom and discussion on this image. I like both images but my favoutite is the colour image. If I may, I shall say "why" it works for me; The image is static, the water looks placid, and yet with the wondeful angle and reflection of the nesting box we have a serendipitous arrow pointing to the right of frame. This produces (within me) a feeling of movement, a dynamic to the right..I can almost see reeds and bits of flotsam flowing in that direction...that is the psychological effect it has on my brain anyway. Also there are some nice dimensions at play here, especially the line created vertically by looking down the left margin of the nesting box and it's reflection, is this not the golden mean? I really like this photo, whatever the reason!! Coincedently, Jane saw this image and said "Oh, I know where that is!" I replied "Are you sure?" and explained the photo was taken quite a distance away from us! Strangely, it appears that in a lake near here there is a possum nesting box, that is positioned at the same angle in very similar settings to the image you photographed! :-)>

Doruksal, you may or may not be an "expert" but you
certainly expressed just what I was thinking about the
tones and textures of the B&W version versus the color
version, but couldn't find the words. Very well stated!
Thanks.

Michelle, I think that 'asking yourself why?' is close to asking yourself what is art - I've got a quite a few pictures that fall into the catagory that you feel this is in; maybe you took it quite simply because it is unusual. I take loadds of pics that are boring/normal thinking I can do something with them later, and I find even now I when I try working on a pic I'll rattle through archives getting on 2 years old....jeez, when I started in fact! If you asked yourself why every time you placed your finger on the shutter, you would take so few photo's to be worthwhile. btw, I like the colour one here, the tranquility of the lake (something I've never actually seen anywhere in my whole life - there's always something to spoil it with our weather!) and the setting it's in. (",)