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Dead Fir Tree Near Deer Pond

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Information:

Compared to most of my photographs, this view of the branches of a dead tree with fresh snow on it is practically abstract! I tend to follow a pattern when I'm photographing: If the light is good, I look at "the big picture", but when the light is poorer (especially if it is very flat such as on cloudy days), I tend to move in closer and look at details a bit more than usual. This can work well since light and shadows do not pose a problem on cloudy or overcast days, allowing more time to concentrate on composition.

Speaking of composition, you'll notice that the tree trunk is purposely not centered in the frame. I did this for a couple of different reasons. One of the reasons that I did that is because I knew that the trunk of the tree would appear very dark (almost black) in the exposure. So, if I centered it in the frame, the photo would appear almost too balanced, and quickly lose the interest of the viewer. This holds true with one of the so-called "rules of composition" --- the "one-third rule." The "one-third rule" says that objects of interest in the composition should be placed at the one-third or two-third posiitons in the frame -- either vertically or horizontally -- to make a dynamic and visually interesting image. For the most part, I have found that this rule works well, and I use it often. However, don't be afraid to break the rule when the circumstances arise!

For the Shutterbugs:

"Dead Fir Tree Near Deer Pond" was created with my Hasselblad 500CM camera, and 80mm lens, Bogen 3021 tripod: f22 for 1s. Film - Fuji Velvia, ISO 50. No Filtration. Cable release to reduce vibrations and make exposure easier with mittens on. Some of the blue color cast caused by the overcast sky was removed from the digital image with the color-correction tools in Photoshop. See Tip #3 - The Color of Light and Tip #12 - Winter Photography: Part 4 - Filters for Winter Photography

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