My Corner of New Hanover
Field of Queens
Posted by Russ Devan (New Hanover, United States) on 28 September 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Betsy enjoying the view in a field of Queen Anne's Lace.
One of the great things about photographing at this location and this time of day was the incredible evening light that we experienced that seemed to electrify the white flowers and Betsy's dress. The low angle of the sun also gave a nice warm glow to the scene. One of the challenges of shooting toward this low-angle light was the constant lens flare that I encountered. I took many of the shots with my hand beside the lens to block the sun to eliminate the flare while trying to keep it out of the field of view. Meanwhile, Betsy is shouting to me "Don't do that! I want the lens flare!" "Well, I don't!", I would shout back. So, we compromised and shot some images with flare and some without. And wouldn't you know it, when it came time to pick the images for posting, Betsy picked the lens flare.
Betsy asked for veto power on some of the images (it's only fair, they are photos of her), so I let her pick all of the images that would be posted on the blogs with the exception of the first in this series.
Click here to view Betsy's interpretation of this image.
"The Master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both."
- Zen Buddhist Text
Elodie from Rennes, France
Great photo, composition, light and colors are perfect to me !
28 Sep 2008 10:13am
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
This is a really wonderful photo Russ. The composition is really excellent and it is a very romantic photo. But...I think I like Betsy's edit better. I just like the mood that her editing portrays, and I'm not usually a huge fan of major editing. But you got the shot so kudos!
Ok Mark just came in and he likes your edit better...so between us it is a draw.
28 Sep 2008 2:32pm
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
I love this ..... and you get my vote today. It's a dreamy setting no matter what processing was done!
28 Sep 2008 3:23pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Although Betsy's has a hazey dreamy effect, I prefer your version for clarity and overal finishing.
28 Sep 2008 8:59pm
Monte Stevens from Fort Collins, United States
Very nice, Russ. Both of them work for me but I do prefer this one. I like the pose a lot!
29 Sep 2008 12:18am
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
I think the way you've composed this image speaks volumes about relaxing in the beauty of nature. Betsy seems calm and at peace in this sea of wildflowers. And I like the vivid colors you chose to keep; the warm brightness of this time of day is a good compliment to the scene.
29 Sep 2008 11:07am
Mary from Exton, United States
Russ, I really like the colors and composition.... Very calming photo! You get my vote today:)
29 Sep 2008 12:23pm
Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium
I also really like your cross-posting technique. It's fun to see two different interpretations on the same image.
I like the vivid colours and clarity in your version but also really l like the dreamy bleach bypass look in Betsy's version. The thing about a quality shot is it will look great any way you process it. This one is no exception! Nice one Russ.
on a side note related to your post from Friday... I have fond memories of Yuengling beer... we used to get $5 pitchers at Penn State - good cheap beer, a college student's dream :)
Now here in Belgium, the kids are drinking 1 euro Stella Artois
I still like to have a Yuengling when I visit my family back in the NJ/PA area
29 Sep 2008 5:24pm
@Jason Kravitz: Thank you, Jason. Comments from the AM3 owner especially mean a lot. I didn't know you were from the same area, and a Penn Stater at that. My son is a freshman this year at Penn State. It's been a long time since this Pitt and Syracuse grad (don't hold it against me) has been to Happy Valley to visit JoePa, but those games were good times. The next time you're in town, you should drop me and Betsy a note. It would be great to meet you and share a few Yuenglings and talk shop. And Betsy can tell you all about her personal photographic tour of the brewry.
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
ooh -- the greenery is really quite stunning! a completely different feel here! much crisper, greener, more refined, more detailed... gorgeously done!! bravo!
30 Sep 2008 2:37am
Nikon D200
1/10 second
F/5.6
ISO 100
24 mm