I am very weary of over-analysing pictures. I remember as a photography student, my lecturers tried to each and everyone in the class all the "Rules of Composition". But I then came across a quote from the great Ansel Adams, who said: "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a picture is a bit like consulting the rules of gravity before taking a walk."

Having said that, though see what you mean about the eye drifting, the picture doesn't have a classical focal point in the way that the center of a dartboard has one. But I'm pretty sure my eye went straight to this spot:

Quite apart from the focal point in this image, what I like about it is the hidden pattern and I think this is what makes the image work:

But again, try to take mister Adam's advice and don't over analyse your pictures before you take them. Try to find something that looks right in the viewfinder and click away. More often that not, if it felt right at the time of shooting, it will look great afterwards.

Thanks a lot for your comments, we agree on them.

I specially like the part about shooting what looks right on the viewfinder, that is exactly what happened there, but then, when I went back and tried to make a more 'professional' approach to the image, I could not justify it. Even if I really like it, is not that I will get rid of it if it does not comply with the basic rules, but I wanted to understand the image from a technical point of view.

Thanks for taking the time of illustrating the patterns, I did see them, but not like that, I only saw that the trees tend to bend in the same way, maybe not as dramatic as if they where on a storm, but there was some wind and they are located where it hits them very hard.

I am begging to like this Ansel Adams, he has some very interesting things to say, I will try to find a book of his.

By the way, I have already added the f-stop information, I don't know how I missed it, I just copy pasted the basic data that the computer gives me, and for some reason it thinks that that is not basic.

Thanks again.

Be the change you want to see in the world
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Vicki,

You are spot on about the emotion in that picture, it makes me think of a stormy day.

I think Felipe gets the image and camera information out of the EXIF info which is saved with the image on the camera.

This will give you a lot of details about the image, such as the shutter speed it was taken at and what ISO setting was used, to name but two.

Most image editing software programs will allow you to inspect this information.

By the way, what type of image editing software do you use? We have periodical features on Photoshop, but I am considering doing reviews on a free alternative as well, so I'm just wondering whether there is a market for it.

Sorry, yes, that was quite a big leap.

EXIF information is short for "Exchangeable image file format".

That is a mouthful, but what it means is that there is a standard has been set according to which image data is recorded by different types of cameras.

This allows different imaging programs to look at the image jpg file and retrieve certain data relating to how the picture was taken.

It will tell you all types of useful things, such as the camera manufacturer, the resolution of the image, the date and time when the picture was taken (provided this has been accurately set in the camera), and technical information such as what the shutter speed and aperture settings were.

In Windows XP and Vista, a section of the Exif information may be viewed by right clicking on an image file and clicking properties. From the properties dialog click the Summary tab.

Alternatively you can download a program that will display the full range of EXIF data enclosed in the file.

If you are running on Windows you may want to try this link.

http://forrestcroce.com/Software/ExifHarvester.html

I'm sure Felipe will be able to tell us of other Open Source programs that can do the same thing.

My favorite though is this link: http://regex.info/exif.cgi

It will allow you to check the EXIF info of a file instantly online.

Try it and let me know how you get on.

I do have Windows Vista and ran to check out the properties on my photos. That is very cool! Im also going to look at the other program links.

Keep us informed on Gimp. I may look into it myself as well.¬¨¬®¬¨¬Æ¬¨¬®¬¨?Ü‚Äö?Ñ????ë?????´‚Äö?Ñ????ë‚Äö?тĆ

A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.
- Ansel Adams

Vicki

It is quite impressive, isn't it.

In the days of film photography, serious students had to go around with little notebooks and pencils recording the f-stop and shutter speed information while taking pictures.

If you are really clever (and have some spare time on your hands), you will take a series of pictures of the same subject with different settings and then compare the results afterwards.

If you want, I can give you a series of tasks that will help you better understand how a specific setting changes the image.

:) Thank you, I quite enjoy your enthusiasm too.

I was thinking the same thing, we will have to start a new topic.

You are welcome to do that, or I will later tonight. Right now I have to go take pictures of George Clooney. (Yes, really!)

Say hi to George for me! How cool is that. Are you in the States?

ps. Please forgive all my typos in my last post, man I must have been have asleep.

I will be back on a bit later...

A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.
- Ansel Adams

Vicki

¬¨¬®¬¨¬Æ¬¨¬®¬¨?Ü‚Äö?Ñ????ë?????´‚Äö?Ñ????ë‚Äö?тĆNo, we dont follow much golf. Just football (Packers) and our Brett Favre saga.

As for the new thread, I will wait for when you have time...

Good luck catching Geroge tomorrow and have fun!¬¨¬®¬¨¬Æ¬¨¬®¬¨?Ü‚Äö?Ñ????ë?????´‚Äö?Ñ????ë‚Äö?тĆ

A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.
- Ansel Adams

Vicki

Nothing really, just the flu, but it took me down for a few days.

Thanks for your concern

:)

Be the change you want to see in the world
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Felipe,

Glad to hear you're alright.