A view for Tony

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A view for Tony
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 740 W: 0 N: 833] (2537)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-07
Categories: Trees
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 100
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dedications at Trek Nature part Four [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-01 8:45
Viewed: 609
Points: 88
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Nsumo Pan - Landscape

I would like to dedicate this posting to Tony Ho (gracious). His gallery is filled with the most beautiful landscape images and I always stand amazed at each and every photo he presents to us here on Trek Nature. The most of his images are colourful, sunny and peaceful scenarios. My photo is quite the opposite as it was overcast, rather chilly, and windy on the day I took this photograph at the Nsumo Pan in the uMkhuze game reserve.

I am not an avid reader, but since I joined Trek Nature as a member, I am kind of forced to do some reading as research for my notes. I must admit that some of the material I came across I found rather interesting and would not have known about it if it was not for the fact that I was looking for a particular subject. Just shows that you are never too old to learn, like fellow member (Aaltjie) would so often say.

I'm not including this information on landscape photography as if I know all these rules and worked according to them with my photo, but I am learning as I go along and Rome wasn't built in one day, as they say.

Landscape photography - Capturing scenery at its best

Shooting landscape photography poses many challenges. Understanding the elements of composition is the ability to arrange what is being seen. Achieving the right composition is an important quality to attain or to capture a well produced photo. Researching the beautiful landscape scenes in the area you wish to photograph is important to allow you the best possible options. A unique landscape photography outcome requires practice, perseverance and an eye for detail.

Good natural light helps to provide a professional look to the photographs. Light possesses three basic qualities, which are intensity, colour and direction. The strength or intensity of light can affect the photos. When the sun is high in the sky as at noon, the refracted light will develop as too harsh or too strong. Colours in light can produce changes due to time of day and it also depends on the conditions of the day. Overcast days will encourage results of soft, diffused light which will appear more dramatic. The direction of light can alter texture and the amount of shading in the finished photograph.

Typically, people and animals are not shown in a landscape, unless they are relatively small in the image and have been included in the composition to show scale. A landscape is a section or portion of scenery as seen from a single viewpoint. Scenery is the subject of a landscape image. Some photographers argue that the seacoast, the city and man-made structures in general should not be included in a landscape, and images that do contain them are more accurately called seascapes or cityscapes. From a purist perspective, they are probably correct, since a landscape is a picture of the land and its aggregate natural features. However, if natural scenery dominates an image, it can probably be accurately termed a landscape, even though there may be a farmhouse in the distance, a city skyline on the horizon or a road or path in the foreground.

STYLES OF LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Three styles of landscape photography are recognised - representational, impressionistic and abstract.

REPRESENTATIONAL

This style is also known as the straight or straight descriptive style. This style results in pictures that show scenery at is most natural and realistic, with no visual manipulation or artifice. It is a straightforward style - what you see is what you get. Timing of the shot is crucial. Successful images in the representational style are not simple snapshots. Although the photographer adds no props or other components to a scene and does not try to “bend” reality, great attention is paid to composition and detail. Light, timing and the weather are critical elements.

IMPRESSIONISTIC

The impressionistic landscape photographer employs photographic techniques that result in images that have vague or elusive qualities. They are less tangible and more unreal, while still retaining their values that make them landscape pictures. The viewer is given the impression of a landscape rather than the clear reality of one.

ABSTRACT

This style could also probably be referred to as the graphic style, since the components of scenery are treated by the photographer as graphic elements, arranged for their compositional values. Natural elements may be rendered as unrecognisable or almost so. Shape and form take priority. Elements may be juxtapositioned for comparison or contrast, isolated by extreme close-up, reduced to silhouettes by severe underexposure, and so on. Design is more important than recognisable representation. Source

I hope you enjoy looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
matatur, eqshannon, gracious, gannu, Janice, spalaxtr, Alex99, jmp, Dyker, loot, Argus, smitha, JPlumb, goldyrs, Maite, eng55, Luis52, jusninasirun, maurydv, haraprasan, japiey, peter_stoeckl, XOTAELE, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To MartinL: Much appreciatedMiss_Piggy 2 06-21 21:31
To waylim: Hallo WayMiss_Piggy 1 06-02 05:30
To arfer: ThanksMiss_Piggy 1 05-23 01:55
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ann
The beauty the oasis of quiet. TFS

Hola Anna,
What a beautiful landscape with a lot of beautiful trees, different hues of greeneries, a wide stretch of water in motion and a nice group of waterfowl around. A few white clouds would brighten this scene, but, well, you can't have everything in a single frame, no?
Mehmet

Hi Anna,
I love water, so I love the picture.
Just goes to show that there is more than Kruger National Park in South Africa.
I haven't visited any of the Parks in KwaZulu-Natal yet, I think it's time I made a plan, thanks to your photo.

Hi Anna,

Will be back later...

Pekka

Hi Anna, fascinating landscape with fantastic colors, lovely peaceful composition, very well done, ciao Silvio

And oddly enough, you seem to have somehow adapted some of Tony's style to your image as well..How intriguing...although they are not exactly alike, there are similarities...I am so happy when you post..It reminds me of poor Loot...I am daft....I miss some of the best images on days such as this...a zillion things to do...So! Well done then..and a nice dedication with superior explanatory notations!
bob

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  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 758 W: 5 N: 1864] (7117)
  • [2008-05-01 16:31]

Hi Anna,what a wonderfull landscape,very nice sensation of peace and qiuet,excellent sharpness and colours and very interesting note too,my best compliments,Luciano

Hello Anna,
It is my honour to receive such a beautiful landscape from a friend in far distance land of South Africa, my sincere thanks to you and Loot!
You had captured well with a great pov on this game reserve with good balanced of land and water in the shot! the image is sharp with good colour and details!
many thanks once again
my best regards and well wishes
from NZ, Tony

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  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 697 W: 4 N: 1696] (8096)
  • [2008-05-02 5:21]

Hello Anna,
what a fanstastic view. I like the flow of the water. The mountains on the background just add to the beauty and also the green and brown trees. Excellent view.ganesh

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  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 144 N: 5582] (16516)
  • [2008-05-02 13:55]

Very interesting notes Anna - thank you. We can always learn a bit more.
And this is an interesting landscape - it is good for us to see where others are shooting from sometimes. Often we see just the close up of the animals, birds, etc, but the areas behind are also good to see.
Thank you
Janice

PS I hope Loot's okay after the Shark's match last night. . . Or is he still in mourning?

Hello Anna,
Except for the vegetation and light, Tony probably doesn't have those birds neither, hehehe!
And this is a fine composition, well balanced and with the important feeling of depth...
Maybe a bit stronger foreground interest? The straws are there, but I feel that something a tad stronger would be fine?
Landscape with birds, showing their habitat well!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Que bela paisagem junto com os passaros, ficou exelente muito bom parabéns por esta magnifica imagem.
Nilson

Hi Anna,
Water, birds, trees and mountain all tohether. Beautiful landscape. I like especially warm colors in your photo. Also water. POV and DOF very good. TFS. Regards,
Mustafa

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  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2888 W: 145 N: 4173] (13501)
  • [2008-05-04 4:25]

Hi Anna.
I agree with every word of your dedication. And I like your gift to Tony, our nice friend. You have pictured a very cute place. Curve of the river (if I am not mistaken?), wild vegetation of the remote bank, poetic contours of the hill, spots of birds are create a wonderful esthetic impression. Bravo. Well done.
Alexei.

Hi Anna
This is my type of photo!!! Tipical Zululand!!
Pieceful and easy on the eye.
Well done!

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  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 94 N: 2375] (8394)
  • [2008-05-05 11:40]

Hi Anna,
Looking at Tony's landscapes and reading Loot's critiques are the right ingredients for succeeding in landscapes photography. And watching your photo, I thing you have completely learnt this art!
A wonderful place and a very nicely composed picture. I'd like to be there.
TFS and best regards, José Miguel

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  • Dyker Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 132 W: 0 N: 57] (142)
  • [2008-05-05 19:04]

Hello Anna
You say it was a cloudy, windy, and cold day in Zululand, but then it must be thanks to image stabilisation that you did not shiver and shake while taking this photo. I don't know how all the people who photograph all those lovely snow scenes manage to do it without rattling all the screws loose in their cameras. This is a lovely scene from the Mkuze reserve with all those green trees and the birds (looks like flamingos and some other smaller ones as well) giving nice interest in the landscape. I like the couple of reeds you included at the bottom and the fact that you showed the trees for only a part of the photo on the right and then the rest towards the left shows the mountains in the back. A nice try for your first landscape posting and well done with the notes.
Greetings
AC

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  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5677 W: 602 N: 3179] (8505)
  • [2008-05-05 22:17]
  • [2]

Hi Anna

It was rather strange to experience such a chilly Zululand. Cloudy yes, windy for sure, but cold is out of the norm. The wind is noticeable in the choppy water surface and the greyish dullness of the sky is indicative of the overcast conditions, but I don't see the chill factor in your photo (luckily it did not snow in Zululand so you could prove it in your photo). However, I only see the warm rich colours so typical of the Zululand environment, always green, always lush, and never uninteresting. I don't mean to refute what you said about experiencing a cold day out in the bush, after all I was there and normally I don't get cold very easily, but that day I also got cold. What I mean is that even though the conditions was not very agreeable the photo actually has a pleasant warmness too it probably due to the warm and friendly colours of the scenario. It looks as if those birds out there are really having a ball of a time.

So what about the landscape effort? I think you got it quite right with good balance and distribution of interest; in the foreground (the reeds and the water), the mid area (the birds and the trees), and the backdrop (the distant mountains). This is all within the guiding rules of 1/3 horizontal lines for landscape compositions.

Your dedication is also well directed as Tony does have some amazing landscapes from NZ and I notice that he really appreciated this gesture.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

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  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2356 W: 134 N: 6487] (20173)
  • [2008-05-06 4:10]

Hello Anna,
Nice landscape excellently composed to show a lake with choppy water and a rich mixture of greens and yellows of the surrounding trees. There is a tantalising group of storks in the distance.
This pays a nice tribute to our landscape photographer from NZ, Tony, and you catch something of his stile.
Thanks for sharing this fine, and to my mind rather unusual, image from S. Africa.
Best wishes, Ivan

Dear Anna,
What a charming dedication to our dear friend Tony. I quite agree with you that his pictures always leave you captive and amazed at their beauty.:)
You have don well in dedicating a very beautiful scenery. Excellent POV, well saturated colours and a very good composition.
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.
P.s.;Good notes too. Thanks for including it.:)

Hi Anna, this is a very well composed shot of your South Africa. I always look at landscapes for a couple of reasons. One is the artistic, as you've very adequately documented here, but the other is to really see something of the place, and what it is like. I don't expect to be able to go to South Africa real soon, so this is my chance to visit. I see the chop in the water, and can almost feel the cool moist air, but at the same time, I see some lush green both in the foreground and background, which tells me it's not always cool here, and probably can be quite pleasant. I don't know what the birds are but I see a lot of them. That tells me, from a nature photography point of view you live in an amazing area.

Thanks, enjoyed! John

An awe-inspiring shot, and no matter what, you're amongst the best note-writers we have here, your husband also being an institution in himself.
This shot has so much in it, the beautiful trees, the nice birds..And the best is, it looks so natural.No overdone PP work to make it look synthetic.
Very well seen and captured, Anna.Tony must be a real proud man today.
Kind regards,
Goldy

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  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1651 W: 20 N: 4635] (15036)
  • [2008-05-06 8:58]

Hi Anna,
Outstanding shot of this fabulous place and the choppy waters create a fantastic effect for the eyes. The illumination is superb considering the cloudy environment along with the colour tones of the trees and the line of birds provide a marvellous setting. Great mood you portray here and it is so fitting a dedication from our frined from NZ. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello Anna,
a very good Landscape very well composed
I Like different beautifull colours of the trees
gooses add very well on this very nice picture
perfectly done,
cheer,
friendly,
Pat

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  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 978 W: 64 N: 1196] (4828)
  • [2008-05-07 13:03]

Hello Anna
Yes, I really enjoy with it. You chose a good point of view to show the meander (or is it a lake?), the colony of storks and the hills in the distance. I like very much the composition. Moreover I find the note truly interesting.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best regards
Maite

Hi Anna, First let me thank you a lot for your comment and addition to favs, Made me beam.
You know what I like about this... might sound strange, but the little grasses in the water really add a depth to this. Also the fact it is well balanced. I love landscapes, and do not post as many as I would like.
TFS this.
Doug

hello anna,
tony would be pleased for sure with this beautiful capture, what a fitting dedication, liked the pov and the composition,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

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  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 3 N: 349] (1039)
  • [2008-05-08 5:49]

Hi Anna,
Beautiful landscape,looks like a painting.Colors,DOF,point of view and visual impact are perfect.
Thanks for posting.

Hi Anna.
Lovly landscapes to Tony. He is a fine friend to all of Us.
Reading Your note, I feel the same way You do, becouse I had to study English again to underestand what all of You said in Your notes, and sometimes it takes time for me to write my own notes, but I am very happy to be here. I wish I could say every thing in English what I think in Spanish.
Your friend
Luis52.

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  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 36 N: 598] (1863)
  • [2008-05-09 5:35]

Hello Anna,
After reading your notes I 'm armed with a little more knowledge on landscape photography:)

I like this "representational style" you have used to capture yet another simple but wonderful image.A fitting dedication for one of the best landscape artists of TN, Tony deserves this one every bit.More than the technicalities i appreciate the effort you have taken and the instant thought that would have crossed you mind for a fellow artist as this scenery lay before you.The DoF you have managed is wonderful and is evident in the vast expanse of elements captured in this composition.The blend of shades of brown and greens right upto the far away hills and the little forms life in the water and on the bank adds to the imagery.
Very well done.
TFS & Cheers

Hi Anna,
This is a very nice composition. You have different and particular lightning and colors in your country! The image is well balanced and exposed. I'm also impressed by those details you captured @ F5.6. This is agreeable scenery to look at. I'm a little in a rush but I'll be back to read your notes carefully. Have a good weekend!
Claudine

Hello Anna. I have not seen such as beautiful nature perspective in a while even here in TN. You have captured a perfect landscape with the water turning to the right creating a lush peninsula with trees in handsome canopies. The small ripples add perspective with so many birds happily enjoying the wilderness here. The gray sky adds perspective to this shot with tiers of dreamy mountains in the backdrop. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend. Best regards. Jusni

Splendido paesaggio, bellissima composizione suddivisa nei tre elementi fondamentali per la nostra vita (acqua, terra e cielo) e l'incrocio dei diversi piani, bellissimi gli alberi che si vestono dei colori autunnali e il movimento degli animali sotto di essi e in acqua, ottima nitidezza, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Anna,
I somehow missed this beautiful one. I don't know how. But a lovely capture and a lovely dedication for Tony. And a great piece of educational note for us. Thanks a lot for sharing this beautiful capture.

Anna , ta photo est très très belle.
Les teintes sont bien rendues.
Merci
Laurent

Hi Anna,
I am a landscape freak, so i had to critique this one. I think you did good on this photo. The reet in the FG and the layers of water, tree line and mountains give the photo great depth. In regards of the composition, the central position of the horizon does work, but I do feel it might all be a tat too central. That said, the clarity of the photo is good, and it might just be that the heavy overcast helped you with that. It at least made sure that your highlight and shadows are in good condition.
The photo does give me a great idea of the landscape you and Loot like to travel around it and create the amazing wildlife photos.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Anna,

Beautifull image, a dear dedication for our friend TONY.
Your compositional vision has my appreciation...
Excellent.

jp

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  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 98 W: 3 N: 57] (538)
  • [2008-05-16 2:09]

Merhaba Anna,
What a fanstastic view! A very good landscape very well composed. I like different beautifull colours of the trees gooses add very well on this very nice picture
perfectly done. TFS
Hüseyin

Dear Anna,
a very pleasant, superbly well composed scereny. I love the placement of the reeds in the waters at the foreground, and I also really enjoy the deep atmospherical beauty of subtle colours under a clouded sky. A very nice dedication to our friend Tony.
Thank you!
Wit best regards,
Peter

Precioso paisaje Anna.
Bellos contrastes y luz ideal.
Buen comentario.
Saludos, Jl.

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  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2674 W: 67 N: 9151] (28608)
  • [2008-05-22 21:00]
  • [+]

Hello Anna

A lovely capture,one of the things about TN I love is the window it is into the four corners of the World.
The details are wonderful and the trees are beautiful.
Nicely composed in the frame.
The colours are excellent.
TFS

Rob

I love the landscape of Africa, with or without wildlife. In this case the birds add much life to the already beautiful image. Great sharpness and details all around. Love the composition. If I could, I would like to be there many more times in my life. Thanks for this beautiful dream like image.
Way

Brought up on the fictional works of Wilbur Smith, I have this image of South Africa in my imagination that would hardly match up with the reality if I were to actually see the country with my own eyes, Anna.
The word 'Pan' in your note nudged my imaginative perception of a 'Pan' based on the works of Smith.
So this is how a 'Pan' looks like.
What I see is a lovely wooded valley between low hills. There is water and the water birds.
The colours of the trees suggest autumnal shades and I wouldn't know for sure whether April is such a time of the year in SA.
All in all, it is a beautiful landscape picture worthy of dediacation to Tony -- one of the leading landscape photographers on TN.
Warm regards,
Ram

Hello Anna,

Sorry for a long delay in responding to your very kind words. I was really busy this last week and unfortunately, most of the 'fun' stuff was on the back burner. Again, thank you so much.
I must admit that Yours and Loot's galleries and extensive / informative notes that come with them are always a pleasure to watch and read. Members like You are what make TN so special for me. It seems that the whole world got a lot smaller :) Africa is a land that I only know through TV and books so your pictures fill in the gap - at least on the wildlife side of things. I really appreciate the time and quality of pictures the two of you bring to this awesome forum. A special TFS!
Same goes for this shot. To a local, it might seem like a 'usual' landscape but for someone who is thousands of kilometers away, it is a lot more! It shows the beauty of the area very well and I can say it looks a lot different than what I'm used to. Again, TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

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