Graf
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exploring nature’s infinite connections

Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography

Edgy detours to Spring

Written by Mark

Born and raised in Detroit, c. 323 ppm CO2, Mark Graf is a Michigan photographer, naturalist, and diver whose muse is summoned by exploring the endless connections in nature; land, sea, and sky.

Developing Photos

8 Comments(s)

Saturday, June 2, 2007

PL8508.jpgI find myself wanting to push the limits of maximizing contrast for many of my spring images lately. I think it adds, for lack of a better term, perhaps a bit more drama to a photograph. It takes a bit of a detour from presenting spring as I normally have, time to get some out there that are a bit more edgy. Photographs that don’t sit back and wait for you to soak them in, they come right out and slap you. I don’t know if it will work all the time, but for this shot of lupine, and for the lady slippers in the previous post, I like the effect.

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8 Comments

  1. Mark
    Mark on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 8:18 AM

    Thank you all for the very nice comments.

    Wren, I like your analogy of this image.

  2. wren
    wren on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 8:36 PM

    I didn’t notice the contrast so much as the composition and clarity. I like the sharpness, and the cyclical composition suggests a wheel or a clock, both great themes for spring and renewal.

  3. heather
    heather on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 11:00 AM

    I have enjoyed your blog for sometime now, but I just spent a LONG time looking through your website, and all I can say is, WOW. Very inspirational.

  4. heather
    heather on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 4:52 AM

    A shot that will “come right out and slap you”—gotta love that description. Thanks for the smile. I love contrasty images, and sometimes take it too far, especially in my b/w stuff. Not a problem here–I like the powerful ‘slap’ of these images. Hey, soft pretty things can be strong too, ay? 😉

  5. paul
    paul on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 5:10 PM

    Mark, I’m a great fan of high contrast. This one works fabulously! This almost looks like a sprinkler head. The water drops are so in-your-face! Love it.

  6. latoga
    latoga on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 12:51 PM

    Great shot Mark! I love the contract between the soft curves of the water and the sharp lines of the leaves (at least I think they are leaves). This would be a great entry for the current round of the Last Photographer Standing photo competition. (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=62164)

  7. Ethan Meleg
    Ethan Meleg on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 11:06 PM

    Mark, I love that dramatic composition – that is indeed a high-impact photo!
    Hope you’re having a good spring. No time to sleep for a while – too much to shoot!
    cheers,
    Ethan-

  8. Howard Grill
    Howard Grill on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 10:43 PM

    Mark, I think the effect works really well here!