i like power line shotsa lot, but I disagree with Graham. I don't like the sky turning black at the top. Unnaturally dark, which is too dark for my tastes
i like it. i know a lot of people (not all) say to remove powerlines from shots, those people would probably be really annoyed to see those lines across as beautiful a sky shot as this one. but i think sometimes they can add beauty or make a composition more interesting. and if they don't, it's still reality, why does it irritate so much to be faced with a tiny little piece of it? i agree with graham about the gradient, even if it's 'unnatural' or not what it looked like in reality. i guess i can go either way, i don't think photos need to always show what was real or not; i just don't like it when something is represented as real when it's not.
14 Aug 2008 10:59pm
@danthro: I really appreciate your opinion. When I looked back at the original, there was already a bit of a gradient to begin with. Not sure if it had to do with the lens hood or circular polarizer filter or both. The only thing I adjusted was the contrast and saturation...I liked how it brought out the bigger cloud against the blue sky. As far as the power lines go, I thought it added interest. Had they not been there, I think it would be a really boring photo.
I have an appreciation for images that may seem unreal/unnatural (or at least have added unnatural elements such as textures and such); however, I do agree with you, I don't like it when the artist/photography presents an image as real when it certainly is not.
Given that a photography is an interpretation of reality, I find the notion of a "unnatural" looking photograph rather amusing. I guess I'm not a "realist" because with rare exceptions, I don't take photos with the idea of duplicating reality.