Photo of the Week #3

4/17/2020

Image Title: The Stag
Photographer: Allison Maltese

- This photograph was taken in Killingworth at our family pond in the winter.

-I was out looking for some interesting water or ice patterns since the weather had warmed up a little and some melting had begun.

-I began to see some shapes where the water had made inroads into the ice. There are 100 springs in the pond, so I am not sure how these fissures were made, but they were very unique, and I wanted to capture some of these identifiable shapes.

I don’t often like to shoot in the winter when things are not very colorful, so I challenged myself to make some images with the season’s monochromatic palette.

20 Comments

Peter Chow

4/17/2020 03:55:53 pm

1- sense of mystery, central figures is abstract but also figuratively. If I squint i seem to be seeing almost an x-ray of a tree with bare branches and it roots or an upside down floating tree. It reminds me of some of Jerry Uelsman's and Minor White's images.

2- After I read the title I can see the abstract/figurative aspect was part of what you intented.

3- Monochrome images are abstract in nature. I have seen many of your color abstracts and this one has a different character to it. Absent of color its power is from shape and tone.

I suggest cloning out the small black reflection on the left and adjusting the tonal value. I give it a try with the bottom image.

Allison

4/22/2020 06:16:42 pm

Thank you for weighing in and for the Jerry Uelsman reference. I looked up his work and was captivated. Here is a link for anyone who wants to find out more about him: https://www.uelsmann.net/

Sally Perreten

4/18/2020 04:07:08 am

I think this is just a wonderful image - fantastical, evocative, mysterious, and in its way, haunting. I wouldn't change a thing - especially tonality. Well, maybe (just maybe) very slightly less black on the patch Peter would like cloned out. For me, getting rid of that might unbalance the image. I think this is one of your most interesting images, Allison. It's one to linger over.

Allison

4/22/2020 06:04:02 pm

Thank you very much, Sally. I think I have a vivid imagination, which in this case served me well.

Blake T

4/18/2020 06:56:20 am

The shadow of a deer jumped out at me. The background stands out in the frame. Looking longer I see the reflection Mr. Chow was talking about editing. The landscape is interesting to look at.

Allison

4/22/2020 06:05:13 pm

Thanks for weighing in Blake. I hope you are continuing to grow with your photography this year.

Jeannine S Smith

4/18/2020 10:44:15 am

Bold, grace, yin/yang, inter-connected, grounded.....

Wow, "Stag" definitely matches this image perfectly! I love how photography expands our vision allowing us to touch other dimensions. The connection between the stag and the tree communicates our woven relationship with Mother Nature.

I am thinking shifting to portrait style might enhance the stag's vast antlers a bit more. Additionally, by adding a small amount of dark vignette might draw the viewers vision deeper.

And here's another thought.....if you turn this upside down yet another beautiful interpretation is unfolded. The tree with it's magnificent roots reaching below. I do not suggest this as a change - not at all! But, a vision of a potential diptych comes to mind.......

Allison

4/22/2020 06:07:23 pm

Thank you for your suggestions. I actually tried making a collage with this image and the results are very interesting, but more abstract.

Dave Rathbun

4/18/2020 01:15:01 pm

N(ice) image - sorry, I just couldn’t help it. Having photographed with you at this same pond lends truth to the statement that seasonal changes provide an abundance of opportunity for capturing a variety of subjects. Your vision of this ice bound Stag reminds me that I need to concentrate more on “seeing” what’s right before my eyes. Thanks for the lesson.

BTW, thanks to Jeannine for today’s learning opportunity - I’ve now mastered the meaning of diptych. Who says old dogs......

Jeannine S Smith

4/19/2020 05:23:12 am

YW! And now you can move on to "triptych". ;)

Allison

4/22/2020 06:09:29 pm

Thanks for your comments, Dave. I have been drawn to art and pattern since I was a child. In addition, my degree in graphic design has likely affected my way of seeing.

Mark Janke

4/18/2020 07:30:54 pm

I saw a spooky dead tree, instead of a stag's antler rack. You know, something like Frodo and Sam would have come across in their trek to Mordor. Oh man, I've got to get out of this house, I think I'm beginning to hallucinate.

Allison

4/22/2020 06:10:54 pm

You are too funny. I hope you have been able to get out and shoot during this weird time of isolation. I seem to find that there is plenty to see within 5 miles of your house.

Regina Hausmann

4/20/2020 06:30:29 am

This image is intriguing. I have gone back to view it a couple of times, to see if anything else appeared. Thank you to the people who submit photos and to all those that make comments. I am learning a great deal.

Allison

4/22/2020 06:16:57 pm

Thanks for looking, Regina. The more photos we see, the more we learn. This new blog will be a way for us to see more of each other's work.

archie Stone

4/21/2020 09:13:20 am

first, Jeannine go slow on the education. With us all mostly house bound triptych may exceed the ability to comprehend. Sorry Dave had to take the shot.
Allison, great find and b&w works. Like all the other comments. It sure brought out a lot of different thinking and how we each see things. I would like to see what it would look like with a little less of the foreground and maybe some off the sides as I find the grass a little distracting when looking at the stag.
Another possible diptych would be to convert the image to a negative of itself. I have seen this done with great success.
As Mark said one time when we were museum hopping a good image gets you to think, whether you like it or not. This one has everybody thinking in a good way.

Allison

4/22/2020 06:14:42 pm

Thanks for your suggestions, Archie. I personally liked the grass adding to the pond story, but we will each have unique responses to what is put in front of us. I will try the inversion and see what I think.

Maryann Flick

4/24/2020 11:03:29 am

I immediately saw the stag before I read the title. Love this image. Very well seen. Comments and suggestions have all been very interesting. I especially like Archie's idea of pairing this with its negative. Shown side by side they might be better if slightly more 'portrait' aspect rather than square. Removing the extra little reflection of a tree to the left "might" improve the image, calling more attention to the main one; the eye does tend to wander to it--wondering what it is adding. This is a good case for centering the subject, IMO. Jeannine's comment about seeing the upside down tree with roots (the "antlers" of the stag) and having that evoke the nature element--stag and forest--is genius. The tones are probably fine as is. Certainly an image that holds the attention and curiosity of the viewer.

Jeannine S. Smith

5/6/2020 07:32:17 am

This image was just recognized with First Honors at SAA's Images 2020 - out of 950 photos!! Major Congratulations Allison!!!

sally perreten

5/6/2020 09:26:04 am

Mega congratulations, Allison!! This is a huge honor and is well deserved. It's an honor to get into that show, but then to be a winner is something very special, indeed. Bask in the glory!

Photo of the Week #3

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