Phoenix Veterans National Cemetary

[wayler]

Recently purchased both a 10-22mm (used on a Canon 7D) and a 10 stop ND filter. Have only used them a handful of times and did this one with a 25 sec exposure. Any C&C appreciated...

_MG_9144bwb by wayler72, on Flickr

 

[IzzieK]

I really do not like the cactus dominating this scene when your title says: ...cemetery. Why not concentrate on the cemetery itself with that nice looming clouds instead?

 

[wayler]

Yeah - You're probably right, I didn't really think about the fact that this photo doesn't highlight the cemetery aspect as well. I started to doing a project over several days starting on Memorial Day, which is a challenge to come up with different shots because of the sparse environment. This one done as a 3 minute exposure puts a little more focus on the cemetery. I don't like the branches intruding into the upper right corner, but I wanted to focus on the flag in the lower left, as well as the full tree in the upper right and I couldn't find a perspective to get rid of the excess branches. Thanks for your input!

_MG_8870bwb by wayler72, on Flickr

 

[mmaria]

I like the first one... very much

 

[tirediron]

Interesting images; nicely processed.

 

[wayler]

mmaria - Thank you...very much! :blushing:

tirediron - I am fairly green in the editing department and still figuring things out as I go along, so I really appreciate the comment.

 

[jryan5646]

Very nice I love them both! I suppose the cactus does dominate the first photo making the cemetery more subtle, however within the context of a project or series I think it must absolutely be included. As more elements of the cemetery seep through while you look at it, it gives it a very unique feeling. But I suppose our familial relation could make me slightly biased :mrgreen:

 

[agp]

That cactus looks nice, the photo would be nicer if the fence wasn't there. But that's not something you could have changed.

I'd really like to see that one in color. I think a lot of black and whites are doing images disservice.

 

[wayler]

jryan - Thanks bro!

agp - Thanks for the comments, yeah the fence forms a perimeter around the first 3 graves after this was made a national veterans cemetery. Here is the color version:

 

[wayler]

I forgot to add earlier, I have shot several hundred photos at this cemetery over the last couple weeks and have only done B/W for about 15% of them. I think B/W makes a good option for some these because of the limited variety of colors to begin with, as well as adding some variety to the total collection when seen as a whole. For some of the long exposure shots I like B/W because I think it makes for a more dramatic look being able to add more contrast between the sky and the clouds. If the blue in the color picture was as dark as the black in the B/W it would not look right. However I am a novice comapred to most here, so I would love to hear others thoughts on that...

 

[agp]

You have such beautiful colors to work with - the red sand, blue sky, white clouds, green cactus. If this was my photo I would keep it color.

 

[wayler]

Thank you - I appreciate the insight!

 

[vintagesnaps]

I think the first one is very striking, and was very surprising. (Maybe just rename it). I like the perspective of the huge tilting cactus towering over the tiny fenced in part of what seems like a vintage cemetery. It's the kind of photo that's memorable, that I'd likely go back and want to see again.

 

[wayler]

vintagesnaps - I could not think of a better worded compliment, thank you very much!