Bob, Looking at the 30x45cm print hanging on the wall I can only feel sorry the web image is such a pale representation; I like to let my eyes wandering through the branches in search of fine shadows. I took this image very early in a springtime morning; wished the location was some lost county corner but, with the risk of clearing the Dracula mystery, it's but the Village Museum in Bucharest - otherwise a destination I strongly recommend to anyone spending time in Romania. [This is one place that truly preserves some of the (lost) traditions. With a bit of luck you might enjoy some folk music performance or even attend a genuine Romanian wedding.] Related to a previous film discussion, this Ilford XP2 frame was a tough scan/print job. Despite shooting it at 200 ASA the shadows on the willow trunk exhibit huge grain that I had to clip together with the darkest tones. I'm sure a genuine B/W would have done better. Bob, I'm glad that you in particular felt drawn to this picture. I guess that your staying in Romania brought you some of the subconscious reactions of the natives. ;o) Thanks. Servus, Alin
Bob wrote: BW> I don't know if anybody else has mentioned it, but I would like to BW> single out Alin's photograph of a church seen through willow (?) BW> branches. I was attracted to the thumbnail because it reminded me a BW> little of a photo by Elliott Erwitt. The full size image stands on its BW> own, without needing the comparison. It is very subtle, with a lovely BW> visual echo in the shape of the trunk and the shape of the steeple. BW> Nice range of tones, and lovely quiet, traditional composition which BW> suits the subject very well.
