Oilseed Rape in Fife II Photo

Photographer’s Note

This picture was taken not very far (just about 10 miles) from this one which I took just three weeks ago. As you can see, the crops of oilseed rape in Fife are now in full bloom and make a glorious sight across the countryside with their great swathes of bright yellow.

Not the ideal stuff for those with hay-fever, because the pollen seems to upset those with that condition quite badly. Being immune to such things, I was able to walk along the tracks in this field unscathed, though I came across quite a few fellow photographers there who were similarly impressed by the sight.

The prevalence of oilseed rape as a crop has increased a lot in recent years. It provides very useful animal feed and rapeseed oil which can be used for cooking and, nowadays, as "biofuel", an alternative to diesel oil for road vehicles.

You can read more about Oilseed Rape at www.ukagriculture.com/crops/oil_seed_rape.cfm:

Picture shot at wide angle in RAW at f/22 to give good depth-of-field with just a touch of fill-in flash to lighten the flowers nearest to the camera. Converted and edited in PSE6.

All comments/critiques/advice welcome!

cherryripe, graffer, jean11-3, saxo042, lrw1966, amaryllis, Royaldevon has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cherryripe (19187) 2008-05-19 11:00

Hi John
On the way to a wedding last Saturday, I saw so many yellow fields like this one. Thank goodness it was raining otherwise I would have gone crazy with frustration. Your photo is beautiful in that you have the flowers so close up and so sharp. The thin line of the horizon cuts nicely and the blue/grey sky contrasts so well.
Regards
Nikki

graffer (1764) 2008-05-19 11:35

Hello John,

Wow! - what a fantastic shot.

A great idea to use flash to make these close up flowers stand out so well.

And what a sky!

The yellow of the crop is much warmer in tone here, than the usual very acid colour one associates with rape crops - often driving past a field of it makes an assault on both the visual and olfactory senses.

The distant line of trees makes a useful division between the sky and the rape field.

Excellent!

Regards,

Peter.

amfdj (1968) 2008-05-19 12:09

Hi John,
This is a splendid color combination. Excellent light conditions and a marvelous sky. Very well composed.
Eddie

Hellas (5095) 2008-05-19 12:13

Hi John,
the most important thing into your image is the fantastic colours! Attractive scenery very well exposed from a very good and low point of view! I wonder at the need of flashing. Perhaps, the closest plants would have been shady against the sky without it. The lens covered the wide angle you wanted to, and using f/22 you gained an excellent DoF. Beautiful and dynamic sky!
Thank you very much for sharing.
Kind regards,
Athanasios.

jean11-3 (2799) 2008-05-19 12:21

Hello John, I remember your other shot and commenting on it but this one is so much better imo.
Superb DoF,and the blue sky nicely complements the vivid yellow of the rapeseed.
Good use of the fill-in flash,it worked beautifully.
Tfs, regards Jean.

derek3755 (2341) 2008-05-19 12:54

Hi John

excellent shot, like the composition using the wide lens and the larger stems and close up for the foreground, and the row of trees inbetween the field and the colud filled sky, like it a lot.

Regards
Derek

amaryllis (17844) 2008-05-19 12:57

bonjour,
tres belle perspective avec ces colzas au premier plan et d'un jaune vif et avec celui de droite qui dépasse l'autre, un ciel satisfaisant
excellente composition
juliette

saxo042 (16316) 2008-05-20 3:09

Hi John,
I am very impressed by the sharpness here, both the close flowers and the those far away. The composition is also excellent, showing those details together with the whole field. Fine colours, reminds me of the Swedish flag...
Greetings from Gothenburg
Gunnar

lrw1966 (1632) 2008-05-20 5:30

John Hi:
Very beautiful and I do enjoy the progressive followup. Wonderful colors with a great POV. Congratulations, with an educational note, as well
Larry
United States
TFS!

romanaa (2551) 2008-05-20 11:57

Hello John,
excellent sharpness in your shot, I love the contrast of the bright flower and blue sky.
Best regards
Romana

casperduppy (1478) 2008-05-22 10:34

Hi John,

What a wonderful, vivid, bright YELLOW shot! There is no mistaking that this is a rapeseed field. Really good dof - it's nice how the eye seems to take the whole scene in and then is compelled to look right down to the far end of the field.

All the best, Casper

Royaldevon (5944) 2008-05-22 13:41

Hello John,

This is absolutely stunning!
The sharply exposed flowers in the f/g set the scene. Then the eyes can meander over the rest of the field, noting the receding sharpness, but not the colour!
I just love how the yellow of the field and the blue of the sky are separated by the narrow line of trees.
A really lovely shot, one that is going to be one of my favourites!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

etlerl (601) 2008-05-27 15:35

Hi John,
great shot. i like the contrast of the yellow and the blue. The flash was a good idea, it made the flowers brighter yellow. The depth of field is great and you chose a good low angle position.
etlerl