Texas Longhorns Photo

Photographer’s Note

The photo shoot of the National Western Rodeo and Stock Show Parade was really more trouble than it was worth. I had to pay the photo lab to restore the data from the damaged compact flash card, I had to spend hours removing horse manure with the Photoshop clone tool (it would have been easier to use a shovel and a wheelbarrow at the scene) and these Texas Longhorn cattle almost ran right over me. I am hearing impaired and I barely heard them coming in time. But I am a believer in film director Woody Allen's old saying; "Ninety percent of success is to just keep showing up (for the audition)". This is particularly true of photo assignments, even a small one like this which didn't pay much. Like an actor getting small bit parts in commercials, I keep on waiting for my big break. This is simply the nature of this line of work.

The breed of cattle being herded here in the streets of downtown Denver are the famous breed of Texas Longhorn cattle which became famous during the long cattle drives from Texas to Montana during the 1800s in the American West. The outstanding television series "Lonesome Dove" starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones was a perfect example of some of these long cattle drives. This breed of cattle is making a comeback these days due to their superior hardiness and resistance to disease than that of the hereford cattle breed.

The scene looks a little dark but it was dark and overcast. I added a little sky to the background because the washed out sky needed a little life to it.

hello_ishan, Bruno40, sevy, Floydian, jwmunro, melmcree, AROBN54, gunbud, plimrn, zmey, Photo65Net, japiey, romanaa, jean11-3 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

hello_ishan (1571) 2008-01-22 21:45

Hi Stan,
Excellent view of the 'longhorns' If I am not mistaken the man on the horse seems to be wearing 'cow boy dress' & I like his gesture also. TFS.

RS

tola_ch2004 (496) 2008-01-22 22:07

Hi Stan
Great shot!
Wonderful detail, composition and POV!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
Best regards,

Tola

Bruno40 (6442) 2008-01-22 23:36

Stan,
After almost a year in TE following some of my favs members, I could tell who is the photographer of a given photo w/o seeing the name. I can see that you have a clear style, as well as JB (Photo65net), Peter (pboehringer), the Henks (Floydian & oochappan), Sthepen (Signal-Womb), etc. that even with similar gear the final product is different… there is when I see STYLE.
The texture and composition of your work is quite unique. Your photos look like oil or acrylic paint… I think that if I touch it I will feel a texture.
I wish I could have one… maybe someday.
Excellent work
Jorge

[2]

sevy (13952) 2008-01-23 0:15

Hello Stan,

The first thing noticing on this photo is its composition with the good placement of both the longhorns and the cowboy in the bottom of the frame with the houses and the street giving the idea of the place and closing the frame. All that should have been shown is shown and well shown. For this point the photo is very efficient.
On an other point, I feel a little uneasy with the global lightning which seems to come from the postprocessing of the shot to extract the details from shadows. In fact, I am not able to say if it is normal, real or not.
Whatever I am still looking this shot and I can not say that of many shots in TE.

Yves.

indraajeet (1773) 2008-01-23 6:36

another very nice colourful compo and pov, and also a very informative note. however, the cropped off head of one animal on the left looks a bit odd, though i realise they are on movement
indrajit

Floydian (30970) 2008-01-23 6:37

Hi Stan,
Just as Jorge is saying it, this is your own style which can be seen pages ahead ;-) I mthought you take a very short brake in uploading but it's nice to see some work now and then especially from this because it's a nice story you are telling us.
Very nice work.
Regards, Henk

[2]

jwmunro (6255) 2008-01-23 7:28

Hello Stan -

Well done!!!!! This is a icon of the American West and your image shows how big and impressive these creatures are. All most run over by the Longhorns - good thing it did not happen I wouldn't have any body to talk to. I like your note but you forgot a bit of Americana that is in the scene - The Oxford Hotel in the background. This is where Buffalo Bill Cody died in the early days of the 20th Century. This is very nice and I hope the customer liked the image. Well done.

Thank you for sharing.

John

PS - just read the comments and Jorge and Henk have some very nice comments and I totally agree with them. JM

melmcree (2261) 2008-01-23 7:46

Hey Stan,

I'm a bit jealous you got a picture of a longhorn. On my drive back from Austin I was on the lookout the whole way for a longhorn. I found one but it was in the harshest of light so I passed on. I guess I'll just admire yours until I can get one for myself. This really fits your photographic style and great job on the sky.

Mel

BTW-I hear the beef from a longhorn isn't too good. What do you think?

ayansadhu (1499) 2008-01-23 9:13

Repeatation of the same old adjectives my Dear but I think you have over-sharpened this image a bit too far :)

AROBN54 (10789) 2008-01-23 18:15

Hey, Stan,
I really like the composition in this shot and you got some great detail. The lead rider and cattle are positioned perfectly. It struck me as somehow... unnatural in some way, though, so I have done a workshop to see if I could make any difference without ruining your shot. Let me know if I have over done it, ok?? Thanks a bunch and take good care,
Shelly

[workshop] [compare] +

gunbud (28161) 2008-01-23 20:06

Hi Stan,
Marvelous time worp achieved of this cattle drive through the streets of 19th century Denver. The lead steer displays alot of attitude as he strolls obidently downtown Denver. The colors and details are very sharp and clear. A beautiful bit of Americana captured here.
Regards, Tom

plimrn (19710) 2008-01-23 23:14

Hi Stan,
Those are SOME horns!! I especially like the way you captured the FG fellow with that 'look' in his eye. Probably better to clean up the poop in photoshop than to tangle with him.

The thing about sauturation is that each person's monitor is calibrated differently. I have my monitor carefully calibrated; so I'm always disapointed when the picture comes up on TE because it's a bit flat, but when I view the same picture on my husband's uncalibrated monitor, it's almost garish. So on my monitor the saturation looks great. As to oversharpening, the only place I see a halo is around that black hat in the BG. Have you seen Luko's sharpening technique where he sharpens the dark and light pixels separately? I only use the dark and light steps and often I just use the dark step and and none of the rest. He uses the USM after resizeing. I expect he uses smart sharpen when the picture is large. Sharpening for viewing on the web is a lot different than sharpening for printing.

I almost commented on your lovely Nutcracker; the one of which you sold two prints. That's why I commented on the difference between prints and web viewing.

zmey (7282) 2008-01-24 7:35

hello, stan

these are some beasts... the longhorns. and the photo is a nice addition to your photo-story about the traditions of the west. great note too, especially the part describing the struggles of a professional photographer. very informative for me: both, the note and the photo.

great job as usual.

my compliments and TFS
kristaps

Photo65Net (43096) 2008-01-24 9:04

Salut Stan,
A nice shot.
The longhorns are superb, and thius man attitude works great with the image.
regards,
JB.

japiey (9521) 2008-01-24 18:18

Dear Stan,

The series goes on and on, with its rhythm... as in your dance series... Powerfull.... colourfull....
Excellent, dear friend..

jean paul

jean11-3 (2799) 2008-01-28 10:46

Hi Stan, I can't believe that you cloned out all the horse manure!
Another excellent shot of life in the west.Great documentary shot.
Your shots ought to be in a guide to Denver!
As usual there is a lot to focus on;I almost feel as if I am there.
Thanks for sharing, best wishes Jean.