Finding the Light Photo

Photographer’s Note

When the intense cold recently dipped to a windchill temperature of -50 degrees Celsius,our open-air barn was quite a sight to see in the early morning when sun rays came streaming through the open windows.Despite the cold, these cattle were burning off enough calories that steam was rising from the bodies. The tiny particles of moisture made for an interesting play of lighting among the roaming cattle.
Strange as it may seem, most cow barns in very cold climates don't require any heating...in fact the cattle give off so much body heat that it is necessary to expel the heat and bring in fresh air from outdoors.
This barn is equipped with an automatic ventilation system which opens the side windows whenever the indoor temperature rises above 5 degrees.
I caught this photo just as the side windows were opening and the frigid air rushed in to form this rather attractive condensation.
I thought of doing this in black and white, but I sort of liked the warm yellow tones of the sun reflected on the moisture.I think my camera lens also picked up a little of the condensation:-)

mortijo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

AdrianW (2243) 2004-01-22 20:19

Lovely shot! The lighting is very impressive indeed, and the note is good as usual too. If I were to suggest anything, perhaps a quick run through NeatImage or NoiseNinja to reduce the ISOnoise? Anyway very well captured :-D

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ninadev (5225) 2004-01-22 20:19

This is an amazing shot. I like how the cows are turning their head to look at this incoming light. I also like these yellow and pinkish tones.
This brings back memories of a similar condensation phenomena I witnessed on a few occasions when I had a horse. I mainly remember that when it was very cold outside and we opened the stable door, it was almost like a cloud coming from outside rolling on the stable floor.

thien (2102) 2004-01-22 21:21

I love the mood of this shot. The cows heads towards the light is a very nice touch. A warm dailylife capture :)

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maciekda (19599) 2004-01-22 21:59

very moody scene, I love those rays of light, warm colors and the steam around, great stuff!

marcchia (199) 2004-01-23 0:16

Very nice. Something Godly about this shot. Well composed.

cxxl (2680) 2004-01-23 1:15

Great shot Derek. Looks like an outback Australia shot in the dust, but it certainly isnt... not at -50 degrees!!!! Ouch.

emax (893) 2004-01-23 1:38

Beautiful sheaf of the light which falls direct on the cattles. In this cold the steam makes the feeling like the barn its burning. Very good shot. Poor cattles.

Rhiannon (1726) 2004-01-23 3:08

Fantastic picture! I love the light and how the cows are placed in the picture, looking up into the rays of light! It creates a lot of undescribable feelings in me.
Very well seen, captured and presented. Original and artistic. The kind of picture that makes you look at the world in a different way.

Nina (4613) 2004-01-23 3:19

Great image Derek. No suggestion from me how to improve it, I love it the way it is.

henrye (3498) 2004-01-23 4:36

Wonderful capture. The colors and the grainy feel to the picture are great. Well seen and photographed!

mortijo (12406) 2004-01-23 4:37

I lmove this Derek. The light, the way the animals turn their heads towarrds the light. Great shot, nice warm colors. Adrian is right about NeatImage. They even have preset profiles for certain cameras (Sony F707, amongst others).

jrj (34779) 2004-01-23 7:16

Very good shot Derek. I really like the setting in the open barn.
Yes, I read about farmers even in Finnmark (The same country up north) that use the cold barn and claims that the coes both like it and produce better). Very interesting in deed.

avigur_11 (21301) 2004-01-23 7:29

Very moody, excellent work of light. I like dusty atmosphere. I like your note. The frame? mm..I'd choose another color.

Well done, Derek.

joseelias (367) 2004-01-23 10:35

It seems an image out of a western movie! Great mist and a good composition with a nice placement of the cows. Are they trained for modeling? :-)

About Neat Image you can download a trial version at www.neatimage.com. I've been working with it and it serves well. If you miss more options consider buying it.

PLD_images (7141) 2004-01-23 10:49

This is a very good photograph Derek. I really dont think that a black and white version would have been better. The soft, warm colors adds a lot to the feeling of the image. The light is so great here. It makes for a lot of the feeling of the photo. Very nicely done.

eelliott305 (776) 2004-01-23 12:29

Unusual and fascinating shot. I had no idea what it was from the thunbnail. The light and steam create an amazing effect.

manny (21378) 2004-01-23 13:17

This is a very beautiful and artistic shot. The angle allows us to see the silhouettes and the colors are perfect. Your subject are well-positioned. I wonder how much time dio you spend waiting for this right moment.

Motrem (2392) 2004-01-24 9:33

Very beautiful artistic photo, the light exercises its magic, it looks like animals have an appearance! Excellent composition! Great shot!

Très belle photo artistique, la lumière exerce sa magie, on dirait que les bêtes ont une apparition! Composition excellente!

RobertoRoss (17) 2004-01-24 17:15

Superbe photographie!!!!! bravo

Porteplume (3257) 2004-01-25 4:33

Great impressive picture! And of a great informative value together with your notes, it made me remember, when a child, having visited farms where the farmers lived next to the barn, just to get as much warmth as possible. That was the way farms, in our Dauphiné region (south east of France), were built in the beginning of the century.

femkevdh (2633) 2004-01-26 1:55

-50.. wow. Interesting note and fantastic photo!! I like the close cropping. The colors are indeed warm and the effect of the cold, the damp and tje incoming light really make a perfect scene. Well done!

pirulesco (1942) 2004-02-03 9:21

Wonderful conposition! I learned quite some thing from your note too... Thanks!

padam (186) 2004-02-05 9:25

So much mood in this image. Great shot Derek.

Unlike many others, I'm not sure that your image is a good candidate to noise reduction: IMO, moisture and noise add here a lot to the mood. NeatImage is of great help to reduce noise on smooth textures (for instance clear sky, untroubled water,...), but should be used cautiously with pictures involving mist, dust or moisture. Personnaly, I prefer your original shot.

touristdidi (8561) 2004-02-24 10:14

Incrediable! I love this! It seems like the heavens opening up, to have a spiritual being speak to them. You could photoshop a manger in here, and use it for an xmas card.

Jeppe (18623) 2004-03-10 17:06

Being born and raised on a farm gives this photo special memories - On a cold winters day could the moisture in the barn look like this when a door was opened - and you right about soft warm colours when the sunlight comes through the haze. Very moody and intense photo - Good work Derek

I can't help comparing this with one of mine photos.

Danzi (2405) 2004-03-24 5:56

Fantastic picture, Derek!
I really like it how the cows are turning their head to look at this incoming light. Well done! ;)

volunteer123 (244) 2004-03-29 1:35

great photo :) nice sepia colors
i was working at the bull farm for a while, but not in the north, but was great experience to take care of 400 cows and bulls :)
internesting life style,
when i will be old gay i want to have milk cow and a horse and maybe to live north :)
i was living for wa while in sweden and i loved it, climate, nature and specially people, and i think canada is similar , i hoep after poland will be old in EU will be easier just to travel without lots of probvlems, and i will be able to visit :)

Noeleon (0) 2007-03-19 2:28