Auprès de mon arbre, a photo from Poitou-Charentes, West

Photographer's Note

The temperature was high and this couple seated on a bench was resting in the shadow of the lonely tree at a summit of a small hill, so having some wind to cool them down.
Converted in B&W, more powerfull in my mind.

The picture - and so the title- makes me think of a song of Brassens you can hear here --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3-_8SblRIQ

ikeharel, siolaw, trevormoffiet, COSTANTINO, annjackman, macjake, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

baclama (19188) 2014-07-20 2:43

bonjour,
belle compo..
un noir et blanc qui me laisse indecise: ça me plait mais je suis un peu genée par un je ne sais quoi..peut-etre un poil trop sombre ou un manque de contraste ou….
en tout cas un cadrage tip-top
bon dimanche
bises
vero

Kamilutka (8107) 2014-07-20 2:58

Hello Claude,
Very classic picture but nevertheless lovely and standing out from the gallery. Nice idea to use monochrlme which enhances the romantic mood created by the couple sitting on the bench. Well planned composition with road working well as eye leading element.
Thanks for sharing
Best regards
Kamila

dta (98562) 2014-07-20 2:59

Salut Claude ,
Excellent choix du N&B , avec de forts contrastes (même si d'autres peuvent trouver que ça manque de contraste ;)). On dirait presque que le chemin est couvert de neige !
Il va sans dire que la composition est épatante .
Amicalement

holmertz (93580) 2014-07-20 3:00

Hello Claude,
It's not only that the conversion to B&W has made this more powerful. It's above all the very strong contrasts and relative darkness that makes this a piece of photo art, quite different from the average TE compositions.
Regards,
Gert

Energysavingelk (6771) 2014-07-20 3:27

Bonjour Claude,

voilà la nuit américaine à la française! Magnifique!

Amitiés de la Rhénanie
Sven

marabu61 (11587) 2014-07-20 4:37

Bonjour Claude
It is indeed a very powerful composition with the silhouettes of the lonely couple under that impressive tree. I am sure, in color it would have been only half the cachet it has now. Beautiful and very considerate composition.
bonne dimanche
Daniel

rigoletto (34279) 2014-07-20 5:38

bonjour claude. nice to see that b&w photos still attract members, but you know, this is a very good one, almost a classic. i love the grainy texture of the road, which smartly leads the spectators' eyes into the horizon, topped with a lonely tree and sitting couple. i am not so sure about the glowing effect surrounding the silhouettes, but somehow they add a surreal charm to the result.

saxo042 (38078) 2014-07-20 7:09

Hi Claude,
A beautiful and very artistic picture with excellent contrasts. A very successfully composed scene with the couple below the lonely tree. Marvellous!
Kind regards
Gunnar

rbassin (27472) 2014-07-20 8:24

bonjour Claude
une superbe photo, j'aime bien le format et l'idée du N&B.La scène est très belle avec les deux personnes au pied de l'arbre.
Bonne soirée
Roland

berek (50518) 2014-07-20 22:36

Hi Claude,
very accurate selection of black and white. perspective in the picture is very good. thought of a very successful composition. shining road, very effective. congratulations.
Have a nice week.
Burak Erek

InasiaJones (31566) 2014-07-20 22:51

Salut Claude,

L'effet surréaliste que procure le ciel assombrie tent à confondre le spectateur, ne sachant pas si les tourtereaux sont sous la lune ou devant un ciel orageux.

Mais la lumière plus claire qui passe à travers le feuillage m'indique qu'il s'agit d'une manipulation dans le traitement post-process, afin de créer cette impression nocturne inattendue.

Amicalement,

André

jjcordier (79299) 2014-07-21 0:22

Claude
Auprès de mon arbre, les amoureux des bacs publics.....la compo me plait mais le traitement noir et blanc un peu moins;
Amicalement
JJ

siolaw (38294) 2014-07-21 0:35

Salut Claude!
Super compo, verticale avec le chemin bien contrasté qui entraine le regard vers l'arbre... cerise sur le gâteau, le banc avec un couple qui complète parfaitement cette belle photo.
Compliments
Laurent

GillesD (2) 2014-07-21 9:15 [Comment]

Show Comment

willperrett (14075) 2014-07-21 13:26

Hello Claude

There's no doubt you were right in your decision to go for monochrome. The drama of the silhouetted tree contrasted with the almost luminous white path (which is a strong lead-line) is perfect. Compositionally excellent too. Love it!

Regards

Will

trevormoffiet (3112) 2014-07-22 4:07

Hello Claude,
A strong simple image that is very much to my liking. It is good to see a B&W of this calibre on TE.

P.S
Thanks for the workshop on my Kittiwake image. I have just returned from New Caledonia. I see that you had previously posted images from there. I had never considered before that France is a direct neighbor of Australia.

Regards,
Trevor

jemaflor (136248) 2014-07-22 8:51

salut Claude,
Bon effet avec ce cadrage et ce chemin en avant plan et avec ce rendu en n&b, on aurait pu titrer aussi : les amoureux des bancs publics...

PiotrF (52330) 2014-07-23 15:37

Hello Claude,
A simple effective minimalist composition that is sharp and clear.Very strong contrasts and relative darkness is excellent.
Very well composition, lovely presentation.
Regards
Piotr

delpeoples (60326) 2014-07-25 7:32

Ciao Clodo

We don't often see B&W from you, and this is a treat. I like the vertical frame, the path that guide the eye into the image and of course the looming, threatening sky. The single tree and the 2 people create a sense of loneliness and peace. Well done.

Bonne amities
Lisa

COSTANTINO (104983) 2014-07-25 7:35

Salut
une photo tres tres belle avec un bon cadrage
bon effet ce cadrage et le chemin aussi
avec des forts contrastes
Amicalement
Costantino

kasianowak (15980) 2014-07-25 23:00

Hi Claude
I like your artistic interpretation of reality in this image. Black and white presentation works really well for me and the contrast is great.
Thanks for the link. I guess we all have places we think about "J'aurais jamais dû m'éloigner...".
Have a nice weekend
Kasia

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-07-26 4:08

Hi Claude - I really like this monochromatic shot. The frame is beautifully divided into shapes of texture and tone and the balance of the composition is excellent. The couple sitting on the bench on the margin of earth and sky and protected by the slight bend in the tree canopy are perfectly placed. This is a top shot!

Warm regards.

Rosemary

annjackman (23019) 2014-07-26 9:10

Hello Claude,
Wow - this is a stunning b/w image with the silhouettes all perfectly placed. The silvery path makes the lead in. Nothing to distract this punchy picture.
Very well done indeed.
Kind Regards, Ann

macjake (96319) 2014-07-29 5:23

Hi Claude
yes, i would think this IS more powerful in this black and white setup - the stark contrast between the lights and darks really caught my attention from the gallery page.

and of course having the couple there adds a piece of romance, something we can all relate to - i hope :)

nice shot
cheers
craig

adores (46979) 2014-08-02 15:36

Hi Claude!
I like this a lot, and I believe b&w was the best choice. A very good composition, the path really leads us to the tree and couple sitting on the bench.

jmdias (103888) 2014-08-13 2:36

claude

fantastic job. I liked the use of the B&W here and the way you framed the elements. the way, three and couple are amazingly matched. looks like you created the scene like a painter. fantastic result. congratulations.

hugs

jorge

GyurMaster (21739) 2014-10-29 13:15

Dear Claude,

The BW conversion was a good idea it emphasises the excellent composition of the picture.

Best Regards,
György