Tree and Moon, Isla Gorge

[Maris]

Tree and Moon, Isla Gorge
Gelatin-silver photograph on Agfa Classic VC FB photographic paper, image size 24.7cm X 19.3cm, from a 8x10 Kodak Tmax 400 negative exposed in a Tachihara 810HD field view camera fitted with a Fujinon-W 300mm f5.6 lens and a #25 red filter.

I got the moon all right but with extreme front rise on the camera I got a couple of other things. Note the top corners of the picture are just at the edge of the image circle of the lens and are vignetted to darkness. The bottom of the picture shows bellows cut-off. This would not happen if the Tachi had a bag bellows; but it doesn't.

[Barry Kirsten]

Well you work with what you've got, and I don't mind the vignetting at the top at all; I think it helps concentrate attention on the main item in the image: the moon set in its dark sky. And I think you got away with the bellows cut-off at the bottom, which is barely noticeable. An appealing image, Maris.

[Mick Fagan]

I think the top vignetting is perfect; having that whole top area dark, then as though you had a graduating filter; everything lightening up as you come down, is perfect.

I didn't think the bellows intrusion was that bad, but stuff happens. Did you slant the bed upwards slightly?

Regardless, this would be a long pause photograph if it was on a gallery wall.

[Maris]

Thank you Barry Kirsten and Mick Fagan for your very kind comments. I'm a sucker for moon-in-sky pictures and of course I blame
Ansel Adams and his Moon Rise, Hernandez, New Mexico of 1941. I saw a reproduction of this picture in 1959 at the Toowoomba library and my eyes nearly fell out. The price of runaway moon enthusiasm is failing to check the peripheral details. Got away with it this time; sort of.