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The farrier

© Peter W. Marks

The farrier

Uploaded: August 15, 2013

Description

1/800sec; f5.6; ISO 400; 50mmfl


Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/800 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 50.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Comments

Jeff E Jensen August 15, 2013

Nice job capturing this moment, Peter. I think you could crop some off the right and cut back on the highlights a bit. #1540583

Rita K. Connell level-classic August 15, 2013

I don't agree with Jeff on the crop because you would take out his tool box. the only thing I would do is a tweak on the level adjustment. #10809494

Stephen Shoff August 15, 2013

I'm with Rita -- my first impression was that the skin tones we a bit hot. But otherwise I like the picture. #10809531

Peter W. Marks August 16, 2013

Thank you folks. I don't have to tell you which two I am agreeing with, do I Jeff!
This image I played with for way longer than I normally do and made several versions. This one I am sticking with as it truly speaks to me. This is one of my nieces' horses; it was high noon on about the sunniest day I had back in the UK and whilst fill-flash, or heavyweight Photoshop was all possibilities this version was exactly what I was after, highlights, and all.
I imagine that there are millions of folk who have no idea what a "farrier" is so if they can't decide from my image then I will give them a clue more in keeping with our culture. Think "horse pedicurist" lol #10810094

Elaine Hessler August 16, 2013

I know all about those farriers!!!! So my question for you Peter, how did this spelling come to be (I thought it would be ferrier)? I've always wondered about this-maybe you can look into it for me:)

I do see your point about keeping the right side in. Could you bring out the shadows so we could see the tool box a little better? I agree with Rita-a levels adjustment would work.

I also thought you could go with a square crop and keep the farrier's back in the upper right corner. This would put the focus more on what he is doing. But that is just my personal taste.

These people have a hard job-my back hurts just looking at this! #10810207

Peter W. Marks August 16, 2013

Elaine. Opinion seems to be that it is derived from the French word 'ferrier', someone who works in iron and ferrum is the latin word for iron. We Brits are none too keen on the French as they, under William Duke of Normandy were the only nation to ever conquer England, back in 1066. So, we hold a grudge and changing a word spelling seems the very least we could do to show our displeasure!
Yes, I could lighten the tool box but then someone else will surely say it distracts them and why don't I crop it out. Then we are right back where we started and my picture has been changed from what I preferred! :o) But thanks Elaine. #10810369

Peter W. Marks August 16, 2013

OK Elaine and Rita; just to please you sweet things I have tweaked just a tiny bit so that the tool box can be better see. I use PSE9 and levels didn't work at all well, so I made a selection around the tool box and then nudged up the 'lighten shadow' slider. I think that is a fair compromise don't you? #10810472

Jeff E Jensen August 16, 2013

Yup, that is better, Peter. With the tool box more prominent, the crop works for me. #10810480

Rita K. Connell level-classic August 16, 2013

good job Peter I really like this shot. #10810612

Kalena Randall August 17, 2013

Nice one, Peter. It's a familiar scene at the barn in my back yard! #10811318

Beth Spencer August 18, 2013

I really like your edit. I have seen these guys work at my sister's and they have to have some really strong arms and backs!!! I have a also been with her when she sedates the horses for the horse dentist. That was just weird to me!! #10812700

Peter W. Marks August 19, 2013

Many thanks to all of you; I like my edit too. As you might have guessed from my stuff on BP, I am not usually one for perfection of detail as both with my own and other folks' images it is the overall concept that triggers my imagination, not the small stuff. This applies with most things and is why I like even landscapes to be identified so that I can visit that place in my mind, especially with the help of Google Earth. Another example would be with a portrait of a old and wrinkled person and there I find myself wondering what sort of life they might have led. I probably will never know the answer but my imagination connects the dots and fills in the blanks and I feel all the better for having been permitted to share your images.
I don't expect you all (any) to agree with my thinking here as we as individuals each have our own thoughts, but where I am coming from is that I prefer to think about what was going on in the artist's mind when they created that work, not 'why on earth didn't he use a straight-edge to draw that line'.
I had my MRI of my head last week and this coming Friday I am scheduled for an EEG and from what I understand will have thirty or so little electrode sensors glued to my skull to find out if anything strange is going on in there! You guys will of course already have your own opinions and that is why I am smiling.
Have a truly blessed day my friends. #10813076

Jeff E Jensen August 19, 2013

Yeah, we could save you some expense and send your doctor a note about all the strange stuff going on in your head. . .

Pete, I'm glad you are in the club. It can be easy to get stuck on the technical aspects of an image and miss the meaning and intent. Your comments and insights help bring some of that back into perspective. Of course, there needs to be a balance as the technical aspects can either solidify, or detract from the intent of the image.

Good luck this week!

(By the way, the portrait of the old, wrinkled guy, that was Dale. If you aren't careful, he'll start telling stories about making cottage cheese on the clothesline after taking his dinosaur for a walk) #10813172

Peter W. Marks August 19, 2013

Jeff! That note would be welcome as I know you will be kind.
Ah! That word 'balance'. I use it all the time on my dear wife when she has just a couple of days left to get all her work framed (she does it herself) for an upcoming exhibition opening and then tells me that at church on Sunday she has volunteered to lead yet another class and joined an additional committee.

Oh good lord, yes, it was the really old geezer Dale that I had in mind. I had nearly forgotten him as he goes wandering off for weeks on end. Perhaps the doc would cut us a deal and do a twofer and I could share my brain sensors with the ole codger. #10813429

Elaine Hessler August 19, 2013

Ha! #10813884

Beth Spencer August 20, 2013

I hope all your tests go well Peter. The EEG will be painless and you will feel ridiculous with all those electrodes stuck on your head!! Hopefully all will be fine, prayers your way! #10815287

Peter W. Marks August 21, 2013

Thanks Elaine and Beth. I only wish Elizabeth wasn't back at school so that she could come with me and photograph me looking ridiculous- I would have shared it with all of you! But now to add to my frustration the hospital has phoned and postponed the procedure until Frid of next week, sheesh!
#10815764

Beth Spencer August 21, 2013

Sounds very frustrating!! #10816147

lisa anderson August 22, 2013

Well, Peter, I spent the last six days horseback riding six hours a day...I had no idea riding a horse could hurt as much as it did...so your picture makes me think of riding down the mountain saying,'ouch! ouch! ouch!' The farrier's job looks a little uncomfortable also.
(That's a lot of electrodes to have stuck to your head-I'm glad to hear it's painless.) #10817449

Michael Kelly level-classic August 23, 2013

Well Peter I am sure they will pick up some activity when they get around to doing your test (probably more than it would show on me). Hang in there I know that waiting can be the worst part of these things. We are hear if you need to vent.

How anyone can ride a horse for any time is beyond me. 15 minutes on a horse is torture for me so how you managed for 6 hours shows a lot of fortitude Lisa. Surprisingly I found riding a camel pretty comfortable.
#10818711

Peter W. Marks August 24, 2013

I am learning to live with it Beth- schedules are rarely for our benefit so I wouldn't want to spoil someone's golf game.
Thanks Mike. I am so grateful to be alive after the two colon cancers back in '97 and '98 that a little bit of frustration of waiting I just equate with the 23 hrs it took for our flight with its two changes of plane, back to the UK in June. Just purchased another photography magazine and had a beer in yet another terminal. Started out from St Louis International, changed in Dallas/Ft Worth, changed again in Orlando Fla and finally there we were in London, Gatwick. Hallelujah!
Now Lisa, I am trying not to focus on the part of your anatomy causing the "ouch, ouch ouches" lol About 50 years back I took a five day pony-trekking vacation in Wales and we used English saddles of course, not those comfortable western armchairs that you guys have. But yes, a nice office chair doesn't quite prepare one for hours in a saddle.
I watched that farrier working on four horses at my nieces' stables and it had me wondering if he could ever stand upright again. #10819047

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