This image was made while at a workshop in Tuscany in October 2021. At that time of the year, the fields in Tuscany are plowed over in preparation for sowing the following spring. This accentuates the beautiful undulations in the land creating fantastic opportunities for the landscape photographer.

I am generally drawn to minimal images with an element of negative space within the frame. This vista presented an opportunity to create such an image by highlighting the small group of beautiful Cypress trees against the sky on the horizon while complimenting their simple form and structure by juxtaposing them against the rolling hills.

The long exposure technique used to make this image ensured that detail in the sky was smoothed out to create a more minimal backdrop, otherwise the viewers eye would not be so readily drawn to the small group of trees which are the main subject here.

A few simple processing techniques have been used to enhance this effect. The tonal values in the area of the sky surrounding the trees have been increased to heighten the contrast in that area. Also, some of the darker tones in the sky near the trees have been either removed or considerably lightened to further increase contrast and amplify the effect. I have also used a darker gradient along the top and bottom of the frame; this helps to draw attention to the area of interest around the trees.

The rolling hills in the Tuscan countryside are one of the area’s undoubted standout features. In order to ensure that this is evident in the image, I used a simple dodge-and-burn technique on the curving undulations of the field to ensure they stood out to the viewer.

While I do make some color images, the majority of my work is monochrome. The decision to make this image monochrome was quite straightforward. I like the simplicity of this scene, and had I introduced color, I felt that I would be adding an element other than form, tone, and structure that was not only unnecessary but potentially disruptive to the viewer.

What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

1. Creating a minimal image while retaining visual impact by use of contrast and tone in the important areas.
2. Subtle use of the dodge and burn technique to amplify the undulations in the field.

If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or different?

While I am happy with the finished image, were I to return to this area, I would experiment further with different compositions while maintaining the prominence of the cypress trees within the frame.

Jim Graham shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Jim Graham, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland

WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM

Equipment and settings

Nikon D850 ,Nikon 24-70 f2.8 lens
Gittzo tripod, Lee ND filters, and Nikon remote timer
ISO 64, f/8, 60 sec.