High Key - Low Key : What is it?

[Alan T]

I was in two minds as to whether to post this, because of its black background. But if we concentrate on the subject matter, it's certainly high-key, frosty detail on frost. Also I feel it may be a useful contribution to Selvin's paper towel lesson.

This is my archive shot, as it was taken 10 days ago at duskon New Year's Eve.

I spotted this tangle and at first thought it was some kind of filamentary plant growth, coated by hoar frost, but then remembered that there were sheep in neighbouring fields, and this must have been torn from the backof an ovine escapee (or possibly a careless rambler in a woolly jumper).

It took me some time to get the exposure nearly right, and I couldn't have done it without my Kodak Z1012's 7-step flash adjustment. In the end the shot I kept was 1/40s,f/2.8, ISO100, -0.3EV, 'Flash -0.7'. Now I wish I'd kept a couple more. I've cropped it, and brightened the ice by tweaking the top of the curve up a little, trying not to blow more highlights. I'll post a small version of the original in a reply.

I think I see a cow in the lacy tangle, but my family couldn't see it, exclaiming, "but look at the puppy dog!" (which I think is a lamb). So I hope you folk think it's art.

[Alan T]

Full frame, resized, sharpened...

[Mugmar]

Looks like someone sitting in a tree to me

Mugmar