28 Comments
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Angie Dawn's avatar

I love your photos, James (I am also a great lover of trees). I especially like the second set with the subdued colors, but they are all lovely :-)

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James Hider's avatar

Thanks Angie - trees are great aren't they?

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Dan Jandl's avatar

Love these!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Stunning photographs!! I enjoy the black and white ones especially. Very moody!

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James Hider's avatar

Thank you Manuela. It is really interesting to see how different treatments appeal to different people - which is the point of the post!

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one Picture one Story's avatar

Great photos James. I am resistant to the idea of an identifiable style in photography, as I was also in furniture making. Do what speaks to you at any given time, and your 'style' may emerge organically. Maybe you will remain eclectic. My take on this idea is that it is not related to creative endeavors, but to commerce and marketability. I am in the enviable position of being independently frugal, leaving me free to practice my photography without thought given to monetizing what I do for my own enjoyment.

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James Hider's avatar

Could not have said that better James. Many thanks

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Gill Moon Photography's avatar

Stunning tree portraits James. The subtle colours and tones in the middle images are sublime.

And congratulations on your competition success - really well deserved.

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James Hider's avatar

Thanks Gill - I love that people here and on IG have different favourites.

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Kevin Hansen's avatar

Beautiful trees, all. And congratulations on being finalist, and on the exhibition!

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James Hider's avatar

Trees, fog and good light are pretty special, in my humble opinion Kevin. Many thanks

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Erik Hogan's avatar

Excellent tree portraits! The BNW images are interesting, but I'm more drawn to those with a touch of color.

I default to tried and tested techniques quite a lot, just because I'm still developing my competence with them!

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James Hider's avatar

Thanks Erik. I am doing more BNW these days - I feel I can be more liberal with the edit, whereas my colour images are more true to life. I think you have the right approach - don't try too many things, get really good at a few.

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Tom Schroder's avatar

James, I just found you (thanks to Susanne). Your work is beautiful. Trees are amazing and the more I read about them, the less about the world I think we really know. Great work capturing their beauty and greatness.

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James Hider's avatar

Thanks Tom - very glad you enjoyed. Trees are amazing - beautiful in a park, even better in a forest.

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Ralph Turner's avatar

Beautiful images. The light is fantastic.

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James Hider's avatar

Ralph, thank you. I certainly couldn't believe my luck this morning. The more I do photography the more I understand the importance of light (that is, it is everything!).

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Ronald Smeets's avatar

Good question, I don't know. I think I mostly default to tried and tested techniques - at least I don't have to think about that and I can focus on what I want to photograph (if that makes sense). Love your photos, the color ones have this serene feeling to them, something I haven't been able to achieve with similar photos. Maybe I just haven't had the right conditions yet or I don't master that skill of editing (or both 😉)

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James Hider's avatar

Ronald, there are a lot of good reasons to default to the tried and tested. I certainly do. But I also like to challenge myself to try something different (either in the field or re-editing old images) - sometimes I just try to copy the style of another photographer I admire. I always learn something (even if they're not great). The first set of colour images have become my default look (when I get these conditions) - the others were me pushing different styles that I am becoming more comfortable (and competent) with.

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Rand Leeb-du Toit's avatar

These are stunning! Especially the first group of bnw photos

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James Hider's avatar

Thanks Rand, glad you enjoyed them. I'm working hard on my BNW images - I was really pleased with them.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Oh, and congratulations on the competition! So happy for you!

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Trees and fog are my favorite combination. Amazing light you had that morning! What you’ve said about style (I hate that work to be honest) speaks so much to me. As a commercial photographer it makes sense to have a certain style, but as an artist I would find it way to constraining for my creative and personal development to stay in a small niche called style. I know my work might look like it’s a bit of everything, but the theme I explore through my art stays constant. And trying different things can be freeing and inspiring. I really need to write about this some time too…

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James Hider's avatar

Thanks Susanne - that ethereal fog/light combination just kept on giving that morning. Normally it's a mad rush to make the best of fleeting moments!

My focus at the moment is on becoming more intentional about what I want to say, and then finding the way to convey it. Tough work, but as a non-commercial photographer, I really have no excuses. (And I really enjoy and am inspired by your work and creative experiments - thank you)

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Ross Duncan gets curious.'s avatar

Lovely work James. Congratulations on the entry in the landscape awards, I'll be seeing that show later in the year and looking forward to seeing your work in print.👍

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James Hider's avatar

Thank you Ross. I have a really nice A2 print at home, and am looking forward to seeing it as part of the exhibition.

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Paul Raich's avatar

Seems like great photowalk. I really like color photos with the tree trunks in sunlight but fog in the background. It gives the photos greater texture and concentrates the viewers attention 👍

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James Hider's avatar

Paul, thank you. It was just one of those mornings with great conditions. Trees and fog are just a perfect match!

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