The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
It’s funny how you notice things. I’ve walked by this tree at least 20 times without seeing this detail or thinking to stop and photograph it, but apparently yesterday was the day. I like the swirling pattern and the contrasting textures. I’m not sure if I prefer the color or black and white versions, so I’m including both for comparison.
Specific Feedback
Any and all feedback would be appreciated, especially on technical aspects of the image. I was a bit rushed at the time, so I think I could do a better job of capturing this if I returned and was a little more deliberate about it.
Technical Details
44 mm, ISO 400, f/13, 1/50 sec. I made some light adjustments in Lightroom and also some color adjustments to try to bring out the orange color in the wood a bit. I also increased texture and clarity a bit.
Both images are very nice and I cannot decide which one is better. The comp is ideal with the dark areas emerging from the LH side of the frame. I also like how you handled these dark areas–details and depth look pretty darn good. I found that after a rain, the exposed wood absorbs water and colors become more rich. You may want to revisit this one after a rain. I like what you have done and the patterns in the image make for an idel comp…Jim
John, I agree with @Jim_Zablotny - really nice comp! I prefer the color image because I think the fading color from L to R in the image adds another dimension to the photo. Nice job spotting this subject and doing it justice!
What a great subject, John! I prefer the color a little bit for the richer tones, but I think a curves layer to bring down the blacks a bit and bring out the richness would put the B&W right up there.
I took the liberty of downloading this and playing with it in PS. I tried flipping horizontally, vertically, both, b&W, color and adding adjustment layers. Everything worked! I’m uploading my favorite below.
If you’d like to try ICM, this would look awesome with motion in the direction of the grain.
Hi John, kudos for stopping, observing, and recording this wonderful image! It’s a nice subject with a lot of potential. I can see why you were drawn to the patterns and the contrasting elements (charred vs uncharred bark). Looks like everything is just about in focus and sharp.
While I like the contrast in the monochrome image, I’m leaning more towards the color image but would recommend some refinements. Dennis has a good version with additional contrast. You could also try flipping 90 degrees counter clockwise so the charred area is at the bottom of the frame. That may give the impression of flowing lava and cooled lava if some additional creative editing is used. Lots of potential but the important thing is you were open to the possiblity and stopped while in the field.
@Jim_Zablotny@Ron_Meeker@Dennis_Plank@Alfredo_Mora - Thank you all for the feedback! Jim, I like your idea of revisiting this location after a rain. I’m sure I can make that happen someday. Ron, I think I’m sold on the color version now as well, especially after seeing the edits Dennis made.
Dennis, I really like your edits and suggestions. You got a lot more out of the image than I thought possible. I’ve started playing with some edits to add more contrast and richness of color. Already the comparison with my original version is pretty striking.
Alfredo, the resemblance to cooling lava was something I thought of as well, not when I was out photographing the scene, but when I was home later and began editing the image. In the field I was really thinking of this as a black and white image, but there is a lot more color in it than I initially realized.
What a gorgeous find!! And well photographed! I think the original is wonderful (and prefer the color version for the added richness) but @Dennis_Plank has brought it up a notch and found some magic in it. The sinuous shapes emanating from the top are now so strong! It may be equally powerful rotated 180 degrees. But beautiful in any case.
Thank you, @Diane_Miller, for the comments and feedback. And thanks again, @Dennis_Plank, for your edits and example. You really helped me see the possibilities with this image. I’m posting a reworked version above. I don’t think it’s as strong as yours, and I’m sure I’ll keep working on it, but I definitely think it’s an improvement from my original version and I’m pretty happy with it.
I like it, John. I probably got carried away with boosting the saturation in the unburned section. Your repost really brought out the texture which to me is a large part of this image. I do think the blacks could still go a bit richer, but I’ve always liked deep blacks.
Excellent nature abstract! Of course it’s recognizable, but no matter as you had a great eye to spy this!
I was quite interested in @Dennis_Plank 's version because my first thought was to rotate - and have the burnt ends at the bottom - and here he has them up top! Just goes to show how we each have our own reactions and interpretations.
With the charred parts at the bottom and the way all the lines and shapes are set up, I see this as a “foot” - even if it’s only the foot, or base of a tree where the roots expand a litte at the base.
Many possibilities here with crops and such, but this works quite wonderfully as presented!
Thank you, @Lon_Overacker, for the feedback! I went ahead and created one more version–rotated with the burned areas at the bottom and cropped slightly differently. I like this presentation, too. As @Dennis_Plank mentioned earlier, the image does seem to work no matter which way you turn it, which I think makes it a lot of fun to experiment with. I think my preference is still the vertical orientation. It may be that I’ve gotten used to seeing the image presented that way, but for whatever reason that one just feels right to me. Anyway, thanks again for your comments!
Nicely spotted, seems to work very well in both colour and B&W. I think the B&W version might benefit from a small adjustment of the high levels so the very brightest bits reach pure white.
Thank you, @Tomas_Frydrych. I appreciate the comments and suggestion. After my initial post, I had focused mainly on the color version, but I may revisit the black and white version and experiment with it a bit more.
