Kathrin, there’s a lot here that I like very much. The image has a moody, ethereal look. I want to go for a walk in there.
One problem with multiple exposures, in my experience, is that you almost invariably wind up with some shapes and tones where you’d rather not have them. I think you have some of those here. For example, at the far right you have a very contrasty area with bright leaves against a dark background. In the center you have that dark gray branch on top of the lighter gray tree. You might want to consider getting rid of some of those distractions so as to simplify the image. I did a quick and very incomplete revision to show you the direction I’m suggesting. Feel free to ignore these comments if you disagree.
This is fantastic Kathrin, especially when viewed large! It almost does not look like a multiple exposure. Maybe the foreground could use some highlight reduction, and maybe a little contrast reduction to @Don_Peters point. This would look amazing as a wall sized print or even wallpaper. Love it!
This is very cool, Kathrin. It appears sharp but not sharp in a good way. @Tom_Nevesely mentions dreamy and I agree with that…in a good way. I love the dappled gold throughout the image set against a darker background which makes the gold pop. I also love how the multiple exposures have softened the tree trunks while retaining the sharpness on the forest floor. I could see just a tad of highlight reduction in the LLC and a little bit in the center of the frame along the bottom but it wouldn’t need much. I love the colors in the scene and I don’t think I’d change anything there. There are a couple of exact repeating patterns that catch my eye…Right in the center of the frame you have the small dark branches set against that dark center trunk and that exact same pattern is along the left edge. To make it less obvious you may want to clone out a portion or all of one of them particularly the one in the center of the frame as it sticks out. There is also a repeating branch sticking up right out of the bottom of the frame in two spots so I would remove one or both of them. The right side of the frame is quite a bit darker than the rest of the frame and you could certainly bring that up so that it fits with the rest of the image but all in all, I love it. It sounds like you’ve been waiting for a while to get something like this and your persistence has paid off.
I love the feel of this image, Kathrin. The light and dark, the greenish foggy moodiness and golden leaves all combine for a wonderfully mysterious feeling.
I can see what Don was talking about, and in combo with what David Haynes said, I would try to clone out that drooping thin branch that is dark against the lighter broad tree trunk. That might be enough to make other repetitions and the funky stuff on the right disappear from immediate view.
For me, FWIW, I don’t mind the funky parts of the double exposure in the right lower corner. It adds to the mystery, the sense of time slipping. But it wouldn’t be that hard to crop it off either if it starts to bother you.
Kathrin, I too am enjoying the mystical feel with the trees and fog. I think you were also lucky to catch those leaves sprinkled through the image. The leaves really make the image for me, especially after you tone down the forest floor leaves. With all the comments given, I am wondering how many images you put together to create this final Cloud Forest. If it were my photography I would frame it for sure!
I waited quite a while until I found a suitable subject for this multiple exposure (3 shots). Taking the photo is relatively easy, but you have to practice recognizing which conditions are usable.
Thank you so much for the thorough assessment.
I think Don is right; multiple exposures can produce unusual colors, and parts of the image aren’t as regular as desired.
The editing process isn’t as straightforward either.
I did make some adjustments: I brightened the right side in particular by overlaying a cropped section from the left. This way, I stay true to the multiple exposure technique.
I very slightly softened the repeating branches. I think the appeal lies in having such peculiarities in the image. But they shouldn’t be too prominent.
I love woodland photography and this is a winner! I like the look of the edited shot. I am jealous of those of you who shoot with systems that allow for in-camera multiple exposures.
