# Coastal Redwoods - Northern California **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape\ **Created:** [May 16, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920 "2020-05-16T14:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jonfischer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jonfischer/32/16983_2.png) [@jonfischer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/jonfischer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/1 "2020-05-16T14:58:57Z")
![_MG_2236-Edit](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/e/c/ecc9130c36396b7b72b690dc7a856442ded1a7df.jpeg) The last of my un-edited redwoods photos from August of 2018 that I had slowly been working through and not yet moved to the ‘archive’ directoreis. Inspired to finally work on this one this morning after watching some YouTube videos from @Alister_Benn yesterday afternoon. Shout out to Alister for an excellent channel that has helped keep my inspired the last few weeks as cabin fever as really set in. ### What technical feedback would you like if any? ### What artistic feedback would you like if any? All feedback welcome. Went back and forth a little on if I wanted to darken the top edge some or not. Ultimately I brightened it back up a touch with a couple gradients in Lightroom before export because I didn’t like the top as it came out of Photoshop. Had to do a little healing to a few sections of the log where something (probably someone’s boot) had broken up the wood surface some. ### Pertinent technical details or techniques: Canon 5DmkIV / Tamron 14mm 2.4 SP at f/10, ISO200 8-image focus stack in PS ###### ig: jfischerphotography ---
**Author:** ![Ingrid\_Vekemans](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ingrid_vekemans/32/2252_2.png) [@Ingrid\_Vekemans](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ingrid_Vekemans)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/2 "2020-05-16T16:28:00Z")
Nice mysterious atmosphere and good POV. The top being so light really adds to that atmosphere so I’m glad you didn’t use the darkened version. Grt, Ingrid. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_McGuirk](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ed_mcguirk/32/30542_2.png) [@Ed\_McGuirk](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_McGuirk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/3 "2020-05-16T19:02:31Z")
Jon, good call on keeping the top brighter, it adds to the mysterious mood of the fog. This is one of those images where a vignette helps on the bottom and sides, but not on the top, so I like the approach you took here. The image is also a good illustration of the concepts of contrast discussed by Alister Benn in his webinar, light (distant) / dark (near) , soft/sharp, etc. The processing looks great in terms of exposure, contrast, and color. The greens in particular are very well handled here. In terms of composition, I like the use of the diagonal line of the log to pull your eye towards the fog. My only nit is that I think the near part of the log carries too much visual weight relative it’s interest level. I might consider a crop from the bottom to a 5:7 aspect ratio. You would still have diagonal line, but you would lose the bright part of the log near the bottom edge. If you wanted to keep this in a 3:2 ratio, then I would instead consider significantly darkening the bottom 20% of the image, especially the log. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Richter](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/peter_richter/32/2919_2.png) [@Peter\_Richter](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Peter_Richter)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/4 "2020-05-16T20:34:40Z")
Jon, I appreciate your composition and processing as presented a lot. It gives me a very natural sense of the scene. Especially the tangible details in the foreground add a lot in my opinion. Peter ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/5 "2020-05-16T20:39:12Z")
Compelling image. The diagonal log is a great leading line. Maybe the light part of the log could be darkened just a smidge. Your eye is drawn up to the vertical trees and the beautiful fog. The 2/3 to 1/3 triangles of ferns also serve to make the photo more dynamic. Lovely photo that really draws me through the scene. ---
**Author:** ![jonfischer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jonfischer/32/16983_2.png) [@jonfischer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/jonfischer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/6 "2020-05-16T21:56:21Z")
> [@Ed\_McGuirk](#): > > …ink the near part of the log carries too much visual weight relative it’s interest level. I might consider a crop from the bottom to a 5:7 aspect ratio. You would still have diagonal line, but you would lose the bright part of the log near the bottom edge. If you wanted to keep this in a 3:2 ratio, then I would instead consider significantly darkening the bottom 20% of the image, especially the log. ![_MG_2236-Edit-2](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/1/91d558c583496671243246f41ac3c4ae9f351443.jpeg) Ed, you hit the nail on the head with the lowest section of log. Couple quick gradients in Lightroom added. ---
**Author:** ![Harley\_Goldman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/harley_goldman/32/213_2.png) [@Harley\_Goldman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Harley_Goldman)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/7 "2020-05-17T16:26:44Z")
Real nice forest scene and I like the reposted version. Glad you kept the top bright, as I find it works really well. No other suggestions here. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Chambers](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_chambers/32/10911_2.png) [@Bill\_Chambers](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Chambers)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coastal-redwoods-northern-california/13920/8 "2020-05-17T23:37:15Z")
Beautiful scene, Jon. I think the darkening of the log made a big improvement. Your original vision was excellent and the improved version is right on the mark.