REWORK to address @David_Haynes comments about the lighter tree trunk and branches going out the ULC. I also slightly color graded the Lights2 (as in the TK9 panel) to be warmer and darkened the URC a bit more.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I went looking for snowy scenes at Whiskeytown Park, but got sidetracked by the color of the winter willows and other vegetation. Everything was wet and the light was fading, so the colors were quite striking.
Specific Feedback
Looking for general comments on the quality. There is a LOT of detail which I tried to soften a bit by reducing clarity and texture. Should it be softened more? Less? I probably will print this, so any comments in that regard are welcome, too.
Technical Details
Hand held, no polarizer, ISO jacked up because it was getting dark (and I didn’t bring the tripod, anyway).
Wonderful shot. I love the BG of soft pastel colors peaking through the web of branches. The trees are well placed in the image. I think I would also try a softer version. Just a thought. Reminds me of Charles Cramer’s work.
Bonnie, I love images of winter woods and this one is excellent. The colors are diverse and beautiful.
I don’t think the detail needs any more softening. I usually reduce clarity in shots like these but increase texture a little. Whatever recipe you used, it worked.
Lovely image, Bonnie. the colour palette is beautiful and you’ve found a perfect balance between the aqua and orange hues. I think you’ve softened the detail just enough to evoke, at least for me, a ghostly mood - like seeing something recognizable emerging out of the mist.
I see nothing I’d do different here, @Bonnie_Lampley. Images like this deserve to be printed large to be truly appreciated. The pastel color palette and tangle of limbs, combined with the soft light, truly make this remarkable.
Bonnie: “Oh, my” escaped from my mouth when I opened the larger image. Simply marvelous color palette and the textures and details are wonderful. Exceptionally well seen, composed and presented. Frame filling fantastic. >=))>
I concur with @Bill_Fach. I opened this and my thoughts were, “Oh my.” The soft pastel colors are really engaging. I love the greens and the oranges. WOW! The flat light is perfect for this painterly scene. The trees have so much character.
Now, a couple of things I might do…these are only suggestions and only because you may be printing this and you need it to be all it can be.
The trunk on the left side of the image is light coming out of the bottom of the frame and then abruptly turns light about a third of the way up. I would burn the trunk at the bottom so it better aligns with all of the other trunks in the image and it will also give more weight to the left side of the image. Second, and I’m not confident this actually would make it better or not, would be to dodge the very upper portion of the branch exiting the upper left corner of the image. Because there are so many other branches crossing over both of these branches I’m not sure how to go about doing this successfully. But those are my thoughts on this gorgeous image.
Thank you, @Bret_Edge, @Bill_Fach, and @David_Haynes. I’m pleased that this has some appeal - I’ve been asked to provide a piece for a local fund-raiser auction and I’m considering this one.
Yah, I did notice that lighter trunk on the left-had tree, but got lazy and didn’t address it. I hadn’t really noticed those darker branches going out the ULC, though. I made both those changes (not hard at all) and will post the rework. Thanks!
What a great shot and what a chance to learn some new ways to make it even better. Thank you for sharing and for the critiques. I am quite new here and appreciate this very much.
Xavier
