The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Elegant
I suspect that this Limber Pine Tree is much older than its size suggests. It’s probably just 5 ft tall and 6 inches in diameter. These are hardy trees. This one, and most of its neighbors on an outcrop of granite in near Split Rock in central Wyoming, is growing in a crack in the rock. Over time, bits of eroded granite fall into the crevasse. The ever-present Wyoming wind blows a bit of topsoil across the bit of gravel which help hold the soil in place when rain and snowmelt flow over it. In time, enough soil will be established to encourage the seed of a Limber Pine to take root. These roots will reach out to extraordinary lengths to find more water and provide stability to this young tree. Fierce winds, minimal water, and mid-summer heat make life interesting for this persistent little tree. It sure made a compelling subject while taking a leg-stretching walk during our drive from Bozeman to Laramie and back this weekend. I thought the black and white treatment gave the tree the sense of elegance it deserves. Thanks for posing for me little guy, I’ll be rooting for you!
Specific Feedback
We were on the road in the middle of Wyoming when we stopped for a break and some leg stretching. I grabbed my camera in the slide out fanny pack that fits into the bottom of my backpack. We walked out a 1/2 mile or so to get to this point only to find out that my 105 macro lens was on the camera, and not the 70-300 I usually keep there! Time was a factor so I just made do with what I had. This lens does seem to proceed some CA and its obvious around the rocks, which I know my masks made worse. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the brightness of the rocks, the darkness of the sky, and the appearance of the tree. I have about 10 versions of this shot and I think I like this the best, but I’m not sure I’m still completely pleased with it.
Technical Details
Nikon D850
Sigma 105mm Macro
ISO 64, f/9, 1/800
I used a ton of masks to try to darken the sky, make the clouds more dramatic, lighten the tree a bit and various areas in the foreground.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Paul, That cloud over the tree is wonderful. I made some edits: increased exposure on the foreground by increasing midtowns with a TK9 color grading tool, added highlights on the tree, and added a vignette. Of course, what you think the image needs is up to you. Nice image.
That cloud is mesmerizing. It’s so mysterious because it’s unusual. The combination of tree and cloud is what makes this image for me. I wouldn’t make the rocky foreground dilute the impact of that central area. Fascinating image.
Dear Paul,
Thank you for posting this fascinating image. Although it may have appeared as bad luck that you carried your 105 mm macro lens, the result is great. What catches my eye immediately is the unique cloud and its lower arch of luminosity, which connects the right branch of the tree and the two boulders to the right, creating a dynamic triangle; this triangle is intersting and well positioned in the middle of the image. To me, the darkness of the sky seems to serve the purpose, to provide a dramatic backdrop to the cloud. As regards the brightness of the rocks, the slab in front of the tree is about as bright as the grass in the left corner and this equality makes my eyes move from the slab to the grass, perhaps detracting from the main subject, the cloud, tree and boulders. I wonder if that is your intention? I enjoy the image, well done.
Thanks for sharing this image and your story. Contemplating the tenacity of nature to plant life in the most unlikely places is wonderful. I agree with @Igor_Doncov and @Leo_Catana regarding the importance of the tree and the clouds. I am including my version of a TK9 edit that minimizes the foreground and puts some extra light on the tree and cloud. I am including a screenshot of the layers in PS.
Truly an eye-catching juxtaposition of elements Paul; very nice! I do like the direction @Barbara_Djordjevic took it to focus on those key central elements.
I do wish the grasses weren’t in the image, but I’m assuming there wasn’t a way to compose without them while keeping the rest. As is, I do think toning them down helps, and they are not a big deal.
Very very elegant image! Simple and elegant. All the proposed versions add an improvement. From me, I try: may be the elegance of the image can still improve cutting the base of the rocks up to the top of the bush. It may work for you?
This is a beautiful image and I actually appreciate your original processing, and the revised versions others have posted. My personal taste would be Larry’s version, but with the FG grass darkened just a touch. Regardless, this is a heckuva find that was perfectly photographed and nicely processed.
A wonderful find, very well framed! That lenticular cloud is perfect and emphasizes the very interesting shape of the FG rock!! I think both @Larry_Greenbaum and @Barbara_Djordjevic have added some nice touches. I think it would feel right to minimize the grasses, darker and lower contrast, although they do repeat the cloud shape. I would especially minimize the two clumps right at the left edge – even with a crop. You have a very special image here!!
This is a lovely photo - very nicely seen, with the interplay of the tree and the cloud. I have a couple thoughts on composition and processing, but you should take them with a grain of salt. Looking at your portfolio here on NPN, it seems that you prefer the understated look. My thoughts may not be what you’re looking for.
Compositionally, I think the right side isn’t doing anything. There’s that layer of rock heading down and out of the frame, and it’s direction isn’t very cohesive with the rest of the composition. So, I would consider a crop off the right - 4x5 ratio would work.
Processing-wise, I’ll take a different tack from everyone else and say why not use those grasses in the LLC to better advantage? I see a nice diagonal line from the lighter grasses in the LLC up through the top of the cloud. That line directly crosses the line made by the tree, making for an interesting compositional element. Here’s my thought (in ACR put a radial gradient over the tree and cloud and raised the exposure a bit, in PS further dodged behind the tree to make it stand out more, burned the LRC area to make it match the ULC sky luminosity, and lowered the exposure with a slight curve except for the lightest bits). Again, though, this may not match your idea of elegance. I’d be interested to hear what you think elegance looks like!
I like @Bonnie_Lampley’s idea here, but maybe not quite that much off the right. The cloud is maybe a little too close to the edge, but not by much. Now I’m getting a stronger feeling of the tree pulling against the cloud – or is it the cloud pulling against the tree? Either way, it’s an elegant feature of the image! But even more my brain is begging to clone or burn way down those two brighter grassy clumps on the left edge. With them covered up the grass is a neater and more intentional shape.
What an amazing cloud and scene here! I’m not a landscape photographer, and won’t offer any ideas - but I sure appreciate other’s ideas and examples here - makes me visialize different perspectives and interpretations
@Paul_Holdorf, I love this image. The “star” of the image is that amazing cloud. The rocks and the tree are the “supporting cast.” I think that Bonnie’s edit works best (except not cropped as much on the right) to bring out the cloud and keep the tree and rocks as important elements but not dominate the “star.” So, you may want to rethink your edit, which is dark and detracts from the magnetic visual quality of the cloud. You might also lighten up the lower part of the cloud formation so it separates from the tree, etc. Beautiful image! Thanks for sharing. Sorry I am so late to this conversation.
Excellent work Paul you have simplified the composition by eliminating the bush only cutting a very small part of the image. The image has certainly improved.
