# Feather Moss **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** macro-close-up\ **Created:** [February 13, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415 "2025-02-13T22:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/1 "2025-02-13T22:30:09Z")
And a tweak of a low-contrast area caught by @Dennis_Plank: ![2024-10-13-13.13.03 ZS DMap-Edit-Edit](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/4/9/49ccfdd385df3e60b83ca0aa240a64c3cca4a379.jpeg) Original: ![2024-10-13-13.13.03 ZS DMap-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/0/9065057dcc97486362e8e20cbbc81a5449c330bb.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description After one of our winter rains, this lovely moss comes alive with a velvet coating on old oaks. Then when it dries out it shrivels up to a barely noticeable brown coating. It is quite small and has been confounding me to be able to get a macro lens close enough to it, as most of it is on high branches. Last October, after the first rains, I finally found a patch I could get close to. ### Specific Feedback All comments welcome! ### Technical Details Canon R5, Canon EF 100mm macro, ISO 1600, f/4, 1/250 sec. Focus stack. The wide aperture was to minimize the BG. The fast SS was so I could run an automated stack burst quickly as there was a slight breeze. Global shadows and Highlights in LR, into Zerene stacker, then the result into PS for some burning and dodging and a bit of a crop. Colors left as shot on daylight WB. The moss looks dark green but with the slightest bit of cloudy-bright light, it fairly glows. * * * ### Critique Template Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas. - Vision and Purpose: - Conceptual: - Emotional Impact and Mood: - Composition: - Balance and Visual Weight: - Depth and Dimension: - Color: - Lighting: - Processing: - Technical: ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/2 "2025-02-14T00:11:40Z")
Beautiful moss, Diane and I love the colors and texture. I think I see one stacking anomaly that I circled in red below, though it might have been a particularly wet area. Some of the out of focus moss to the left of the main body seems distracting to me, but cropping there wouldn’t leave much of a margin for the subject. ![Diane-2024-10-13-13.13.03 ZS DMap-Edit copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/c/7c83587ce03be55d2788189568f72631f34e5b5a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/3 "2025-02-14T04:00:12Z")
Thanks, @Dennis_Plank – eagle-eyes! Looking at the full-res version I don’t know what is causing that area of low contrast, but I think I have a fix with a small masked area of contrast increased with curves. Posted above. Does this do it? ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 4:03am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/4 "2025-02-14T04:03:14Z")
That looks like you got it, Diane. Nice work. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Freeman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/shirley_freeman/32/11361_2.png) [@Shirley\_Freeman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Shirley_Freeman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/5 "2025-02-14T14:38:23Z")
Diane, I am not familiar with this type of moss, but I am glad you shared it. I’m originally from Maryland and my father used to cut oak for his sawmill, so I would have seen it if it grew there. I’m guessing it is a west coast type of moss. Nicely captured and presented. ---
**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/6 "2025-02-14T15:29:30Z")
Oooh this is dreamy. Moss lovers unite! The updated version is even better. It’s the type of little scene that repeats itself so much that it becomes like a watercolor wash over the landscape as you move through it. Such a fantastic little detail. No ideas to improve, just appreciating this little bit of green. ---
**Author:** ![Dean\_Salman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dean_salman/32/13291_2.png) [@Dean\_Salman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dean_Salman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/7 "2025-02-15T23:04:12Z")
Beautiful, Diane. I love the contrast in colors and the different shades. The lighting looks great as well as the details that draw the viewer to the main subject ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/8 "2025-02-16T22:46:46Z")
Diane: What a great find and a beautiful presentation. The tweak takes an already fine image up another notch. I envy you the auto stack capability. I’m trying to use that as an excuse to upgrade my camera but so far my conscience is holding me back 🙄. Really nicely done. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 3:47am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/9 "2025-02-17T03:47:29Z")
Thanks, @Shirley_Freeman, @Kris_Smith, @Dean_Salman and @Bill_Fach! I hope we have more rains that last long enough to make this stuff wake up – I’ve found another patch of it low enough to shoot. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/10 "2025-02-17T14:51:58Z")
Diane, the moss is lovely…what a glorious green color. Interestingly, clicking to the “larger” view and paging between your two posts, I couldn’t find the change. I had to go back to the main view and click on each view individually to get the really large view. Then I could see the spot, the extra contrast fixed it well. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/feather-moss/45415/11 "2025-02-20T01:16:56Z")
Thanks, @Mark_Seaver! I hope I will grab another chance for this stuff – it is only like this for a few days so after a rain and then it needs some filtered sunlight to really be pretty.