I’ve been keeping an eye on this tree ever since the leaves stopped falling. Until now there has always been too many distracting elements in the background to make a good image. Thanks to some fog the other day. I was finally able to get a decent capture.
Specific Feedback Requested
I’m pretty happy with the image, but I’ve been doing this less than 6 months, so I’m sure there are things I’m not even trained to see yet.
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
Lens: Fujifilm 16-80mm f4
ISO: 80
Focal Length: 76.3 mm
Aperture: f/11
Shutter: 1/8 s.
All processing was done in Photoshop. The following features were utilized:
Spot Healing Brush
Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layers
Curves Adjustment Layers
Dodging and Burning
Gaussian Blur Filter
High Pass Filter
Camera Raw Filter
As others will tell you, this image oozes with mood. I like the dark to light gradient you have going from bottom to top. I think that adds to the expression. Most such images show an outline of a tree in fog but this added gradient adds a dimension and makes it less cliche. It also makes the image more somber.
Welcome to NPN Adam, this is an excellent first post !!!
I can see why you have been keeping an eye on this tree, it has a very unusual and interesting shape. I think it’s because the tree has an upward radial pattern in the top half, and a downward pointing radial pattern in it’s bottom half.
Overall, I think you did a good job with the processing here, I think you achieved just the right level of luminosity and amount of detail in the background trees. In looking at the smaller image, I initially thought the bottom was too dark in the lower right corner (LRC), but when looking at the larger version, you can see more detail there, and I do not think it is too dark.
My only suggested tweak would be to take a slight crop off the top edge to reduce negative space. But that is a matter of personal preference, I think your composition works fine as presented.
Welcome, Adam – you’ve found a great place to hang out! I love the sharpness of the tiny branches – they contrast so well with the soft BG elements. The BG has enough variability to be an interesting secondary element. I also love the lighter grasses in the LL corner, which lead my eye into the image. Good points made above.
One thing that pulls my eye a bit is the slightly lighter area in the BG trees on the left edge. If it were in from the edge with a wider composition it would add interest, but here it might be worth burning down very subtly. But that’s a very small point for a very pleasing image.
Adam, welcome to NPN and you are arriving with an excellent first post. I love the mood and great scene. I would agree with suggestions to take a little of the top and with Diane’s suggestion to burn the grasses to eliminate a bit of an eye magnet with the grasses. Both are minor and it is a really nice image.
Thank you Diane! I’m very happy to have found NPN. I was quite happy with the light grasses being there as well. I didn’t even notice the lighter area in the BG. I’ll grab my magic burn brush and take a pass at it.
I updated the original post with the edit. I probably fiddled with it way too much, but I think I was able to tone down that left side a bit. Minor crop off of the top as well.
