How many revisions am I allowed to post? I hope this is the last – went back to the raw file with very basic global tweaks, then into PS for one mask to lighten the right edge. Then I couldn’t resist an improvement in the faint hint of sunrise.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Conditions were almost right for some magic light this morning, but the fog didn’t quite develop. This frame almost captures what might have been. The holy grail is the sun rising with enough fog to filter it so you can see the orb, with mist on the water defining its “horizon”. The water level is only right after a very heavy rain and it drains in a day or two. And it takes a clear calm morning to make the fog.
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
In raw conversion, Shadows lightened a bit to enhance the fog slightly and Highlights down for a slight bit more tonal detail in the sky. Very subtle change. Into PS for microscopic denoise (not really needed but it gives a tiny bit of sharpening) and a crop from the sides. Very minor saturation. I shot a pano and have wider versions but the trees on both sides get distracting.
Critique Template
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Wow. This is really good. I know you’ve been working with this subject for quite a while but this one is exceptional. It’s almost symmetrical in a way. I think the square presentation is the right choice for this image. I guess the question is whether the darkness of that limb was overdone. I don’t know. Would have to experiment. It’s very subjective though. But I agree that it has presence and improves the image.
Thanks, @Igor_Doncov! I’m very pleased you like it! I went back to the raw file and see I pulled the Blacks down to -20. I put them back to 0 and the only difference at 100% is a slight darkening of the middle of the dark snag. I can’t see any difference in the top part.
I see I was wrong above on the raw processing – now corrected. I pulled Highlights down to get a bit more tonal detail in the sky and Shadows up to increase the fog just a bit. Those caused a subtle change. No more tonal changes in PS except a tweak of yellow saturation.
Oh wow! Your processing is spot on! Those background trees are pure magic! I love the way depth is show by the fainter trees in the background. It could be argued that the darker tree is slightly distracting, but it also adds to the depth. Have you ever used a luminosity mask in Lightroom and use the dropper on the darkest part? It’s easy to go too far, but just a tad bit of lightening on that might retain the depth but lose the distraction factor.
Exceptional Diane; there is so much to love here. I really enjoy the mystery of the fog with the complex and tortured trees, and the ebony/ivory sings here. (The red channel is an exceptional black and white as well.)
The OCD in me prefers it with that bit of branch at the upper right cropped off. I also played with lightening the dark trunk, and am including it for comparison. However, I actually prefer the original darkness; the way it stands out is a visual statement of sorts.
Holy cow, this is just terrific, Diane. Very moody and your background subjects are very expressive. I see that one dark foreground tree to be the conductor of an orchestra or the preacher at a church. I think that lone tree needs to stand out. Without it standing out, it’s a very pretty reflection image with lots of mood but a rather flat image lacking the emotion that the dark tree brings to life. You could say that the black tree brings meaning in a way that would be quite different had the dark tree simply blended in with all of the others. It’s quite expressive, leaning to the right, small arm out, turned slightly and facing the others as if its conducting or preaching, all eyes on it. Performing. Clearly standing out. I’d leave it as is or maybe even darken it more. Lovely image, Diane!
What a spectacular image @Diane_Miller! I know the location well and you have really taken it to a new level with the look of this image! The composition is outstanding, I love the thick dark scraggly tree just off center and how the background trees slowing fade off! I can’t see anything I would change. This one would be worthy of a fine print!!!
Thanks, @Paul_Holdorf, @John_Williams, @David_Haynes and @Keith_Flood! I’m so pleased all of you like this – looks like it was worth getting up an hour and a half before sunrise! John, I dodged that right edge to try to minimize the tree but you nailed the fix. I’ve posted a cropped version above. I didn’t go quite as far as you did but did some microsurgery of on the remaining branches.
Then you got me playing with B/W – it loses the subtle sunrise color (although I could restore that!) but I was astonished when the trees on the left virtually disappeared. That got me messing with a bunch of curves on the right edge. I’m posting it above – and now have to quit as I’m getting crosseyed. Time to pick up a camera and go outside for a while.
And Keith, I’ll see you out there next time it clears off after a heavy rain? Do you know about the online water level gauge?
Good Lord Diane !!! This is just stellar!!! The Mood and the Tone is just spot on. I love this style of photography and you just nailed it. Beautiful Image !!!
Nine times out of ten I’m leaning toward a black and white version but in this case, I do think I like the color version ever so slightly more. Both are exquisite, though. I love this one!
Thanks, @glennie and @Bret_Edge! I want to go back to the raw file and do a version that is in between – the tonalities of the B/W but with the blush of color.
Hi Diane,
This is exquisite! I honestly can not decide whether I like the color or B&W version better. You may not have gotten exactly what you were hoping for, but this is dripping with mood and atmospherics. That one slightly darker tree makes this scene for me as it is slightly different than the rest of the trees and makes it a nice focal point. Absolutely no suggestions from me other than what was mentioned by @John_Williams.
Thanks, @Ronald_Murphy and @Ed_Lowe! I went back to the raw file and posted what I (and probably everybody else) hope is the final version. I favor it for the purity and simplicity of the processing.
Oh My! Pick a revision… they’re all outstanding. I do think keeping the colored presence of the sun is important, and I do agree cloning out that little bit of branch on the right edge.
Of course what sticks out and anchors the scene is the lone, black snag. I’m actually quite awestruck by this image and scene. Quite jealous actually that I don’t have a water feature like this near me! Clearly you know your locale and take perfect advantage of it.
