I always come back to photographs that I made years ago and try them again to see if they speak to me like they did when I first made them. This was taken winters ago not far from where I now live in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I liked how the boughs of this spruce were reaching out and that is what I am trying to emphasize. Wondering if this works on any level.
What technical feedback would you like if any?
Does it work in this framing? Do you see a better crop?
What artistic feedback would you like if any?
Does the image evoke any emotions or thoughts?
Pertinent technical details or techniques:
(If this is a composite, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn)
Shen-Hao 4x5, Nikon 300mm f/9 lens at f32 and 2 seconds on Provia 100F, anyone remembers that stuff? Scanned on Artixscan 1800F and processed in PS CS6. Nothing fancy, just some contrast boost and a slight increase in saturation.
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1 Like
Youseff, this image really resonates with me. It invokes a very cold, stark feeling of being in the fading light 20 minutes after sunset. The high contrast processing is very effective in reinforcing that waning twilight mood. I like the arrangement of the boughs, they feel nicely balanced to me. Having the foreground vegetation adds some nice depth here, rather than just having a portrait of the spruce boughs. My only nitpick would be to crop it to eliminate what is in the extreme ULC, something like this.
Youseff,
Wow, so very moody and expressive. The darkness between the bows adds a bit of mystery as well. I’m not sure if this is style, processing or simply the result of film, development, processing and then PS… but regardless, this presentation reminds me so much of a piece you did of some dead, weathered sage in the Aerie Crag area along the June Lake Loop. That image remains in the recess of my mind. I know you know what I’m referring to. I get the same feeling and response from this image as well.
Beautifully seen and photographed. Thanks for sharing this one too.
Lon
I like this very much. Very moody. My first reaction was the snow felt too blue, but after looking at the image at length, I like it as is. Nice image.
I like the snow on the boughs, the dark recesses that are in contrast to the whites. Clearly defines the environment. The only saving grace of winter is the beauty the snow brings. My only suggestion would be to lower the blue tones. It would still be beautiful and a little more realistic.
I really like the almost abstract nature of the image. The blues are really not working for me, though. I know the blue hues create a mood, but I find myself aware of the blue tones more than the elements of the image. I played with it a bit in PS and like it as a B&W, but that is very much a personal preference.
