The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
This is another recent image that I took at a workshop in the Del Norte Redwoods area. At the time we were in a redwood grove surrounded by fog. A redwood forest is a complex place, so many of my images from here are pretty complex too, but that’s the way it was. For this image I remember being struck by the repeating patterns of redwood trunks leading into the brightly lit fog.
Feedback Requested
I guess the mood I’m going for is a little mysterious, but not too dark. There are so many choices to make in processing an image like this. Does the overall brightness and contrast work? I tried to preserve some of the warm/cool color contrast of the redwoods to the fog, without going overboard. There are of course many branches and leaves at various places in the image. I guess I could clone some out, but I’m pretty reluctant to change what I saw.
Technical Details
Taken with a tripod mounted Sony A7riv and a Tamron 70-180 at 70 mm and f/13. Processed in Lightroom. Mostly standard stuff with a little bit of local adjustment.
This is wonderful! There is certainly a mysterious mood here and you’ve done an excellent job simplifying such a “complex” environment, as you pointed out well done.
Your framing does a great job directing the eye to the brighter fog in the background. The fall off from front to back is gradual, but obvious. One thing that stands out for me, and I don’t know if this was intentional at the time of capture, but I’m glad that none of the redwoods are merged; ie. there is a gap between those three on the left (Ok, there’s three stacked on top of each other in the middle..) But the fact those trunks on the left aren’t touching is a sense of relief - at least for me - no tension.
You’re certainly right about all the different directions one could go with processing. As far as I see it, you’re done a fantastic job and I can’t think of anything I would suggest or change. Love this!
Oh wow. I love this. The Redwoods have a strong pull on me. I love standing under them. This is a great image. I love the fog, but somehow it seems a little too soft. Maybe the clarity or dehaze were skid a little too far to the left? Either way, it’s a really nice image.
I think this captures the beauty and mystery of this place really well. The faint colors are really nice. I probably would have made this cooler but I think you got it right. Initially I thought having the trees at the edge of the frame was not optimal but when seen on a lighter background it looks good. I don’t know what to suggest. There is an area A1 that looks a bit strange because of parallel lines with each being a bit lighter. It’s sort of like an echo. But maybe that’s only me that finds it odd.
If you look at the branch in the top right area. I found those to be very attractive when I was there and tried to use them more in my comps when I was there. I think you captured the sort of glowing light perfectly in this image. Makes me want to go there soon again.
Great photo. I love how the central bright area pulls the eye into the frame. I like how the two trees on the right and left edges frame the whole scene. Great mood and the color balance helps with that mysteriousness.
Thank you all. This was my first visit to a redwood forest in the fog, so I’m feeling my way through to how to process things.
@Igor_Doncov , when I first looked at the image the area you pointed out drew my eye as well. At first it almost looked like ghosting in an HDR bracket. But its really just a consequence of how the trees lines up and the very thick fog that make the last set so ghostly.
This is dripping with mood as you have just the right amount of fog to add an air of mystery to the scene. The cooler tones work well here as does the framing with the trees along the right and left edges of the frame. I also quite like that lighter area in the center that does a perfect job of drawing me into the frame. The brightness and contrast are perfect for my personal tastes and I wouldn’t change a thing as this is beautifully done. Forests are messy by nature, but you handled it quite well here.
Will, I just came from the redwoods a couple of weeks ago. The trail from the highway to Del Norte is closed because of road construction right now so you must have been there before construction began.
This image showcases just how different the colors and textures of these incredible tree trunks really are. That’s the first thing that stands out to me. I love the fog that you captured and how it removes a lot of the clutter in the background. The colors look just about right to me. I like my foggy redwood images to be on the cool side and this works really well for me.
The bright highlights pull the eye but they are not blown out and it’s very difficult to shoot here and not have at least some sky in the shot so the bight spots are to be expected and are not at all objectionable.
I love the young tree on the right that still has all of it’s branches. I also love the branch above that tree poking into the scene that gives the image a little bit more depth.
I think you framed this up nicely using the tree trunks as frame edging and the interior looks well thought out. Not too many overlapping trunks that create visual tension.
A beautiful image of a beautiful place. Nicely done, Will!
