"Knotty & Nicely Gnarled"

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

2024-0512 Greenhalgh Hike-01.jpg
2024-0512 Greenhalgh Hike-01.jpg1072×1500 2.05 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I never get tired of hiking thru stands of Juniper in southern Utah and looking for interesting compositions. What stood out with this one was the delicate nature of the smaller limbs juxtaposed against the backdrop of the larger tree. The light is fairly flat, midday but overcast, so this image is more about patterns and texture.

Specific Feedback

One specific area I’d like feedback on is the soft focus of the foremost branches toward the bottom. This image has had Topaz AI Sharpen applied to just those branches to recover at least some of the detail. I was on a long hike with no tripod so my options were either to shoot at an intermediate aperture (f11) to keep the ISO lower, or go to f18-22 and deal with more noise.

Do those branches being slightly out of focus bother you?

Technical Details

Nikon Z fc w/ Nikkor Z DX 18-140 f/3.5-6.3 VR
1/100 sec at f11, ISO 450

Note: this is my travel/long hike kit and this combo is pretty noisy even at what are considered moderate ISOs by today’s standards. I try to keep it between 800-1600, depending on the scene. Beyond 3200 gets pretty bad. My full size Nikon DSLRs I will push much higher.

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:
2

Great eye to have seen this - many would have walked on by.
The middle branches are in perfect focus, so the lower ones very slightly OOF does not bother me a bit - and I actually didn’t even see that.

3

Kevin, this is an interesting and challenging view, with the small branches set off nicely against the large textured trunk. The main foreground branches stand out well. The softness is minimal, really not noticeable at NPN display sizes.

4

Thank you for the replies, @SandyR-B & @Mark_Seaver. I am glad to see that at least two viewers aren’t bothered by the focus on the branches. When I look at it on NTN on a 17" monitor I agree. When I look at it in LR on my 32" monitor, must more noticeable, even if I sit back a distance. I think my takeaway is that it’s not something I’d want to print large, but certainly fine for sharing on the 'net!

Also, it’s pretty easy to get to, so I can go back and shoot it again with better body/lens, tripod and smaller aperture (or focus stack), and maybe a little more dynamic lighting. Cheers!