The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I captured this image of the lowland rainforests around Mount Rainier in Washington State before this area was closed due to a bridge closure.
Specific Feedback
I’ve been struggling with how to capture the incredibly complex and busy subjects of the forests in the Pacific Northwest. There is so much undergrowth and very dense foliage, even in old growth stands. I feel like the road in this image provides a separation and helps, but this is one thing I’m struggling with and would love feedback on this image and capturing woodland images in complex environments.
Technical Details
Nikon Z6ii, 35mm f/1.8 S
35mm | f/5 | 1/80 second | ISO 400
Critique Template
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Mitch, I think this image works very nicely. The curve in the road adds a nice sweep into the forest.
I am glad the focus on the left-hand tree closest to the camera is pretty sharp. In instances like this a higher f number will be better, if you are able to do so. The color and contrast here are quite nice.
In dense forests, perhaps a strategy of extracting a small group of objects from a larger scene might work.
For this image, I see two crops: The Left-hand large tree and the large tree on the right edge. Just a thought.
Looks like you’re getting the hang of it. I like the inclusion of the road. As you say, forest scenes are very difficult to master. I sure haven’t mastered it. @Preston_Birdwell has given some good advice and I agree with him about the crop. I also might crop a little from the top, so not so much bright sky is included.
I try to shoot on overcast days so the dynamic range is not that wide. Foggy and misty conditions are great to get separation between elements, to simplify compositions and lessen distracting BG elements. I also try to include zero sky if possible. A medium range focal length and not a wide angle often helps.
If you do shoot on a sunny day, try to find backlit trees or sunrays piercing through. Sunstars can often be made. Cliche but still effective. Try to find distinctive looking trees with lots of character that you can isolate.
I don’t have much to add but I agree with what Preston and Michael have said about cropping from the top to eliminate some of the brighter areas of sky. Aside from that, the composition works well for me and the colors are very realistic, if even a touch muted. The road does exactly what it’s supposed to do, driving my eye through the image/forest.
I will try that, looking at smaller groups of objects. I think I’m always seeking a “grand landscape” from a forest and often don’t see the trees through the forest, so to speak. I’ll try focusing more on some smaller scenes that could add to the story of the forest.
Thanks Michael! Yeah, I typically try to avoid the sky as well, but I did enjoy the wideness of this scene. I’ll play around with recomposing via cropping to learn and try new things before I go back out into the forest.
Great advice from @Preston_Birdwell and @Michael_Lowe. It’s hard to add to what they have both said. Forest scenes truly are tough to capture because of the complexities and clutter that are typical of them. Michael Shainblum has produced numerous videos on YouTube regarding this exact frustration. His latest visit to the Redwood forest had him experiment by using only his 100-400mm lens to focus more on intimate scenes in the forest. Look for small shafts of light hitting the green lichen and moss covered trees and branches, look for curves or unusual branches. By zooming in you’ve already eliminated most of the clutter and you can come away with images that nobody else has. Also, if you’re not familiar with @Igor_Doncov work in the redwoods and the PNW, look him up here on NPN. He has some of the best smaller intimate scenes of these types of forests.
I think you’ve captured a great scene that draws the eye down the middle of the frame by using the road as a leading line which then disappears around a corner and makes you wonder what’s beyond. The colors look pretty good but there are lots of bright spots in the sky that aren’t ideal. Still, this is a pretty compelling image. As Michael said, fog is your best friend in a busy and cluttered forest as it reduces the depth that you can see through.
Hi Mitch,
First off, welcome to NPN. This is a wonderful first post. You have already received some great suggestions for tweaking this lovely woodland scene. The processing looks great and the road does a wonderful job of pulling the viewer into the scene. Forest scenes are chaotic by nature and we all struggle from time to time with simplifying them. I used to shoot the majority of my images with a wide angle lens, but I hardly use it anymore as I have gravitated toward longer focal lengths trying to find those interesting sections in the grand landscape. I do not know what kind of assortment of lenses you have, but I see you have a Nikon Z6ii. I have a Nikon Z7 and use the 24-200 for the majority of my images, with the bulk of them in the 70-200 range. Another added benefit is that if you want to go wider you have the 24 mm without changing lenses. I have also found the 100-400 to be a great tool for isolating an intimate section that may catch your eye. Keep experimenting and have fun. I hope to see more of your images as well as your comments on other photographer’s images.
Amazing, thanks so much Ed! I have kind of the standard set of equipment, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, so next time I go out into the forests, I’ll be sure to use my 70-200 and see how that changes my perspective and images I create. And I’ll post updates in NPN
Ah good perspective and Michael’s video from the Redwood is in my “watch later list”, so I’ll move it up higher and watch it soon as I think about forest photography this fall. Thanks!
