Mud Trees #2

Image Critiques
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Mud Trees #2
Mud Trees #21179×1600 2.67 MB

Un-edited full frame RAW image converted to jpeg for upload
Un-edited full frame RAW image converted to jpeg for upload1900×1327 2.72 MB

Un-edited full frame RAW image converted to jpeg for upload

Critique Style: Standard

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 image of MUD TREES from an area close to Capital Reef National Park in Utah. As I stated on my last mud trees images, there was fairly significant weather on my entire trip through Arizona and Utah and it made for some pretty cool mud abstracts among other things.

Feedback Requested

I looking for your thoughts on the artistic impressions you have when you first see this. These are quite different and perhaps not for everyone. I’ve included a second image that shows the area I was working from a different perspective because it’s hard to visualize how the first image was conceived. The second image is an un edited Raw file that was converted to a jpeg to upload here. The first image is not a crop from the second image. I just wanted to show a larger view of what I was seeing. The edited image is from a different perspective as I turned to the left to get the three trees and the path leading into the background.
What I was hoping to convey were three trees with falling leaves (the rocks), a path leading deeper into the frame and more leaves on the ground (rocks). I hope this works for you. I actually did very little to this image except color it with about 24 in vibrancy and add some contrast with blacks and whites. I cloned out one large rock near the top of the frame and I burned the “path” to make it more prominent. That’s about it.
I’d also love your thoughts on the colors (refer to the un-edited larger image for the colors as shot) and the composition (not a crop of the larger un-edited image) and anything else you can provide me with.

Technical Details

Z8, 24-120mm lens @ 24mm, ISO 400, f/18, 1/250

Camera: Z8
Lens: 24-120mm
Focal length: 24mm
Shutter speed: 1/250th
Aperture: f/18
ISO: 400

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These are very interesting and appealing, David. The colors are pleasant. The lack of scale is a plus. At first I saw these as aerial views of some landscape. I saw the trees in the first shot only after reading your comments.

I think the second shot here may be the best of the series but they’re all very well done.

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How many hours did it take you to get the rocks like that? And since I’m in jesting mode, I’ll also add that I wish you would quite posting these because it’s getting really challenging to choose. (How do you skim the cream off the top when it’s all cream?)

These images were a stellar find, and this one fits right in with the other two you posted. I love the three trees. There’s enough detail in the image to know you are looking at a mud patch (the rocks help a lot to add realism), but the overall effect is a visual allegory. That combination of real and surreal is a home run. Joking aside, I love that the rocks aren’t even as I think it adds a lot of interest to have that orangish “slope” stand out.

I really don’t have any suggestions for improvement on this one. The bonus is that with the other two you posted, you’ve got a wonderful triptych.

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David, your choices in framing and processing work very well. They are shown off by looking at the larger quickie jpg. The angle and warming of the flat bit at the bottom fit well with the having the runoff tracks nearly vertical.

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They’re both compositionally interesting, but your cropped version does give the impression of trees and falling leaves. I saw the your path as a river, but that’s the same idea of something moving through the frame. Love the processing on the cropped version.

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Hi David,

I am always amazed with the numerous visual treats that the natural world provides us. We only need to take the time to slow down and seek them out as you expertly did here. I think this makes a wonderful companion piece to the first two you posted. I love the graceful lines in this scene as well as the warm earth tones as I think they make a great combination. I do think you succeeded in portraying the mud patterns as trees with falling leaves. Keep them coming!

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Dave,

A little late, but gotta say these are fantastic! ok, for me they are a little less tree-like than your previous images - but these are no less abstract and compelling! Love these!

For me, I see a bit more geology… like alluvial fans, rivers, etc., and like aerial work. The earth tones gorgeous and your processing is exceptional.

I’m really at a loss to suggest any improvements. Perhaps the horizontal could use a boost in contrast and/or saturation (subjective and personal of course)

I would love (and hope) to see you put these together as a “Project” - which means we get to see more! Fascinating finds and even better job seeing, capturing the presenting these.

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I’ll take all the cream I can get! (Diluted with a little coffee..) I haven’t had time to comment but I LOVE these!! They evoke all sorts of visions of fantasy forests, for me. But to inject some “reality” (and humor, I hope) this one also evokes a microscope slide from a long-ago histology class, back when I was a biology major. (WAY back in the last century.)

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Wow.
This is fantastic.
I really like this sort of image, and these kinds of associations – mud trees! I’ve got a sand and water tree in my portfolio…

I really like the image, its power, the graphic quality and the clarity of the concept.

If the image were mine, I might try cropping a good, large section at the bottom – say, at the level of the roots of the tree in the middle.
The LRC, whilst interesting, might not belong here.
But I might also leave it somewhere I pass by frequently to see how it looks.

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Had to have a play. Could have pulled down the middle tree more but this was just a simple Distort, pulling down the LR corner. Not claiming it’s better – just an idea.

_DSC1710-Edit-2-DM
_DSC1710-Edit-2-DM1179×1600 1.27 MB

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Sorry that I’m just now getting back to all of you who have commented. I’ve been out of town for a Couple of weeks.

Thanks you for the helpful suggestions and comments:

@Don_Peters , Thank yu very much for the Editors Pick. I very much appreciate it. Yeah, these are pretty abstract and if you don’t read the write up you could certainly think these were aerial shots. I can see that. The second image is not an edited image but just a larger view to show what I was working with in the terrain. Completely un-edited. Maybe I should edit the larger version???
@John_Williams ,

Way too long. As I remember it, maybe a couple of hours. Bloody knees and all. :slight_smile:

I may actually do a project and upload several of these. Thanks for your thoughts, John.
@Mark_Seaver, I think you may be the only one who recognizes the second image as an un-edited image just to show the terrain I was in. Thanks for yoiur thoughts, Mark.
@Bonnie_Lampley,

Yep, I can certainly see that. It’s the same idea as you suggest and I think it really takes the eye through the scene. Thanks for your thoughts, Bonnie.

@Ed_Lowe,

I totally agree, Ed. After seeing the first one, I spent most of the rest of the trip trying to find similar formations that suggest branches or trees. Not easy to see these things unless you are specifically targeting them. Thanks for your thoughts as always, Ed!

@Lon_Overacker,

Thanks for your thoughts, Lon! The horizontal image is entirely un-edited. It’s just to show what I was working with and the terrain I was in. These were actually alluvial fans and they actually do look a lot like an aerial image. I will likely put together a project since I have several more of these. Thanks again, Lon!

@Diane_Miller,

I love that this reminds you of a microscope slide. I can see that. Yep, you and me both…way back from the last century. For me it was high school in the 70’s. Yikes. Thanks for your comment Diane. Are you going to try and come to Yosemite for the Fall colors get together? It would b e great to have you there.
@joaoquintela, Thanks so much for your comments. I would love to see your version posted. Can’t wait. Thanks again.

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Glad you like the analogy, David! I would LOVE to make it down to Yosemite with this suitably crazy group of “tourists”! I’ll post something in the group. Thanks for the nudge – it takes a good shove to get me moving these days.

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@David_Haynes

That was the one I was referring to.

https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/embrancing-2/43050/6

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Sorry that I’m so late on commenting here Diane but I’ve been traveling for about a month and we just returned so I am way behind. We’d love to have you join the group. It’s going to be a great time judging by the first trip. Maybe the funnest trip I’ve ever been on. Glad to give you the nudge.