Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
These are palo verde trees in the Phoenix Mountains.
All comments are welcome.
ISO 100, 96mm, f/11, 1/15th sec., ten-shot stack.
Don,
Interesting looking trees, but the low contrast makes it hard see their interesting shape. Not sure if there is a way to build a little contrast in the photo.
I agree with @Youssef_Ismail here. I am wondering if a contrast increase in the background would work. A burn of that area may also work place intreest in the main tree.
-P
Yousef, Preston, thanks for the suggestions. After reading your comments I played with the contrast. I wound up increasing both midtone and overall contrast, but only by a little. Any more than that and what I like about the shot started to vanish.
Very interesting - and not easy - image! After looking and looking again at it, I do like it a lot. Reminds me of an old engraving… There something mysterious and vaguely ominous about this landscape, like entering a strange and uneasy land. I really like it, and after comparing the two versions, I sort of like the first version better…
Thanks, Antonello. I thought I detected a “something else” here and apparently you did as well.
I love this image, Don. It’s very expressive and the composition is fairly complex and quite unique. I like it more than the previous one, although I’m not sure it’s good to compare images like that. I’m also not sure if increasing the contrast is a good idea here. The two shapes hold together well here and contrast can start to make things look busy. The main tree on the right has to stand out from the background trees tonally and I think it does so already.
Thanks, Igor.
I like this, Don. A very difficult scene to photograph, imho. Busy, but well composed. The main challenge would seem to be to keep the FG tree separated from the BG. I think you’ve done that . 
Michael, thanks for the comment. You’re right about the need to separate the tree on the right. I had to climb a hill to do it.
Hi Don,
There is a lot going on here, but you controlled it oh so well. I think your rework with the contrast hit the sweet spot; at least for me. I also like the range of tones as well as the implied motion with the diagonal slope of ground. My initial thought was to suggest a bit more contrast, but you already took care of that. Beautifully done.
Thanks, Ed.
I must say that I like the softer and less contrasty original image because it let’s the whimsical, side lit tree in the foreground take center stage. Too much contrast allows for the background to creep in and muddy the landscape. That little tree is so expressive. It looks happy and alive and dancing. The side light hitting it is what seals the deal. This is a tough image to sort out when in the field so I commend you for finding and composing such a complex scene.
Thanks, David. It’s interesting that Antonello found this scene vaguely ominous and you see a more cheerful scene. I’m fine with both reactions.
Don, this has a very “Lord of the Rings” feeling with the twisty trees and heavy brush (there must be a troll hiding in there). I agree that more contrast in the bright upper part (angling down from the top right corner would be good, since it would give the tree in the upper left a stronger presence.
Thanks, Mark. No hobbits were harmed in the taking of this photo.
Sometimes I remind myself that our local terrain, which seems normal to me, looks exotic to 95 percent of the people in the world.
