What changed: Cropped off the top to a 5:7 ratio per Igor’s and Marylynne’s suggestions. It was a good suggestion, as just that little bit of crop makes the tree feel larger in the frame, adding to the pride idea.
Added after receiving feedback from the community.
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
Another from the Utah workshop with David & Jennifer. The light on this tree was exquisite.
Feedback Requested
This tree spoke to me of pride. Does that come through? I got down low so it would be framed in the sky and look tall and strong.
Technical Details
Camera: SONY ILCE-7RM3
Lens: FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
Focal length: 37mm
Shutter speed: 1/800s
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 200
Processing software: ACR mainly; a couple adjustments in PS.
Major adjustments: B&W conversion; selections for sky vs. tree for selective exposure adjustments; toned in ACR using color grading.
Blending/stacking: None.
Other notes:
You’re right, Bonnie. This tree has gesture. It has a sense of self-worth. I also think the form of the clouds behind it gives it come of that quality. Because it reaches into all that magnificence there is a boastfulness about it. We could go on. The combination of tree and clouds go well together here. Each makes the other better. Just a fine image really.
I might crop just a smidge off the top. What do you think? That’s really picky.
Oh my, that light is indeed exquisite! Almost makes me want to see that wonderful warm light in color. But don’t worry, I love this presented in B&W!
Your thought and vision to accomplish that sense of pride, being tall and strong is spot on and beautifully crafted. Interesting, back in the day when I taught Composition with the Camera Club. This would be a great image to demonstrate how the vertical format emphasizes concepts like strength, power, dominance, etc. etc. (Not that you need a lesson in composition, just an example I used to teach the beginner…)
On things that stands out to me and is working beautifully is that you indeed treated/processed the sky a little differently. I think it would have been easy to let the sky/clouds go “Ansel Adams”, but that would have greatly detracted from the brilliance of the tree itself. Kudos to you on processing and presenting!
What a fantastic portrait of a tree! You definitely achieved the intention of making it seem proud or heroic. At first I thought it was the “same tree” as one in a photography by Anne Brigman (Soul of the Blasted Pine), but when I looked at her photograph, I realized hers has only a short stump, with her body forming the remainder of the tree trunk. This tree that feeling, the feeling of a human figure reaching to the sky, holding up some principle.
I can see a slight crop off the top. I’m posting a visual here to show you just how little (enough to remove the hint of cloudless sky along the frame edge). This is just a quick screenshot (my method for doing visual critique of crops), but sometimes some tones shift (no idea why). It’s just the crop I’m demonstrating.
Thanks, but actually, I do have a critique of my comp. I wish I’d gotten just a touch lower (flat on the ground) so that little branch that’s overlapping the background mountains was in a clear space. Not that big a deal, but it bugs me now.
You and Marylynne had the same comment and I agree. Will post a cropped version.
It was somewhat Ansel-Adams-ish to start with, but after everyone’s comments on my previous tree from here, I went back and softened + lightened the sky so it wouldn’t compete with the tree.
Beautiful B&W rendition of light and subject. Emotions are hard to quantify. I don’t think that’s the proper word I’m searching for. Especially for the viewer’s initial impression without knowing the intent of the photographer. When I look at the tree, I get perseverance, strength and age. But reading your intent about pride, I get that now. Idjit that I am, I guess I should have read the title before forming my opinion. Anyway, the photo is exquisitely done.
