The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The lone tree seemingly springing up from the snow captured my attention. For me, the hill behind it in the shade adds interest to the scene.
Specific Feedback
My goal was to create a gentle but still powerful image that is uplifting, as opposed to somber, and has a touch of the ephemeral/“other worldly” quality that brings order out of chaos. Did I achieve that effect and if I did, how could I enhance it.
Technical Details
ISO 100, 186mm, f/18, 1/60 second
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I really enjoy these single-tree images, especially when there is little competition from the surrounding landscape. I think this does a good job of reaching your goals.
I’m sitting here delving into my memory, and I don’t think I’ve ever used a vignette that brightened instead of shaded; I’ll have to play with that. For me, it is a great technique but too strong here. I don’t know what the original had in the corners, but I’d love to compare what this looks like with that vignette reduced a tad so that it was more subtle.
Hello @John_Williams , looking at it now I had a pretty funky looking image when I processed it. You were kind in your critique. I am including two images below. One is the image reprocessed. I increased the whites on the image to hopefully create my desired effect and backed way off on the vignette. I also have the raw file so you can compare both images to the original. I truly appreciate the feedback! I posted the original on YouPic and they marked it as inspiration so I thought it was good. Umm so much for their team of “experts” that review images. Thank you for your input!!
Your re-work is spot on, and incorporates exactly the subtle changes I would have suggested. I love stark images like this, especially when they involve trees as I’m constantly made fun of by my family for stopping to photograph “interesting” trees. This is fine art, if you ask me.
I do like the way the rework loses the heavy vignette effect on the sides and keeps the nice curve above the tree running from border to border.
Looking at the raw, I like some of those subtle variations that are lost though, so here’s one more idea to play with keeping those but trying to minimize those grass tufts. Regardless the image looks good, so feel free to discard.
Thank you @Bret_Edge ! I shot this image on a workshop with David Kingham and Jennifer Renwick. Jennifer said “Bill’s jam is trees,” so I totally understand your fascination with trees! I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to critique the image.
Thank you @John_Williams ! I definitely will minimize the grass tufts and will play with keeping more of the subtle variations. As I told Bret, I truly appreciate the critique and getting constructive feedback from people I respect and admire their work. Thank you!
I absolutely love single trees in the midst of nothingness and your image here is definitely uplifting (very bright) as apposed to a darker more somber version of this same image had you not made it so bright. I think of these types of images as fine art because they are so simplistic and minimalist, two things I think are necessary for fine art photography. I love the dark curving background behind the tree which adds just a smidgen of depth to the image and gives a scene like this a more 3 dimensional look as apposed to a very flat two dimensional look. The strong positive vignette in the original was just slightly too strong but you had the right idea, just a little too obvious.
For me, single trees tell a story of loneliness, isolation from the rest of the world and in Winter, when there are no leaves on the tree, being exposed, standing naked. They also express a quietness, and a peacefulness at not having to compete in a chaotic world.
Your processing is uplifting, bringing a brightness and cheerfulness to this tree with hopes that Winters harshness will soon be replaced by Spring where this tree can go about dressing itself again and display it’s outer beauty rather than just it’s inner beauty and be more expressionist. A day when the snow is gone, the rocks are exposed and grasses making up a great and far reaching meadow bring deer, elk bison, coyotes, and hordes of other wildlife to keep this tree company, and then this tree is not so alone and isolated and exposed but rather it’s in it’s happy place.
Bill, you’ve most certainly achieved your goal of “ephemeral/other worldly”. I would challenge the thought of chaos though. To me, this is the opposite of chaos - and that is pure simplicity. A solitary tree amongst almost nothingness, is about as simple as it gets. But I’m just being picky.
Thank you for including the RAW and rework. I think it’s a catch-22 between including too much of the find details (tufts of grass, and vegetation atop the ridgeline), or obscuring those details too much. I think a happy medium is there somewhere. Those fine details, and especially the ridge and shadow behind the tree gives the tree a sense of place, while still maintaining that air mystery.
I think your rework accomplishes that happy medium. My only suggestion with the rework is that it appears that you’ve introduced a color tint. I’m wondering if going straight b&w might work? The only only suggestion I have might be to increase the blacks of the tree itself just a smidge to bring out that stark contrast a bit more. Also, wondering if adding sharpening/texture to the tree itself; it looks a bit soft to me (not necessarily bad given the overall mood, atmosphere.)
To be sure, this image stands out and any tweaks/suggestions are only there to make a fantastic image - even better! This is a wonderful image.
Thanks for the input @Lon_Overacker! I was indeed attempting to find order in chaos by selecting what was in the frame. In that sense I think I accomplished my goal. I kind of like the color version so I will stick with that though I did notice a bit of a magenta cast so I attempted to correct it. I was going for a bit softer effect on the tree so I left that but I did reduce the exposure a tad to make it clear what the background of the tree is. I also created a version more abstract in nature which is what I was originally going for. Appreciate the input and your take on the images below. Thanks again!!
I am including two images below. One is the image reprocessed. I increased the whites on the image to hopefully create my desired effect and backed way off on the vignette. I also have the raw file so you can compare both images to the original. I truly appreciate the feedback! I posted the original on YouPic and they marked it as inspiration so I thought it was good. Umm so much for their team of “experts” that review images. Thank you for your input!!
