I hiked in the local Santa Barbara mountains on Tuesday in one of the many burn areas from the devastating fire in December of 2017. Vibrant new growth abounds next to the burned hulks of old growth.
This image is really chaotic but I rather like how it comes together.
D5500, 18-140mm
The white blossoms along with the bare red soil in the LLC grabs my eye nicely, giving an “entry” point through the remainder of the scene. Without that entry my eye would be all over the place, but from there I find a nice flow up into and through the scene. It is indeed a difficult and chaotic scene, but I think you nailed it. Very well done.
Harley, a neat scene for chaotic foliage gathering. I like the wisp of magenta across the tree limbs or stems if you will. Along with the intense green it is very color attractive to me…
btw: chaotic scenes have a place in nature photography too. Years ago I had a scene that was not perfectly clean, if there are any of those, and received some nicks from the crowd about the ugly side of it. Finally, a well known photog to all of us came along and gave his POV. It was a well appreciated comment at that time that stuck with me all these years. He said:
“Folks, that’s what nature looks like out there if you’ve not seen it before.”
Harley, this is a difficult scene. Unlike @Hank_Pennington, my entry point is from the lower right corner. The big tree on that side of the frame anchors the image and three green paths that sort of radiates from the tree leads my eyes around the image. The brown hill on the lower left corner acts as a stopper and keeps my eyes from falling off the frame. Two suggestions: I think the shadow is a little blocked up. I understand that this is from the fire and I think it’s an important part of the story, but I think a few less black point would make the image less “harsh” if that makes any sense. Also, I am thinking of “burning” (no pun intended) the brown hill a little bit. What do you think?
I really like the colors and the contrast between the dead trees and the vibrant grass. I like the one bigger tree in the bottom right third but I think it would really benefit from some separation between the dead bush behind it. As is, the image appears a little too chaotic to fit in with the rest of your incredible work imho. I like Adhika suggestion of burning the dirt hill.
You’re right, Harley, this does indeed come together very nicely. I love the vibrant greens and the overall scene. I really don’t see this as being chaotic, but it is fully packed. No real nits, but I might consider a very small crop off the right (very small - 3% or so). Are those madrone trees?
Harley, this image works for me because it has a lot of “Nature Story” in it, with themes like fire, spring, and rebirth. As such it is a successful image for me, even if the visual design elements like tree shapes are somewhat chaotic. This is an image where the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts, at least for me. Nicely done.
Harley,
This indeed came together nicely. Chaotic a bit, sure, but the largest of the trees anchors the scene nicely and the repeating of the same tree/vegetation helps pull together then randomness of it all. Probably doesn’t make sense.
A bit different from the standard “wide open spaces” we typically see from you. Great to see this more intimate landscape. Nicely seen, captured and presented.
Lon
