# Runes (+revised) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** weekly-challenge, macro-close-up\ **Created:** [September 24, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354 "2026-09-24T02:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/1 "2026-09-24T02:09:19Z")
## Revised Version ### Revision 1 (latest) ![Revision 1 - 2026-09-23-12.25.45 ZS PMax-Edit-2-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/e/9/e96e9eb43e9d670108c4484d53e92cff464d3f81.jpeg) _Added after receiving feedback from the community._ * * * ## Original Version ![Original - 2026-09-23-12.25.45 ZS PMax-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/2/72c0df4b37a52f11da7336aadcb90d4af37a80e0.jpeg) ### Weekly Challenge Natural Calligraphy 9/20/26 - 9/26/26 **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 I was out this morning looking for peeling Madrone bark when I saw these strange indentations in a limb. Reminds me of some sort of alien graffiti. Martian, most likely. ### Feedback Requested All comments welcome! ### Technical Details Camera: Canon EOS R5 Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Focal length: 100mm Shutter speed: 1/20s Aperture: f/19 ISO: 800 Focus stack, as I couldn’t get it square to the plane of focus. Not much else done – slight crop and a little contrast added. ---
**Author:** ![horst](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/horst/32/89777_2.png) [@horst](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/horst)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 8:05am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/2 "2026-09-24T08:05:44Z")
@Diane_Miller very nicely seen! It looks like a grass-/leaves-bouquet. I especially like the tone-in-tone coloring. One remark maybe: the outward-leading branch to the upper left near the double-dots - it is sort of incomplete at the top. I’d remove the top section to complete the “frame”, or add a little more space on the left to have the “branch” complete. I really love this kind of natural drawings! Very good picture. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/3 "2026-09-24T15:58:39Z")
Diane: I must say I was underwhelmed by the thumbnail but upon opening I find this to be quite intriguing and delightful. I do like the vertical pano crop. My only suggestion would be to go even narrower as I find the empty right side a bit heavy. Since the perceived flow of the etchings is left to right I would not make the right side space symmetrical with the left but just 75-100 pixels trimmed off. Back to you. \>=))\> ![diaane](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/8/08890d3b0b07f939fa7fa888114f5db1f31b81d0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Marylynne\_Diggs](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/marylynne_diggs/32/87403_2.png) [@Marylynne\_Diggs](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Marylynne_Diggs)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/4 "2026-09-24T16:04:42Z")
Hi Diane, I love this. It fits the weekly challenge well, but beyond that, it’s wonderfully organic, looking almost like a tannin transfer. I also noticed the empty space to the right. It didn’t quite feel intentional, and Bill’s crop addresses that. This might be an interesting black and white too, though I confess I love the warmth of the wood. Nicely done. ML ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/5 "2026-09-24T19:06:40Z")
Thanks, @horst , @Bill_Fach and @Marylynne_Diggs ! I agree that the composition is not ideal – the left edge is tight because that is the edge of the branch. I might have moved to my left but then I started losing things on the right due to curvature. Probably best to add some canvas on the left and trim a bit on the right. It does suggest to me some sort of vegetation – grass seed heads? – in front of the “writing”. And now wondering if there was more interest below the bottom of this frame. I’ll do a RP. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/6 "2026-09-24T21:30:08Z")
Diane, I think you’ve done a good job of finding something that fits this week’s theme. I wonder about rotating the view 90° clockwise looks interesting to me. I like the mix of fairly strong and fading tones, plus the swirling in the end (top) bits feels like caligraphy. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/7 "2026-09-24T22:20:22Z")
Thanks, @Mark_Seaver ! I’m posting a redo that simplifies things a little with some small cloning to emphasize the pattern. I see an equal mix of some sort of characters and some grass seeds – maybe hieroglyphics + text characters… Having seen the grass I’m not sure about rotating it but I’ll have a look. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/system/32/86481_2.png) [@system](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/8 "2026-09-24T22:20:51Z")
The original poster added a [revised version](#post_1) of their image. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/9 "2026-09-25T00:10:45Z")
A great find, Diane, and very well photographed. I actually prefer the darker original as it feels a bit more mysterious, (I think Sirian rather than Martian). Actually, I too caught the plant vibe. It really evoked grasses to me. In any case a fine image an one that really fits the challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Marylynne\_Diggs](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/marylynne_diggs/32/87403_2.png) [@Marylynne\_Diggs](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Marylynne_Diggs)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/10 "2026-09-25T16:47:27Z")
Love the revision, Diane. I like the warmth and brightness added to the wood at least as much as the more symmetrical crop. Well done! ML ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/11 "2026-09-27T00:30:40Z")
Regarding Revision 1: Diane, What a unique and fascinating find! I would be hard pressed to figure this one out without your description. In fact, there are 3 or 5 darker, leaf shapes below center line, that quick literally look like plant fossils! Yeah, I can see and imagine the doings of burrowing insects… but the fossil impression for me is strong. Defnitely prefer the revised version. The brighter luminosity did the trick as the original was a bit flatter. Great find and even better capture! ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/12 "2026-09-28T16:00:59Z")
Thanks, @Dennis_Plank, @Marylynne_Diggs and @Lon_Overacker ! I’d like to try to re-shoot this one with a little reflected light for a different look at the definition, and leave a bit more room on the bottom. The tree is on a tricky hillside so it might be a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/13 "2026-10-01T22:21:53Z")
Nice eyes Diane! initially i was looking for some stars but did find some in your revision ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/runes-revised/52354/14 "2026-10-02T02:32:34Z")
Thanks, @Karl_Zuzarte ! Sometimes I shoot in the daytime!