On the forested side of a tidal lagoon on the north edge of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, I ran into this maple displaying its colors in August. Had to look it up to give it a name. I was after an image of reflections and this little clump of maple helped out a lot. Originally the logs were bleached white, but they turned out to have decent color when burned.
Specific Feedback Requested
The logs and forest extended quite a bit left and right in the original exposure. They give the scene some context and relaxation, but this crop is more focused on the tree and its reflection.
All comments are valued.
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
5D3, 24-105 F4 @70mm, tripod (gingerly braced on floating log), SS1/400, f/5.0, ISO 1000 (OOPS, was left over from some handheld shooting a while before)
This looks like many a bank where I have paddled. Messy, but following a pattern with order and method. The colors are rich and complementary. Makes me think of nature working quietly and indifferently to humans. I’d like to see a bit wider tonal range - things feel a little muted. Maybe let the logs off the leash a bit?
Actually, I did mute this down from its earlier saturation and brightness levels. The re-post is with colors amped up with Man from Mars Method. Thanks greatly, I like the change.
Increasing the luminosity of the yellows in the rework helps add a bit more snap. I think having the logs in the scene helps the composition avoid being just a static reflection. But for me, the logs in the rework have become warmer and more saturated than I like. I like what the rework has done to the rest of scene, but I would prefer to dial back the logs slightly.
It’s also kind of neat that you were able to incorporate fall foliage with the ocean.
