# Spring Moss Growth - Rework **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** plant-life, weekly-challenge, macro-close-up\ **Created:** [March 16, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139 "2026-03-16T23:01:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/1 "2026-03-16T23:01:22Z")
![P3160074-Edit](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/8/783207abfc659684d0176369c177521692011f0c.jpeg) ![P3160074.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/8/1822de47f1e18ffa44f744307f39b4f51b64c34d.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description I went out this morning looking for moss to shoot. I came upon a rock wall in the forest with many different kinds of moss. Many of them sprouting new growths of some sort. To me this was the interesting part. This tall thing was growing out of the tiny leaflet of moss. Not knowing much about mosses, I don’t know what to call anything or what the purpose is for any of them. I assume they have to do with reproduction. Anyway, I found it interesting . I tried to remove the distractions in the LL as suggested. I’m not totally satisfied with it, but best I could do with my limited editing skills. ### Specific Feedback Any feedback is appreciated. Especially any enlightenment about mosses. ### Technical Details 1/125 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 2500 Olympus 90mm macro lens on Olympus OM-5 ---
**Author:** ![Ted\_Forman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ted_forman/32/23367_2.png) [@Ted\_Forman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ted_Forman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/2 "2026-03-16T23:59:56Z")
I really like this image Chris. It looks very much like a miniature pine tree. And you isolated it very effectively against the clean background. I might be tempted to clone out some of that out of focus growth in the LLC as I find it somewhat distracting. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Holdorf](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/paul_holdorf/32/24908_2.png) [@Paul\_Holdorf](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Paul_Holdorf)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/3 "2026-03-17T02:44:43Z")
What a fascinating little moss. I do a lot of macro of moss and lichen and I have never seen anything like this! Really well seen! It adds a whole extra complication, but have you ever tried focus stacking? This is a perfect subject for it. The other way you could get more in focus would be to move back a bit, then crop in to this same composition. You definitely got the best part in sharp focus! ---
**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/4 "2026-03-17T13:03:28Z")
I love it, Chris! What a terrific presentation - I like the colors in the plant and how well separated it is from the bg. With a single photo it’s tough to pick the right focus point sometimes, but this looks like the right decision on your part. The tall thing is probably the spore-producing part of the plant. Because they are basically dependent on the wind to scatter those, having the part be separate and as tall as possible is the best way to accomplish that. Well seen and executed! ---
**Author:** ![Todd\_Higgins](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/todd_higgins/32/34926_2.png) [@Todd\_Higgins](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Todd_Higgins)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/5 "2026-03-17T13:28:25Z")
What an amazing find. It is so much fun to just explore this image. Great job on separating the subject from the background. I do think this would benefit from a focus stack to get the entire subject into focus. (or as mentioned by @Paul_Holdorf , take a step back to increase the depth of field.) ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/6 "2026-03-17T15:41:35Z")
Thanks, Ted. See rework. My best attempt but still lacking. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/7 "2026-03-17T15:44:42Z")
@Todd_Higgins@Paul_Holdorf Thanks for your comments. I will keep them in mind. However, I’m okay with soft focus as long as the important part that I want to highlight is in focus. I guess to me the soft focus emphasizes the part I wanted to highhlight. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/8 "2026-03-17T15:46:14Z")
Thanks. Yes, it is tough to get focus on these tiny things. I found out the tall spore bearing parts are called sporophytes. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/9 "2026-03-17T16:05:22Z")
Very nicely done, Chris. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this isolated so nicely to a single sprig. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Freeman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/shirley_freeman/32/11361_2.png) [@Shirley\_Freeman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Shirley_Freeman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/11 "2026-03-17T16:43:53Z")
What a great find and capture, Chris. I am not familiar with this time of moss either. I also like how the BG makes it stand out so well. So far I am a single shot photographer so I don’t mind that everything isn’t totally sharp. Well done! ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/12 "2026-03-17T17:23:49Z")
Chris, this is a great find and photo. The “tall thing” looks like it’s going to have branches at the top and it is probably going to produce spores. The color changes are fascinating. You “fix” in the lower left is an improvement. I’m not sure how you created that fix, but blurring the sharper parts might help it fit in. I like the subtle colors in the background. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/13 "2026-03-17T18:27:12Z")
Chris: Late to the party but wanted to add my kudos for a terrific find and a good capture. As one who still appreciates single capture I think your POF/DOF choice works really well . I also like the color spectrum of the BG and think your repair work turned out pretty well. Very nicely done. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/14 "2026-03-18T19:40:16Z")
@Bill_Fach @Shirley_Freeman @Dennis_Plank @Mark_Seaver Thank you for your kind comments. ---
**Author:** ![madd\_laura](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/madd_laura/32/83885_2.png) [@madd\_laura](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/madd_laura)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/15 "2026-03-21T04:29:52Z")
Quite pleasing arrangement. Almost looks like a Christmas decoration. I’m finding this week’s challenge quite interesting as I’ve never encountered this type of moss in the PNW. Great job. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Baird](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/chris_baird/32/72124_2.png) [@Chris\_Baird](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Chris_Baird)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/spring-moss-growth-rework/50139/16 "2026-03-21T19:27:22Z")
@madd_laura Thank you very much.