The light was beautiful hitting these trees but I didn’t like how my straight shots were turning out so ended up doing some ICM. They were kind of far away too.
Anything
Is this a composite: No
Nikon D3400, 300mm, ISO 100 , f/11, 1/25 - cropped and brought down exposure and highlights
I have never had success with ICM, but you’ve got a winner here, Vanessa. Nicely done indeed.
Very nice ICM Vanessa. I like that you have kept the trees more recognizable with detail yet applied motion. The symmetry really makes this a strong image for me.
Vanessa, I reckon this is your best ICM yet! It’s beautiful.
With an image this good, there is always another version. Would you consider playing with Temperature, Contrast and Colour Mixer tools?
Thanks, David! I’m sure you could do it but your slow shutter photography with a tripod is killer, and I hope to achieve that someday! I feel like what you produce is what I’m trying to convey with my ICM…
Thanks Mario, for your feedback. I had a few from this and this one seemed to work the best. You explaining why helps me to put my finger on it!
Thanks Glennie for your kind words. What did you have in mind? I don’t mind if you play around with it and show me. Were you thinking cooler or warmer? I think I did add a little contrast but did not do anything with the colors…
Vanessa, as you know imagery is a very personal thing. With ICM there is no right or wrong. I very much like your image as posted. Below is just another version.
Very nice! Both @glennie’s and your versions work for me. The subtle colors of the original fit with the subtle details, which are just right for my taste, but I almost always appreciate a bump in vibrance or saturation.
Thanks @glennie for the demo! Did you just add/ bump up the saturation and contrast? It’s very slight but it does seem like the trees stand out a bit more and the distant, background pines are bluer.
Really beautiful and artistic ICM Vanessa. I have not had much luck with these but this one has hit a chord with me. I do prefer @glennie’s version with just a little bit more pop to it. Well done.
Vanessa there are so many combinations, but I’ll add here how I processed the image above.
Contrast was bumped up to about +26 Highlights reduced -100. 2 linear gradients. One from the top was done by using the temperature sliders pushed into the blue and same from the bottom, but warmed up. And just a touch of Vibrance.
Don’t be afraid to push the sliders around. I often push them to the max so the effect is hideous, then back off until I am happy with the result.
Thanks for your comments @David_Haynes it means a lot. I really am striving to learn to photograph in a way that hits a chord with people. I just am so moved by so many scenes that are constantly changing around me and want to convey how they make me feel. It’s not easy to do!
Thanks @glennie! Yeah sometimes I do that and scares me but then I remember I can always hit the revert button! 
Vanessa,
I haven’t had a lot of success with ICM’s, but I think this one works quite beautifully. I very much like the color palette of blues and earth tones in the image. You have just enough camera movement to make it impressionistic while at the same time keeping the trees easily recognizable. Beautifully done.
I would expect nothing less from you Vanessa 
. and for an ICM image, this one has a lot of “straightness” to it. In fact the as @Mario_Cornacchione pointed out it’s the symmetry of those repeating straight lines that appeals to me the most about this image. I do like the rework by @glennie though, the original was looking slightly bright on my monitor and for me Glenys’ rework got that addressed without losing the overall soft feeling of the image. The slight added contrast makes those tree shapes pop nicely.
Hahaha 
@Ed_McGuirk! Didn’t mean whiskey shots! Thanks for your feedback as always. Yeah I do like the added contrast, it’s really subtle but does seem to make a difference.
Thanks @Ed_Lowe I’m glad you like it! I really think ICM is fun. It sort of feels like you’re drawing or painting!
