The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is an old-growth forest found in Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula taken this past week on a backpacking trip. I shot this scene early in the morning while hiking back to the trailhead. To me it exemplifies a summer woodland with the vibrant greens beginning to come alive at first light.
Specific Feedback
I would love feedback on the compositional of this image and the processing applied. I am having trouble with giving this image more contrast and “pop”. I have also had issues with finding the proper white balance in previous summer images so any feedback on that would also be appreciated.
Technical Details
For processing this image I brought up the white point to add some contrast while also darkening some of the midtones. I dodged the trees in the image (besides the one in the very back) and the ferns in the front of the image. In addition I added a slight vignette and darkened some of the blown-out areas of the image.
The image has the look of morning light before the sun adds its warmth. By that I mean that there are many bluish hues here. It gives the sense of a cold morning as a result. You could modify that if you wanted to. The composition is solid with strong verticals and a horizontal traversing it. It’s borderline busy, though, and that may be a good thing for a woodland scene which is by nature chaotic.
I think the re-edit works rather nicely. Warmer tones are tricky - they can make colors muddy and not separated well, but they are also inviting. You have a nice balance here and I like the four prominent tree trunks - the little one is a nice touch, too. The sapling stands out well enough. Haven’t been to the UP in a while, but they have some darn nice forests up there.
Thanks Kristen! The UP has some sections of Old Growth forest that is truly impressive! Would have to say the beauty is hindered by the bugs in the summer but regardless a UP Photography Trip is always a good one!
OMG the bugs! I basically stop going into the woods from May to July because it’s brutal (I’m in northern Wisconsin). One thing I have tried for some macro or flower photography where I’m basically in one spot is one of these things -
We have one of the regular ones for the deck which makes it bearable in early summer. Surprisingly, the portable one shown here works well enough to make wildflower photography actually enjoyable again! At least where mosquitoes are concerned. It doesn’t work on anything else like deer flies or midges. But it’s something.
