What changed: Here is a revised version with a small crop from the left as well as the removal of that fallen section of a tree lying on the beach. I also lightened up the dark cloud toward the URC. Thanks everyone; the suggested changes make this even better.
Added after receiving feedback from the community.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This is an oldie; that has never seen the light of day; that I found languishing on one of the external hard drives. This was taken many years ago; just after sunrise; while walking along Edisto Beach in SC. It was bright and sunny so I deliberately under exposed this a few stops to try and keep some semblance of the sun in the raw file. When working on it a few days ago the color version wasnât working for me so I converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efx as I wanted this dramatic apocalyptic mood to the scene due to the dark twisted shapes of the trees as they seemed to be reaching out for something unseen. I also liked the way dark clouds seemed to be fanning out and sweeping across the sky.
Specific Feedback
Do you feel this has an apocalyptic feel to it or am I just imaging it? Anything else you notice please feel free to mention it.
Technical Details
Nikon D700, Nikon 17-35 @ 30 mm, f 18 @ 1/1600 sec, cable release & tripod.
It is more âevolutionaryâ than apocalyptic to me, Ed.
I really like this! Its starkness is wonderful and yet one does feel the wetness of the sand. You might consider a slight crop from the left and also clone out that broken-off trunk on the left. The tonality is great and BW was a great choice.
-P
Although I really like this, with the strong, stark silhouetted trees against that fantastic sky I canât really say that it feels apocalyptic to me. The beautiful light makes it feel too hopeful than the the dark and dreary feelings I associate with an apocalypse.
I donât necessarily get an âapocalypticâ feeling from this photo. I think the sun (and the reflection in the water and on the surf) negate feelings of doom for me. I do, however, love this photo. Itâs stark, for me, and I like the way the branches lead into the dark clouds on the right of the photo, and how the in the distance the top of the trees form a a kind of a basket for the clouds above.
Wonderful image. Itâs so refreshing to see something unique and different here on the landscape forum. I can see why you gave it that title. Thereâs a scraggly branch that breaks down the well defined black branches. I would clone it out.
Itâs a very dramatic and engaging image, Ed. It doesnât seem ominous to me. I like it a lot.
You might consider two tweaks. The darker clouds on the right and top seem a little too dark to me. Thatâs a matter of taste. You also seem to have some barrel distortion. Thatâs an easy fix with the camera raw filter.
Wow Ed, so glad you found this one lurking and decided to work and post it. Like Igor suggests, this is cool to see such a stark landscape posted.
I would say for a moment, sure I can see how one could have this interpretation. If anything, there is a mystery of an uknown story and question as to what happened to these skeletons of trees. On the other hand as has been mentioned, the sky is rather glorious and gives off a different vibe. I think the two combined make for one engaging and dynamic landscape (or seascape reallyâŚ) I also immediately was reminded of the classic skeletal remains in Namibia.
This is rather unique and I think youâve processed and presented this beautifully. Apocolyptic or not, there is a great sense of mystery and glory here. So glad you found this one to share!
Ed, this is wonderfully stark. The mix of black, dead trees, sun, clouds and surf sure doesnât feel like an East Coast beach. Nice job keeping the sun under control and still showing some shadows and details.
Hi Ed,
I might be the lone voice saying I do get the apocalyptic feel. Itâs evolutionary too, as Preston said. To me, those are two sides of the same coin. When I see this image, I think, holy heck, what happened? A meteor, bomb, a biblical storm? Where are the people? Did anyone survive?
But it is also a kind of cycle of life, evolutionary moment. What was there is gone. What will replace it? It feels futuristic, both as a future apocalypse and as an evolutionary moment in which a new epoch is not yet fully born.
All of those questions, stories, and drama make this a wonderful image. Moving from left to right we see destruction and the sun. I think that adds structure to viewersâ experiences of the image.
Iâm drawn to dead trees and apocalyptic has a bit of a negative connotation so I prefer terms like stark or bare. I love this image and think it was wise to go with a monochromatic treatment. The Sun reflecting off the water is amazing and that skyâŚ! Itâs a keeper!
Glad you discoverffed this keeper, Ed. Youâve probably got all kinds of good stuff hidden away on your old hard drives. I really like how you put all the effort in on refining the composition so you have no merges in the tree limbs. B&W processing really fits the mood of the image.At first I didnât get an apocalyptic feel, but after awhile I did. The dead trees are like sentinels that bear witness to the cataclysm .
I love the composition on this shot, the line of trees and the clouds create a very dynamic image. You did great work with the exposure. The only suggestion I have is I might crop a little off the left , enough to eliminate the tree/branch lying on the ground, to my eye it is just extra space over there and with it cropped the trees seemed to better fill the frame, just a personal preference of course. Wonderful image Ed!
Many thanks everyone @Preston_Birdwell, @Tom_Nevesely, @richard27, @Igor_Doncov, @Lon_Overacker, @Mark_Seaver, @Marylynne_Diggs, @Paul_Holdorf, @Michael_Lowe, @Gill_Vanderlip and @Scott_Fricke for your thoughts on this image as it is always appreciated. It sounds as though I may have to rethink my apocalypse title.
Scott and Preston : I like your crop suggestion as well as the removal of the section of tree laying on the beach.
Don : I lightened the cloud somewhat as per your suggestion.
Igor : I couldnât locate that scraggly branch you were talking about, but I will look again.
Marylynne : Thanks for sharing your thought process as it was very similar to mine.
Hi. You asked about the branch I was talking about. I felt the other branches were distinct black lines whereas this looked bushy. Itâs a small thing .
