The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
On that same sojourn into the woods where I found In Repose I came upon this scene, perhaps my favorite image of many taken in this forest cathedral. If I remember correctly In Repose was on the flanks of this toppled giant. This was a capture and processing challenge because of the extreme dynamic range. My first attempts using LR and PS were unsatisfactory but then I reworked the DNG in Luminar Neo and got much better results. >=))>
Specific Feedback
The second image is not a different capture but merely a crop. Your preference?
Technical Details
Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 16-25 f2.8 G @ 22mm
ISO 400, 2.5sec @ f16, HDR
Bill, I remember this scene (or one very similar) from a previous post. This is a great view of this fallen giant, showing off the remains of the rootball and the hollow. While I slightly prefer the cropped view with it’s extra emphasis on the hollow, I wonder about a crop from the right leaving some of the ferns. (yes, that would be a non-standard size…)
I, too, remember when you posted this for the Weekly Challenge.
That open maw is an eye-catching subject, and I can see why you photographed it. For my taste, I strongly prefer the wider view, because I think it tells a better story of time and place. I love the supporting cast, it looks like a crowd of ferns worshiping the fallen tree, and it shows just how immense the fallen tree is.
My only suggestion would be to dim the brightestest highlight spots a little.
Hi Bill,
I too remember this lovely and evocative scene as it definitely shows us the circle of life and how the fallen giant still carries on as it nourishes it’s surrounding neighbors. I prefer the wider view as I think that tells the story better. Really nice job with the processing on this image. I love that bit of mystery peering into the hollow trunk. You have just enough detail at the entrance and then the mystery takes over as it gets darker in the back recesses. Beautifully done.
Wow, that is one massive and impressive tree - and despite the fact that it’s fallen and slowly returning and contributing to the cycle of forest life.
I too prefer the wider view as it really shows the tree perfectly and puts great perspective with the nicely balanced surroundings - forest floor, ferns and of course the still-living other redwoods!
IMHO, the cropped version I think you actually lose a little bit of scale. In other words, it’s almost like how closeups with the use of wide angle perspectives makes things bigger than they are. that’s the feeling I get with the crop.
One thing I notic that hasn’t been pointed out and I’m not sure what I’m seeing, but there is a faint circle inside the tree in the larger view, but not in the “cropped” version. Pointin out below. It’s not a big deal really, just an observation.
I think your colors and processing are probably spot on. Personally, and subjectively I think there’s room for a boost in color/sat. But I wasn’t there and it’s quite natural with how you’ve processed and presented - and I expect what the experience was like being there.
Hey Bill-You’ve done a great job with this image as it is a busy and difficult environment to get a good composition. I like the wider version better as the ferns at the lower edge and around the main subject act as natural framing, and that is gone in the cropped version.
