The willing come forth

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

Kristen_SmithSeptember 18, 2024_1007730.jpg
Kristen_SmithSeptember 18, 2024_1007730.jpg1250×1000 1.92 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

When I first noticed the club moss on this tree, I had no idea the roots formed an arch until I walked around it. It was the light slanting in and lighting up the club moss that caught my attention, but none of those initial photos work as well as I think this does. Arches like this are common when seedlings sprout on stumps or logs. As the dead wood rots and disintegrates (thanks fungi!), and the living tree grows, the arch gets larger and larger. Eventually this one will be clear to the ground when the old stump is finally gone. Had to jam myself into a dead tree’s branches in order to get this shot, otherwise it would have totally been in the way, but I quite like it.

Specific Feedback

Had a heck of a time managing the dynamic range - thoughts on that? Also the background, I darkened and de-saturated it somewhat, but I didn’t want it to look forced since the whole scene was lit the same. Maybe the darker areas could be pulled down more, but I’m undecided.

Technical Details

Handheld

image

Lr for all processing including a wb adjustment, masking to manage the background and the highlights in the plants in the LLC. Corner masks to reduce exposure and saturation in the upper areas. Some texture, clarity & sharpening where needed. A little distraction removal and a slight crop.

Critique Template

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  • Vision and Purpose:
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  • Composition:
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  • Depth and Dimension:
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  • Lighting:
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1 Like
2

A very interesting scene with some intriguing light. I like the club mosses that direct the eye up to the arch. The floor of the arch that forms the back wall seems to blend into the BG. I wonder if you could play around with the shadows in that region to reveal hidden details and separate it from the tree trunks in the BG. Otherwise, a fine scene worthy of the effort…Jim

3

What an interesting scene! I agree that you could try reducing the highlights in the foreground plants and also perhaps that bright bit of sky on the right hand side of the image. My main suggestion, for what it is worth, is to consider cropping up from the bottom to give the foregrou d less visual weight and help the eye travel to the tree trunk and its wonderful opening to what lies beyond.

4

Thanks @Jim_Zablotny & @DJLeland - glad you found it intriguing and worth stopping for. I may go back and tinker with it more. It’s an odd one, but something is so cool about it and I don’t know that I’ve ever tried to photograph one of these arches before. Not sure I could in any other light, really.