Under Her Wings

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

This is the second of my favorite shots of the famous tree at the Portland Japanese Garden. I shot a number of other things, but I thought I’d get the icon out of the way first.

I didn’t like the angle of my shot in the previous post here: In the Shadows of THE Tree with Re-post

That one was the favorite among my Fb friends in part due to the light, which was admittedly more dramatic. For me, the “horned medusa” effect of the branches in the other composition detract from the beauty of the tree itself and its foliage, which was spectacular, and also the mushrooms, which made the small scene different from other images of this iconic tree. Going back two days later, the light was more flat, but I got the composition I preferred.

Specific Feedback

I’m always open to any feedback you have, so let 'er rip. I’m especially interested in your feedback on processing and the crop (the tree is only 3-4 feet high and this is about as close as we are allowed to get, taken at 25mm). The sky was not pleasing, so I went with losing some of the tree to eliminate the sky. I do have a skosh on every side that could be adding, though some sky needs to be “leafed over” as I like to call it.

I am also interested in whether this version gives the mushrooms a little more prominence than the preceding composition, as that was my goal. I totally agree with Igor’s comment in that other post that stories of this sort (lowly shrooms thriving under a famous tree) rarely transmit enough to “make” the photograph work or not. Still, I’m hoping the mushrooms add to what might otherwise be a vaguely familiar image.

Technical Details

Canon 5d3 with 16-35mm at 25mm
ISO 200, f/14, 1/5sec

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[Youssef_Ismail]

Marylynne,

I agree with you that this composition is better than the previous one. This one pulls me in much more and leads my eye deeper into the BG. In both the mushrooms have minimal impact, but they are more prominent in this one.

[Diane_Miller]

I agree – this one is more pleasing, even though I have the odd feeling that I’ve seen it before! I love the mushrooms!! The light and colors are gorgeous! Definitely a framer!

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Thanks @Youssef_Ismail and @Diane_Miller. Yeah, everyone has seen this tree before. I almost didn’t wait in the line to shoot it. Yes, there was a line. And I actually ran into Bruce King and Joe Campisi while there–both NPN members from way back, not sure whether they are still active.

I have one more composition of this tree that I like quite a lot. I’ll share it here so I don’t have too many threads with an implicit icon-alert.

This is my other favorite. I like the rock in the lower right and the almost complete obstruction of the limbs by the vibrant colors. I don’t care for the amount of grass bottom left and the gravel bar along the pond. I think that gravel is a reason many shoot the “twin branching hydra” angle as you get the smooth texture of the pond behind the tree instead of all of this other stuff.

[Diane_Miller]

This is lovely, too! I wonder if the grass in the LL could be warmed a bit and its contrast reduced to make it blend more with the lovely moss on the right?

[Ed_Lowe]

Hi Marylynne,
This tree is iconic and justifiably so as it has a wonderful presence about it. The processing and crop look just fine to me and it appears that the red maple leaves look to be peak. I would certainly keep the mushrooms. Although they are small in the frame they are a nice treat to come upon in the larger version. Beautifully done.

[Mark_Seaver]

Marylynne, the softer light here and the different angle make this a much more pleasing view. The fall colors are great and you’ve filled the frame nicely with the tree’s trunk. I get a real kick out of those little mushrooms.

[Marylynne_Diggs]

Thanks everyone. I did a little more on the second composition above, warming the grass, cropping to eliminate some of it, and getting rid of a few other distractions.

Thank you for all of the feedback and for the reassurance that my perception of the better composition was accurate. Love my Fb friends, but trust y’all’s opinions a wee bit more.

I’ve landed on the above as my favorite, though the one with more branch exposure is a close second.
ML

[John_Williams]

@Marylynne_Diggs

I’ve landed on the above as my favorite

That is quite beautiful and definitely a keeper, but I still lean towards your first post. The light in that one, put together with the less commonly photographed angle, is really special.