This image was taken in early spring at sunrise as a beam of bright light placed a spot light on this weathered tree in a local pond. The newly budding trees in the background were in deep shade but the subtle colors still offered an interesting background. Nothing special but I liked the contrasts, details and simplicity of this scene.
What technical feedback would you like if any?
Any are welcome. I did tone down the highlights a bit but wanted to keep the contrast. Is it too much?
What artistic feedback would you like if any?
Do the distinct parts of this scene work as a whole?
Pertinent technical details or techniques:
(If this is a composite, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn)
single exposure, 100iso, 270mm, 1/4s, f11
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I really love this image Alan. The light, colors, and graphic shapes all come together so nicely in this scene. I like the contrast in color, light, and saturation level between the foreground and background, it just makes this image pop. The luminance and saturation of the cattails and snag are handled perfectly. But I also like the subtle muted colors in the background, they add an extra layer of enjoyment in this image. The rust colored leaves, and hints of light in the background add some nice small touches to the image. I love this image as presented, but also think the light and graphic shapes here would also translate nicely to B&W. This is one of those images that would work well both in color and B&W.
Thank you Ed for the kind comments. This was one of those scenes that just hit you in the face while in the field. At the same time the band of light was so brilliant that I was not sure how it would translate in camera. It’s very ironic you mentioned the BW option. I had been looking at this image for quite a while before I decided to post it. Soon after the post (I think while viewing Lon’s recent Merced river BW post) it finally occurred to me that this might also be nice in BW. A great suggestion on your part, thank you, I will give it a try.
Alan,
I can see what attracted you to this scene. I like the nicely lit cattails(?) and the old snag. It’s kind of odd to me that it looks like the top of an old tree, but yet it’s not that much taller than the cattails? I guess it’s a bit of a mystery to me - are the plants and the tree on the same level ground?
While I find the foreground interesting and again nicely lit, for me, the background complicates rather than simplifies the scene. Yes, it’s a bit darker, but lots of random branches, some trees brighter than others and at least for me, compete with the highlighted old snag. I wasn’t there and I don’t know your pov options, but I’m wishing the weathered snag was against the more uniform bg just to the right of middle.
I think that maybe a crop could simplify this and make the weathered snag more prominent. Perhaps cropping off the right to remove the lighter trunks in the bg, as well as a little off the left and top (to cut down on the bright trees up top bg that are competing with the snag.) I think the bg could also be further darkened to help separate with the foreground interests.
A great find, but in the end, I don’t think one of your strongest images.
Lon
Thanks for the comments Lon. This old tree is in the middle of a marsh and pond with no others around it. I am also very curious how it ever grew there in the first place? It is on the same level as the cattails but only the bottom portion is standing. The birds love it as a perch, maybe someday I sit and wait for a bird shot.
I could not find a break in the brush line on shore to get a different perspective. I did try lighter and darker backgrounds to change the effect. This is an image I have struggled with…one I really WANT to like but have been unable to be comfortable with it for some reason? I waited a long time before posting and finally decided it was time for help. I always appreciate your thoughts and candor.
