Who said woodland photography is all about eliminating the chaos?
Sometimes it’s about embracing the chaos and just rolling with it !!!
Taken in my front yard on one of those rare occasions when there was no wind after a storm that covered the trees in nice fluffy snow.
I left this in color, but I’m not sure it makes much difference being in color vs. B&W.
Specific Feedback Requested
any critique or comments are welcome
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
Canon 5D MK4, Canon 70-200mm f4 lens, at 135 mm, ISO 200, 0.4 sec at f16
Rework with increased luminosity in the snow, suggested by Keith Bauer
I really enjoy these kinds of images. Kind of abstract, but yet obvious. Such a peaceful scene with the snow, yet chaos with the branches and it comes together and works.
I kept looking at it and decided to pull it to PS to see what it would look like with the snow being a bit more white. Here’s the result.
When I saw the email notification about your post, Ed, I had the same thought that Keith did. I do like brightening up the image to make the snow whiter. Lovely composition. I love the abstract chaos and repetition. While it’s abstract, the snow simplifies it and makes the pattern more uniform. Nicely seen.
Nature sure is amazing, is impressive the weight those branches can hold compared to their size.
The way you embraced it in a way ended up in a very compelling and some what organized pattern, and i loved the way it did. The small hints of colour are needed IMO, and @Keith_Bauer rework really made it pop a bit more.
Ed, I agree with you. Chaos can be interesting (embraced). One has only to put in more effort to see the value of this chaos in the composition. Often what mood it brings or what story it will tell. I like your interpretation because it’s softer. The rework of Keith (OK) in my eyes in this scene to much contrast.
@Keith_Bauer @Ben_van_der_Sande @João_Ferrão @Adam_Bolyard
thank you all for your comments, I appreciate them. And Keith thanks for taking the time to do a rework. I like the lightness in the snow added in Keith’s rework, it adds some vibrancy. I think I was originally viewing this is a “softer” image (as mentioned by @Ben_van_der_Sande ), since I think abstracts often benefit from a softer feel. But the added luminosity does a nice job of emphasizing the patterns. So I did a rework that is partway between the original and Keith’s version (posted rework back above next to the original.
Very nice one.
Love the mood here, the way you arranje the “chaos” on the frame.
@joaoquintela @Ben_van_der_Sande @Keith_Bauer @Adam_Bolyard @João_Ferrão
thank you for your comments I appreciate hearing your input.
This image is a good example of what is possible to get from shooting at everyday local places during the time of Covid induced lack of travel. You just have to slow down and look at seemingly mundane subjects in a new light.
The snow on those branches is perhaps 2 inches (5 Cm) in height. But this snowstorm had light fluffy snow with little water in it, so the weight of the snow was not very much. Any wind at all blows snow like this off the trees, so I was lucky that after this storm there was no wind, which is not that common.
