Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Peleg on June 28, 2007, 03:30:50 am

Title: Gnarled trees.
Post by: Peleg on June 28, 2007, 03:30:50 am

Just curious as to opinions on this pic I just took today.  Used the Pentax K10D, 16-45 lens and Bibble Pro to edit and convert the original RAW file.

http://Peleg.smugmug.com/photos/167427229-L.jpg (http://Peleg.smugmug.com/photos/167427229-L.jpg)

Title: Gnarled trees.
Post by: LoisWakeman on June 28, 2007, 10:33:58 am

I think one of the problems with taking photos in woods and forests (and one I struggle with) is in reducing the complexity and chaos inherent in such scenes sufficiently to make a strong visual statement. We need to find some sense of order, pattern or repetition to overcome the randomness of growth. Your trees are interesting subjects seen at a good time of day - but I don't think you have entirely conquered them yet!

Title: Gnarled trees.
Post by: Peleg on June 28, 2007, 04:21:09 pm

Quote

I think one of the problems with taking photos in woods and forests (and one I struggle with) is in reducing the complexity and chaos inherent in such scenes sufficiently to make a strong visual statement. We need to find some sense of order, pattern or repetition to overcome the randomness of growth. Your trees are interesting subjects seen at a good time of day - but I don't think you have entirely conquered them yet!
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I think you're right.  I'm doing better at picture taking and post processing but I do struggle w/ the composing part.  Trying to tell a story w/ my pics is hard for me.  I read once that a good thing for a photographer to do is to take a class in creative thinking...I think I need to.  Thanks for the input.

Title: Gnarled trees.
Post by: James Godman on June 28, 2007, 09:02:03 pm

I agree with the other post and might add that you could try waiting for better light.

Good luck.

Title: Gnarled trees.
Post by: Lisa Nikodym on June 28, 2007, 10:39:28 pm

I like the trees, but the composition feels awkward.  The branches in the middle strongly draw the eye up towards the upper right corner, but once your eye gets there it's stopped by a dark, confused, congested area.  I don't know whether you can change where you're standing in such a way as to rearrange the composition to change that, but it's worth a try.

I'd also convert it to black and white.  The branches are so sculptural that their form is what's important, not their color, and the color just distracts from it.

(My 2 cents, anyway.)

Lisa