Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Richard Pearlman on February 02, 2014, 11:29:03 pm

Title: Sunken Tree
Post by: Richard Pearlman on February 02, 2014, 11:29:03 pm
Comments and critiques are appreciated.
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on February 03, 2014, 01:30:46 am
I like it.
There are some very faint tones in the grey which keep me looking and trying to understand whats behind.
There seems to be a shoreline , maybe an island and bushes or something on the right side and a cloud at the top left,
but all to weak so I need to keep imagining.
You kept the foreground soft an weak enough to be in a good balance with the grey of the fog and not dominating it.
Beautiful!


And seeing this is your 2nd post:
Welcome aboard !


Cheers
~Chris
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on February 03, 2014, 08:02:58 am
This is a good one, quite intriguing.
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: dhancock on February 03, 2014, 09:22:48 am
I'd probably add some contrast: http://danielhancockphotography.com/photography/adjusting-contrast-with-the-levels-tool/ - especially to the whites.
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: francois on February 03, 2014, 10:00:05 am
It's a beauty. I like its apparent simplicity.
Bravo
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: sdwilsonsct on February 03, 2014, 01:13:32 pm
Restful.
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on February 03, 2014, 01:20:33 pm
I'd probably add some contrast: http://danielhancockphotography.com/photography/adjusting-contrast-with-the-levels-tool/ - especially to the whites.

Sorry - but raising contrast would allow to recognize the faint shapes in the fog and destroy the image.
The strong thing, I think, apart form the nice foreground is the faint and unrecognizable shapes in the fog.
Cheers
~Chris
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: dhancock on February 03, 2014, 01:24:04 pm
Sorry - but raising contrast would allow to recognize the faint shapes in the fog and destroy the image.
The strong thing, I think, apart form the nice foreground is the faint and unrecognizable shapes in the fog.
Cheers
~Chris

It depends on how much you do it.
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Richard Pearlman on February 03, 2014, 01:26:57 pm
Thanks for all of the great comments. My goal in this image was to isolate the tree in the foreground using the dense fog. Originally, I had hoped to photograph the battleship that is docked directly behind this tree. However, the fog was so dense that the ship was quickly enshrouded in fog before I could get a good shot. Considering the conditions, I realized I had to change my approach and look for other compositions.

I will look into the contrast issue.
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on February 03, 2014, 01:31:45 pm
It depends on how much you do it.

Well ... it looks nice, but now the faint hints in the fog are totally gone ...
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Walt Roycraft on February 03, 2014, 04:07:10 pm
Well, I think Daniel's version is more technically correct, I think Artistically, Richards version is better. There is more of the feel of isolation and a sadness to the shot which is expressed with the lack of a strong contrast. IMHO
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: Walt Roycraft on February 03, 2014, 04:09:39 pm
If I were to change anything, and it really doesn't need changing, I would lean towards a square crop with the tree centered. Bad composition I know but it goes with the soft contrast :P
Title: Re: Sunken Tree
Post by: luxborealis on February 04, 2014, 08:56:47 pm
Well, I think Daniel's version is more technically correct, I think Artistically, Richards version is better. There is more of the feel of isolation and a sadness to the shot which is expressed with the lack of a strong contrast. IMHO

Agreed! As artists, we need to step back from our work to determine what works best for the subject and situation. Throw in the square crop suggested by Walt and you have a dynamic photograph (albeit, designed by committee!!) :)