It's Maple Syrup Time - C&C welcomed

[KimC]

This is an annual tradition in New England. In case you are not familiar with it, Maple trees are "tapped" in Feb/March and then the sap is collected (in the bucket seen in the image) in March and April. The collected sap is then processed and the maple syrup is made (it takes a lot of sap to make just a little syrup). This has been a tough year for those who make maple syrup; due to the cold temps, the sap is not running.

I have been looking for a pretty maple tree being tapped and I finally came across this one yesterday. It's funny, before I started making pictures, the buckets looked so big and shiny when I was driving by...now I realize they are not so big, nor so shiny.

ISO 100; 1/640s; f3.5; 45mm

[Manfred M]

One doesn't see any of the buckets (other than for decorative purposes) at the sugar bushes up this way anymore.

The trees are tapped and a network of plastic hoses is used to collect the sap and it is run down to a central accumulation point.







The buckets sure make for a much nicer shot than the blue plastic hoses...

As for the shot, you definitely have an overall blue cast to the image, especially in the shadow areas.

[Shadowman]

This is an annual tradition in New England. In case you are not familiar with it, Maple trees are "tapped" in Feb/March and then the sap is collected (in the bucket seen in the image) in March and April. The collected sap is then processed and the maple syrup is made (it takes a lot of sap to make just a little syrup). This has been a tough year for those who make maple syrup; due to the cold temps, the sap is not running.

I have been looking for a pretty maple tree being tapped and I finally came across this one yesterday. It's funny, before I started making pictures, the buckets looked so big and shiny when I was driving by...now I realize they are not so big, nor so shiny.

ISO 100; 1/640s; f3.5; 45mm

Makes for a nice capture.

[KimC]

Thanks John, check out the new version with a different WB.

Makes for a nice capture.

[KimC]

Yes, that was my other challenge Manfred; they are starting to use the plastic tubing here too (they don't connect them yet like your images display -- good idea thou.) I changed the WB -- see below -- better?

One doesn't see any of the buckets (other than for decorative purposes) at the sugar bushes up this way anymore.

The trees are tapped and a network of plastic hoses is used to collect the sap and it is run down to a central accumulation point.

The buckets sure make for a much nicer shot than the blue plastic hoses...

As for the shot, you definitely have an overall blue cast to the image, especially in the shadow areas.

[KimC]

Here's the image with changed WB to remove the blue Manfred mentioned...

[Mike Buckley]

A very pleasing scene. Consider converting to monochrome, using a sepia tone and adding a vignette.

[KimC]

Thanks Mike. I haven't done much conversion at this point, but I'm willing to give it a go. Tried to go subtle on the vignette. Is this what you were thinking?

A very pleasing scene. Consider converting to monochrome, using a sepia tone and adding a vignette.

[Mike Buckley]

Notice that your sepia version appears flat compared to your color version. I was thinking more along the line of the look shown below. I used a much heavier vignette than I usually use because I feel the scene calls for it.

[KimC]

Now that I see yours, mine sure does look flat. Thanks for the demonstration Mike.

Notice that your sepia version appears flat compared to your color version. I was thinking more along the line of the look shown below. I used a much heavier vignette than I usually use because I feel the scene calls for it.

[IzzieK]

I like both edits better...and also of Mike's.

[KimC]

Thanks for taking the time to comment Izzie - appreciate it.

I like both edits better...and also of Mike's.

[KimC]

So here's my new version. I did learn something about my software today... so that was an additional plus. Seems better than my first try?

Notice that your sepia version appears flat compared to your color version. I was thinking more along the line of the look shown below. I used a much heavier vignette than I usually use because I feel the scene calls for it.

[Mike Buckley]

Seems better than my first try?

By about ten orders of magnitude!

[Manfred M]

An interesting thread, Kim.

The difference between the first and second colour shot is more or less along the lines of what I had been thinking. Getting the white balance to look "right" in this type of shot is challenging on those clear late winter days when the snow reflects the blue sky. The feeling of your two colour shots is so completely different; with the cool tones of the first one really giving the viewer a feeling how cold it must be out in the sugarbush. The second warmer toned one is a lot more inviting and reflects the warmth of the coming spring and perhaps the sweetness of the maple syrup on some pancakes!

The B&W conversions are equally interesting (both yours and Mike's). This is a great solution for the cold cast issue and the sepia tones really give the viewer a similar feeling to your second image. Had you stuck with a traditional B&W, I suspect the feeling would have been more along the lines of the first colour image.

Regardless, and excellent exercise in how tonality and colour change the overall feeling of an image.

[Barbara Ponder]

Nice image and interesting background story!

[flashback]

Hi Kim. Definitely a New England image, as a general rule I won't use anything but real, genuine maple syrup, not the faux stuff that is passed off as maple syrup-ish.
I can remember many years ago, the woods would be...alive with taps and galvanized buckets, as Manfred pointed out nowadays it's mostly plastic tubing. Efficient, but lacking in the romance of sugaring.
Anyway, I had a go at your last edit, all I did was play with the curves, mid-range down a bit and high-range up a bit. Then just a scosh of sharpening.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice rendition, Jack. Another style for Kim to consider.

I won't use anything but real, genuine maple syrup

I substitute genuine maple syrup for recipes calling for honey. It's a lot less messy and works just as well.

[flashback]

I've been down this road before Mike, it's nice for a change to see someone else get inundated with suggestions and examples (sometimes, to boggle the mind). I know that it's been a big help for me when others suggest (or show) a way to improve an image. The hard part now is for Kim to decide how to achieve her vision of her image. We all just put it out there but in the end, Kim (and others) will figure it out.

[DonnaK]

This was an extremely interesting thread. I liked your first shot and story, Kim, and then others offered their suggestions. Each change in your original photo showed what could be done. Gotta love how helpful everyone can be to give different perspectives to this. Your third version is my favorite.