Winter walk

[Kaye Leggett]

At last - some sunshine. So we took a walk from home

I am hoping to be able to take more pictures of this tree as the year progresses as a study





I tried it from further away and feel this shot is missing something. I like it, but I don't, if that doesn't sound bonkers. Thoughts on why it does/doesn't work appreciated

[Wavelength]

Very nice images... were you approaching the tree or moving away from the tree? which shot was taken first? a silly curiosity

[Kaye Leggett]

Very nice images... were you approaching the tree or moving away from the tree? which shot was taken first? a silly curiosity

Thanks Nandakumar. In both, we were walking away from the tree, and the first was taken first.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Kaye IMO the second shot has some unnecessary elements . I would crop the blue part of the sky and also the FG and try a square frame.

[Geoff F]

Or alternatively, crop the foreground to give 4 x 5 ratio and retain the full sky? That would place the horizon around half way but in this case I think there is sufficient difference between both halves for it to work OK.

[pnodrog]

Try cheating with the second by moving the blue sky down then crop off the top.

Nice country side.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks Binnur, Geoff and Paul for your comments and suggestions. I tried both the square and 4*5 crop and prefer the latter. Also, as I am trying to improve my processing skills and general knowledge, I found a clouds filter and added this to 25% opacity to increase the atmosphere

Here is the result

[IzzieK]

I think I rather prefer Binnur's suggestion of leaving the foreground and just removing the blue part of the sky better. Maybe because scrolling it up and down, to my eyes it has a better view. I like #1 by the way as I have a similar thought on a bare tree I saw near where we are...shoot it at different season...

[bnnrcn]

Hi Kaye I agree with Isabel and IMO you cropped too much from the bottom . I would reduce the sky a bit but add some more FG if the image was mine.

[Geoff F]

I suspect, Kaye, that there are many alternative crops to this scene so it will be difficult to find something which finds favour with everybody.

For me, your edit has now gone slightly too dark overall. I would probably give just the sky a slight tweak to increase contrast.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks all for continued comments. I have gone back to the square crop and lessened sky/increased foreground and also lightened the sky a little....... I think it changes the photo and brings more emphasis to the path rather than the tree - I suppose I wanted the tree to be the subject rather than the path: but agree this crop does too have merit.

[IzzieK]

I like this one better...more pleasing to the eyes (my eyes) and putting more emphasis on the tree as per your explanation looks good too. Hmmm...now looking at it our (Binnur and my opinion) does makes a difference too, just different. Thanks Geoff.

[bnnrcn]

This one works for me Kaye You can also try a BnW conversion if you want as the image looks suitable for that. Also cloning the tree next to the left frame might improve the composition but it might be a tedious work

Thanks all for continued comments. I have gone back to the square crop and lessened sky/increased foreground and also lightened the sky a little....... I think it changes the photo and brings more emphasis to the path rather than the tree - I suppose I wanted the tree to be the subject rather than the path: but agree this crop does too have merit.

[ktuli]

Kaye,

Honestly, I think you went too close in one, and too far away in the other...

Since you're already planning on revisiting this subject, might I suggest something in between next time? Personally, it looks like the shape of this tree is its main appeal. I would like to see it as a sole figure on the horizon. Based on your wide angle shot of the scene, it looks like if you went down into the valley there and shot up towards the tree, you should be able to isolate the tree without it towering over you as your second image has. You'll likely have to move left or right of the trail you appear to be walking on so you can eliminate other elements in the frame and get your target tree against a clean background.

You've definitely got one with potential here - that tree has some real character. Work the scene and find some other vantage points that really show it off.

I have an example I could show you to maybe give you an idea of what I mean, but I don't want to post my own photos in your thread, so if you're interested, PM me and I'll send you a link.

- Bill