In the Forest

Dean,

Not only are the lines nice, but I the back lighting and areas of mossy glow are what really attract my eye. I also think the vertical lines of the trunk hold the composition together well. This certainly works and I think you've captured and processed this quite nicely.

My suggestions are quite picky, but hopefully they make sense. Border patrol. I use that term because there are a handful of very small, but somewhat distracting things along the edges. Starting at the LL bottom quarter, there are a few bright things intruding along the edge. Same with the URC and along the top just left of center. Maybe it's just me looking for stuff like that, or maybe it's something that others may or may not notice. But for me, it's the little details that can really make a difference in a final presentation or print. I might even burn down that ULC as well.

Hope it's not too picky, but I'm enjoying the image regardless.

Lon

Thanks Lon, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment on this photo. I've burned the edges to remove some of the bright spots.

Very nice light Dean. Works for me.

Dean,

Excellent! This seems so much cleaner and more focused now without the tiny little distractions. Thanks for taking the time to rework.

Lon

The comp certainly pulls me into the scene with the larger, darker trunks on the sides. I played a bit with this in PS, and bringing up the dark tones seemed to help let the sense of glowing back-lighting work better.

You solved your composition problem with this image, Dean. I don't have moss like this where I live, but I do have somewhat similar scenes with spring foliage and snow-covered trees, so this is a real inspiration to keep trying. Repost is even better.

Thanks for the feedback! Tony, what were you doing to "bring up" the dark tones? Luminosity masks, or levels or...?

Beautiful image, Dean. The glow you achieved with the backlighting of the moss is really amazing, and you still have retained subtle detail in the tree trunks. Your composition works very nice in my opinion with wonderful lines and design. Your repost with Lon's suggestions is superb.

You really captured the feeling in this forest scene beautifully, Dean. The play of lights and darks is really dramatic, and you composed it so well, esp given how busy forests in bright light can be. The bright spots along the edge that Lon pointed out are better in the revision, but the ULC was better in the original to my eye... looks too burned... plus I liked the light in the ULC in the original.