Fern Bombing [+edits]

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 26, 2011611 views33 comments

Bigleaf Maple shed their summer coat in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Nikon D80
Nikon 12.0-24.0 mm f/4.0 at 12 mm
1/6 sec at f/16 and ISO 100
1/8 sec at f/16 and ISO 800
Blend of four photos for DOF and DR
I tugged that largest leaf to a less obscured position.

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on October 27, 2011 at 12:46 AM

Very nice John, I especially love that soft green light.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Hillary Younger on October 27, 2011 at 3:03 AM

I really like the layers of color and depth here. The detail and clarity of the f/g ferns and Maple leaves really draw the eye before it is lead back to that soft light which gives so much depth here.

Registered on October 2, 2011, 17 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Giovanni Russello on October 27, 2011 at 3:57 AM

Well composed and captured. The delicate light filtering through the foliage is making this shot for me.

gio

Registered on January 21, 2007, 95 Posts, 1617 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on October 27, 2011 at 6:30 AM

Beautiful!

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on October 27, 2011 at 8:08 AM

Lovely! Wonderful light. I would be tempted to crop inside the tree on the left, takes some darkness away and brightens up the whole scene to me.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on October 27, 2011 at 9:02 AM

I love the soft and delicate light here. Well composed. Beautiful image

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 27, 2011 at 9:05 AM

This is beautiful, John. I love the light and color. A nice light and almost airy feel that I really enjoy. The kind of picture that makes you feel good just looking at it. This would be a nice picture to have in your home and enjoy every morning with a cup of coffee or tea! I think Paul's crop suggestion removing the dark tree on the left side might give it even more of that feeling, but I do love it just as it is too! Excellent work John.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on October 27, 2011 at 10:26 AM

Very nice lush scene!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on October 27, 2011 at 10:30 AM

Lovely image, lots to get lost in, love the light and ethereal quality, especially the background forest.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on October 27, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Nice shot John, the soft light coming in through the forest is wonderful. I like Paul's crop suggestion as I feel those dark trunks are to close to the edge of the frame and they keep pulling my eye there. That big leaf makes for a nice anchor.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on October 27, 2011 at 12:02 PM

When I see scenes like this I always think.... Jurrasic Park 4.... great capture.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Balcken on October 27, 2011 at 12:21 PM

Gorgeous color and processing. I can see what others are sying about the crop, but that might result in other issues with the clipped llc ferns. Maybe you can try some dodging of the trunks and see what happens. Still a beautiful image as is.

Registered on November 29, 2009, 48 Posts, 249 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on October 27, 2011 at 1:03 PM

Excellent arrangement of elements and exposure John. Amazing blending work too.

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on October 27, 2011 at 2:19 PM

Well seen and well composed. Perfect fall PNW capture.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 27, 2011 at 3:29 PM

Beautiful John. Your compositions are always so carefully crafted, and this is no exception. This is a real pleasure to view.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on October 27, 2011 at 3:51 PM

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Tim Donnelly on October 27, 2011 at 4:31 PM

Can smell that crisp forest air straight out of my monitor! Beautifully composed

Registered on March 2, 2011, 13 Posts, 54 Comments

Comment posted by Ant on October 27, 2011 at 5:09 PM

Extremely pleasant image, with nice warm fall colors... I like it very much.

Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on October 27, 2011 at 7:31 PM

I like the contrasting color here, John. This is a tough scene to compose and you have done well here. Although it is a complex scene the different elements seem to work well together.

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 27, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Nice! Love the detail here. Seems a bit hazy, not sure if thats the atmosphere or the processing.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 27, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Really like the near-far relationship here that comes with wide-angle. Sky seems a bit of a distraction, but it's hardly noticeable.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on October 27, 2011 at 9:01 PM

I like the leaves against the ferns.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on October 28, 2011 at 8:16 AM

That's some great mood and I love the use of the foreground to suck you in.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on October 28, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Thanks for all the feedback!! I played with the suggestions above. Here is the crop, and I'll post Joseph's suggestions below. (I prefer that version now that I've seen all three.)

Stan, the haze is both. There was a bit of moisture in the air lit by the very yellow light coming through the maple leaves overhead, and I think some of it is from softening my sharpening too.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on October 28, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 28, 2011 at 10:53 AM

Awesome image John. So well composed and such an appealing mood.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Gino Cortez on October 28, 2011 at 11:09 AM

Colorfully inviting scene!

Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on October 28, 2011 at 4:14 PM

Well composed, John. My eye travels from the big leaf and then throughout the frame to that exit corridor between the trees. Then I start all over again. I like the original image for its punch.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 28, 2011 at 6:55 PM

John, this is incredible. The mood, the color, the detail, that leaf in the foreground, everything comes together so well for a stunning autumn image of this forest. Love your perspective and your composition; couldn't be better. Your third post is perfect in my book. Fantastic image.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on October 29, 2011 at 1:47 AM

Really luvin the soft feel to this one...another great portfolio image here I'd say! Sorry we havent hooked up for a shoot yet. Perhaps in the next week or two...last week or two has been HELL week for work...

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on October 29, 2011 at 9:16 AM

John, my favorite is the second version. It shows a fine tonal range to my eye, natural colors and nice details also in the shadows. Your composition is very appealing to me, well anchored by the foreground farns which are counteracted by the more lightweighted elements in the distance.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on October 30, 2011 at 1:48 PM

This one turned out very well John. I like the final version you posted the best with the lightened tree trunks. The luminosity of this scene is just excellent. Well done.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on October 30, 2011 at 7:08 PM

Really beautiful work here John. Front to back, I love the detail and colors.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments