Big Leaf Maple +rp

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 27, 2014260 views11 comments

I found this lovely Big Leaf Maple along the shore of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley.

Nikon D-7100
Nikkor DX 18-140 @ 52mm
TK's Masks were liberally used
November 2014

Please see the large version. Thanks!

Your thoughts are always appreciated.

--P

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 27, 2014 at 4:50 PM

This is a very harmonious and beautifully serene scene. I wonder about darkening the top of the frame where the branches are relatively bright which currently tends to take the eye up a bit.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Floyd Hopper on December 27, 2014 at 8:35 PM

Beautiful reflection. I agree with with Kah about the lighting of the upper branches.

Registered on May 1, 2009, 652 Posts, 762 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on December 27, 2014 at 9:47 PM

A beautiful composition, Preston. I agree that the leaves are a bit bright, but I don't find that to be a problem, If anything I would add a bit of contrast to that area, to try to get a bit more of detail in the leaves.

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on December 27, 2014 at 9:53 PM

I like it and I think it's pretty well exposed but the rocks seem a little green on my monitor. However it's way past due for recalibration so never mind.

Well done.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 28, 2014 at 1:01 PM

I really like the symmetry and delicate nature of this comp. I hesitate to say much about color, because I have my own issues keeping it in check. But, this does look too warm(yellow/green) to me. Seeing what looks like diffused sun on the scene could be providing that though too.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 28, 2014 at 2:30 PM

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

Based upon your thoughts on this one, did some further tweaking...

* Burned the top of the frame about 15% using a TK Burn/Dodge layer.
* Used TK's Wide Mids Luminosity Mask to set the grey point, using one of the stones as the target point. This reduced the overall warmth a bit and removed the slight greenish cast in the stones.
* Reduced the saturation of the reds, yellows and greens by a small amount.
* Increased the saturation of the yellows in the reflection of the tree by a small amount. This was done on a separate layer mask with only the water selected.

Let me know what you think.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 28, 2014 at 9:04 PM

Yeah, that's it. Nice adjustments!

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on December 29, 2014 at 7:13 PM

I like the repost but like Chris said critiquing color well.........nuff said.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on December 29, 2014 at 8:06 PM

I like your comp, Preston. At least on my monitor I prefer the color in the original, but I think I might need to re-calibrate my monitor.

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

Comment posted by Ryan Shain on December 29, 2014 at 8:38 PM

Hi Preston,

I think both images are very nice, and I like the adjustments in the repost. The symmetry is what makes this image so beautiful, and I really enjoy how the green foliage surrounds the yellows in the reflection.

Very nice vision on this image

Registered on February 20, 2007, 226 Posts, 4571 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on January 3, 2015 at 12:58 PM

Nice work Preston. The repost is much better.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments