Ghosts in the Forest + repost

Ed, This certainly does have a ghostly look / feel about it. A combination of the dead trees and your b&w processing. It's kind of like you can see into the forest and yet the forest isn't there...or something like that. Kind of transparent I guess. Cool image and perfect title. Very cool.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

I like the delicate, filigrane appearance.  Once sees through the forest, or at least well into it.  And yet at the same time, it seems impenetrable.

Ed,

Right up my alley!  These type scenes are perfect for b&w and kudos for seeing that up front.  It's one thing to convert to b&w, just to convert and see what it looks like (we've all done it...,) but it's another thing to recognize a scene for it's b&w qualities before pressing the shutter.

The back story is important here because otherwise I would wonder why the evergreen isn't a darker (green) tone.  And regardless of the information, this does have a ghost-like and mysterious edge to this.

I have two thoughts on the critique.  First, I'm wondering if this might be improved, in terms of impact, if you cropped some off the bottom to eliminate the foreground bush tops or grasses.  Nothing but trees simplifies this somewhat complex scene.  The other suggestion is playing around more with contrasts and exposure.  If you were looking for a more high-key presentation, then you succeeded, but if it were mine I might play around with the brightest tones, especially in the trunks on the right and tops of some other trunks, and also the LLC(unless you crop.}

Even if you didn't change anything, I think you've expanded your comfort zone nicely.

Lon

Yes, Ed, your title seems very appropriate for the view and your processing.  For me, your processing creates a feeling of an infrared shot.  I like the stark nature and the strong graphics with your emphasis on the trunks working well.  Well done.

I like the graphics in this composition, the pattern of light on dark. In order to enhance that it would be good to simplify it by cropping  out the brush on the bottom and in the llc. 

I think the overall sharpness on the smaller branches make this one.  And there's just enough vertical stems to give it stability and tie it together.  Very nice.

I really dig this, and your title is very fitting imo. If it were mine, I would lower the brightness, that would fit this almost melancholic scene a bit better I think. Nice job previsualizing the b+w!

I took one look at this image and thought you had been following Lon for a while. Apparently he agrees. This is a good graphic with a lot of detail and abstractness.

Nice strong graphic image. As others have suggested, I would tone down the highs a bit and play with contrast, but it all depends on your vision for the image. Real nice.

I like the way the trunks stand out from the maze of the woods behind them, Ed.  I like this image.

I like the stark, ghostly and evocative look, Ed. Amazing amount of detail in the larger view. I also would play with the tonality, maybe darkening it overall. Not sure, however. The lighter areas seem to lose some detail, but they add to the ghostly feel.

Here is a repost with the brightness lowered a bit and a crop from the bottom. Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Let me know what you think.

Ed

Ed,
Very nice! Has a strong graphic quality and lots to hold my interest. The repeating trunks help make some order out of the chaos. Agree on the suggestions to tone down the brightness and crop a slice off the bottom. The repost looks great.

Hi Ed,

I am digging what you have come up with in the repost of this fine scene. I enjoy the high ker processing, and how your creativity stands out with the processing. The trees are show cased in an unique manner. They no longer seem dead; they seem like they live on in spirit with your vision.

 

Great eye to see this and fine processing. I'm going to go against the grain. I like the original over the repost.

Hi  Ed    This scene would make an excellent  subject  for  B&W.   the dead  branches  provided  perfect  lines and texture  for this excellent capture ..        I agree  with  Micheal,  i like  the original  more ,  because  i see  more graphic  detail .


Albert Darmo
Canada 

Great artistry Ed. My preference is your original too. It has a "bigness" the other lacks, and I'm fine with the way it is processed. Great capture.

I like this. Good balance with the vertical lines. To me the scene almost feels like it could be a reflection I am looking at in a pool of water. 

Thanks for your thoughts everyone; always appreciated. FWIW I prefer ny original post because the FG bushes ground the image for me and the higher key dead pines were what I had previsualized when I saw the scene. Great tto have different input and choices though.

Ed

I would go with the first version but loving the spooky atmosphere.