Burl Forest

Vance,

You sure maximized the light here.  I can imagine the experience of being there.  Nice job showcasing the burls, but the story of course is about the late light.  I kinda chuckle at the thought now what Velvia 50 would have done here (or more accurately, couldn't do... )  But you've done well with this scan and processing.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I have to mention a reaction I'm having.  Animation.  A quick glance and I can imagine Shrek... or the Beauty and the Beast or any of the Pixar films....  Not sure if that makes sense.

Agree with Paul on the density of the forest here.  I do think you've selected a great scene within that forest considering the difficulties of crafting coherent comps from these places.

I'm not sure about the broken limb at the bottom.  On the one hand, it's less conspicuous because there isn't that warm light striking it, but for the same reason, it almost seems misplaced.  The good news is, it's not terribly distracting.

Great job with this one.  

Lon

ps. Is there anyone? still shooting 4x5 and posting on NPN?  I know Paul is still using film, Ian, but MF.  Good on  you for hanging on!

ps. Is there anyone? still shooting 4x5 and posting on NPN?  I know Paul is still using film, Ian, but MF.  Good on  you for hanging on!

Lon, along with Vance & myself still using 4x5, I think there are a couple holdouts on NPN. Stuart Williams and Michael Hardeman as I recall. I've not seen Ben Horne on here in quite sometime, but I know he still produces a lot of Youtube's using 8x10.

The mass of glowing trees looks great, Vance.  Then, I see why it's named.  That burl on the left is especially interesting, while the massively wide trunk on the right adds balance.  I wonder if some subtle dodging of both burls would let them play a stronger role. 

I'm with Lon on this one Vance. I am seeing tree ogres in freeze mode here. Love the light and the dense forest. The shapes add so much character too.

This image shows how the coastal woods look on the way back from a sunset. It's a special time that passes too quickly but I always enjoy it, but have never captured it. I'm talking about the area from Salt Point to Point Arena. I know this is supposed to be about the burls but somehow they don't throw themselves at me. What is very noticeable is that angled dead branch. Personally, I like it. I like it because it's the exception to all the up and down and you know what the French say, "vive la differance".

This one is really not working for me. I find my eye wandering around, looking for something to lock onto. I find the warmly lit trees in the back very engaging, but I have trouble working my way back there, if that makes any sense.  Processing looks good and I am surprised at how well you did with the deep shadows and Provia. 

Thank you everyone for your kind comments.  Really appreciate it.
Paul, the lack of foliage on the lower limbs is most likely due to lack of sunlight as well as the unrelenting onshore wind that buffets this coast, which fortunately for me was quiet this evening.  The 210mm is my favorite lens as well.
Lon, I almost took that limb out of the scene but then decided against the idea, as I did not want to trample that undergrowth.  Have mixed feelings on it.
Mark, I actually did try to increase the luminosity of the burls/trees you mention but did not want to take it too far and have it look odd.  May try again though.  Thank you for the suggestion.
Ed, Igor, thank you for your comments.  Appreciate your insights.
Harley, thank you for your honesty which I very much value.  trying to get a meaningful composition with nice eye leading lines was quite difficult in this forest.  The Provia did better than I thought.

Thanks again, everyone.

I think you did a great job of controlling the how the light, shadows, and colors came through in this.  I can only imagine how difficult that is with an image taken in this light, and in a forest, with all those shadowy spaces.
The warmth of the evening light does come through.  It's an interesting contrast between that warmth and the feeling of mysterious darkness in amongst the trees.  Good handling of the bit of sky in the distance, too.
Yeah, it kinda feels like an elf or a dwarf or some sort of ogre is going to come out of those trees.  I think the misshapen trees adds to the mysteriousness here.

What great light, Vance.  You're still a 4x5 hold-out, huh?  Good for you.  I like the way this image fades darker as you look upward in the frame. Nicely done.