Sweetgum Profusion 2

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 19, 20179,601 views13 comments

This image was made a few minutes prior to my earlier maple image post. The conditions were basically the same: heavy cloud cover and misty rain.

When I originally processed this, I was not happy with the luminosity of the leaves, even after adjusting a light's layer. So, I thought, 'Let's duplicate the lights layer and see what happens. Hmmm? Too bright, now.' Next, I adjusted the contrast in the duplicated layer, while leaving the original layer alone. I think this trick worked. My question for you is: Did it work?

Nikon D-7100
Nikkor 18-140mm @ 105mm
F-22 @ 1/2 s. ISO 125
TK's masks.

Please see the large version. Thanks!

I appreciated your thoughts on my earlier image, and would appreciate your thoughts on this one, too.

Edit: Julia Flanagan, a forester, advised me that these are Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua). That is why I corrected the title.
--P

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Silvia Richter on November 19, 2017 at 3:17 PM

Answering your question, Preston: yes I think it does! There is an irresistible beauty to your image for me. The firm structure given by the trunk and branches lets me explore the whole pattern of the foliage with its appealing color transitions. A consistent presentation of this autumn scene to me.

Silvia

Registered on February 27, 2011, 18 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on November 19, 2017 at 6:38 PM

Preston: Works for me. I tend to see portrait comps better than landscape so I do slightly prefer this one to the original but both are excellent. 2 thumbs up. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 19, 2017 at 8:40 PM

Preston,

I didn't think there was much you could have done to improve your previous image. That is unless you posted this one. cool

First, agree with Bill. I like the strong vertical comp. the trunks and the smaller branches still providing some structure and order to the scene - just like the horizontal image.

I'd say you really elevated the color presentation here. I understand duplicating an adjustment layer. I guess the question is really how much of an adjustment was done on the original. In other words, make zero adjustments on the Lights layer and you could duplicate it 10 times and nothing would change. But that's not too relevant, the end result speaks for itself. The colors are bold, vibrant and to my eye quite natural in color and saturation. You've got some excellent contrast as well.

This one is killer Preston!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on November 19, 2017 at 11:37 PM

This is superb, Preston. The bold straight tree trunks and branches that interlace as a woven taprestry through the leaves is simply stunning for the eye to explore. Composition could not be better and your processing is spot on to me. The only thing that I would suggest is to make one large stunning print. Incredible.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on November 20, 2017 at 10:30 AM

I think it looks great. Colors are vibrant, contrast looks good. Like the patches of green that sneak through. Looks like you cought these at peak foliage.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on November 20, 2017 at 2:58 PM

The trunks peeping through the foliage make for a very attractive image, Preston - if anything, I might like to have seen them even a little more prominent if possible, but this is still a keeper. Regarding the light, I do still notice a few touches of bright white on the yellow leaves, but I don't find them a significant distraction.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Floyd Hopper on November 20, 2017 at 7:26 PM

The season for autumn colors. I like the tree trunks on the left. This makes it more than just another fall foliage scene.

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on November 20, 2017 at 8:42 PM

I keep looking at this and thinking a square crop of the entire bottom section would be a stronger composition. But then I realized that would be similar to your previous image. The suggested crop would provide a stronger structure because the dark tree and branches become prominent.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on November 21, 2017 at 11:24 AM

Works perfectly for me, Preston. The large version is exquisite with the riot of red and yellow autumn color along with all the intricate details of the limbs and tree trunks. I also like the placement of the main tree trunks. Great job isolating this scene from the rest of the trees.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 21, 2017 at 1:08 PM

Hi All

Thank you for your comments and suggestions!

Given Lon's comment about duplicating layers, I thought I would post screen shots of the layer properties. The image on the left is the first layer in the stack, and the image on the right is the next layer in the stack. The 'Blending Mode' for each layer is set to 'Normal'.
--P

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on November 22, 2017 at 2:22 AM

I have a slight preference for this post over the last one. The strong verticals of the three trunks holds the composition together perfectly. I'm not much of a technical guy in terms of processing but it looks perfect to me, believably vivid.

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 22, 2017 at 11:08 AM

Preston, Sweetgum trees often have wonderful fall colors and you've caught that beautifully here with the frame filling profusion of red and golds. This vertical version is a good improvement.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on November 22, 2017 at 1:31 PM

Beautiful mix of rich, vibrant colors set-off nicely against the dark trunks and branches. The soft light is working wonders. The composition is very pleasing and well balanced. Processing looks perfect on my monitor. Would make a lovely print.

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments