Leavenworth, WA / With Edits

Excellent work. Although I like this very much I would crop at the top of the bottom greens and remove below it. I would do that to make this a study of yellows, oranges, and browns. Although the bottom would chop off the tree trunks. Now I understand why you chose this composition. I would try the suggested comp and give it time to compare the pros and cons of each, time to settle in. 

There is a thin white line on left margin that you should probably crop out. A minor annoyance. 

This really a remarkably beautiful image and any suggestions are just that, possible considerations. Another one would be to desaturate the greens to bring more attention up higher.

Chris

Very fine photo. Hang it on a wall!  I love the color contrasting with the tree bark.  The thin white line on the left is the only very small nit I have, similar to the other poster, but it is only noticed upon intense study, not something that grabs the eye.

Beautiful, Chris. I would clone out the edge of the tree on the left side, but otherwise, liking it a lot just as is. I get the title, but not sure about equating the name of a prison with a beautiful scene. To me, it kind of detracts from it, thinking about bars, etc. But, that is me. 

Chris: At first glance one would think that aspen grove shots are a piece of cake. But after years of futility I really appreciate the vision you have here and the overall result. I love the colors, textures and details in the larger version especially. Most excellent. >=))> 

Yeah, I see what you mean, Harley. I added some more clarification. Thanks.

Thanks Bill!
It is most definitely not as easy as one might think! I have only a few that I like enough to keep or print. This being my best and favorite. Aspens and Birches are not hard to find. But the right grouping with the right balance and aesthetics are more elusive.

There you go! Much better title!! 

Chris, This is really beautiful and I think it would make a wonderful print! It is a great looking birch grove and I just love the colors in this. I agree not so hard to find until you want to make a beautiful image like this, then it gets a lot harder. Really nice work! 

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Chris, this is really nice done. I like the framing as it is. Minor, but you might look at burning down the upper part of the central trunk just a bit. I love the color and textures. Speaking from experience, Aspen groves can be very difficult, but when one nails it, they are a winner, as this image is.
--P

excellent composition!
I find it's rare to find aspen trees neat and straight-up, especially so many ones together.
I would tune down green a bit to make yellow more outstanding and saturated. Human eyes are more sensitive to green.

Outstanding find Chris.  The balance of colorful splashes around the trunks are one of the best aspects of the image for me. Instead of cropping off the bottom foliage, I might try reducing the yellow, maybe increasing cyans and magenta a little to avoid it competing with the top portions.  I remember staying in Leavenworth a while back before hiking into the Enchantments and have such great memories from that area.  Would love to return someday.

Ok.
Here's a version with the main centered tree burned down as Preston suggested.
And the greens brought down a little too.

also, a tiny crop to get rid white line. That doesn't exist on my file at home????

And here is Igor's crop suggestion

Thank you for posting my suggestion. I like them both about equally. 

BTW, have you seen Charlotte Gibb's take on aspens? I like it very much. She goes low contrast and pastel yellows in her interpretation. It's as though she drops the clarity to create a dreamy look.

http://www.charlottegibb.com/#/gallery/eastern-sierra/an-autumn-fantasy/

Thanks, Igor!
I did not think I was going to like the crop. But it works! Like you, I think I like both comps about equally.

Charlotte’s gallery is spectacular! Not exactly sure how she arrives at her results. But I like the look very much.

Chris, After looking through these I think I like the crop that Igor suggest the best of all. It is close but that one does work really well. Nice work on this! The work Charlotte Gibb does is wonderful. I like it very much.  Nick

Beautiful composition.  I prefer the full height as opposed to the crop - just seems to flow up and up, but the wonderful colors bring my eye down again.  

It's not often that I think I disagree with Igor, but I much prefer the original image.  The cropped one feels to me as though it's missing something.
This is an awesome image.  I have chased a lot of aspen tree colors, and I love this one.  Well done!!