I found this old uprooted tree in Rock Creek Canyon area while on my fall color trip to the sierras with the CANP folks in October. The tree did show some burned areas possibly from a lightening hit that just may have taken it down. Thank you in advance for your comments.
Posted by Lon Overacker on December 15, 2006 at 8:20 PM
Paul,
This is a beautiful image. I love the range of colors, the detail and composition. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought this tree was petrified! There's a great arrangement of the elements with the leaf, twig and even the pine needle add's to it. I've always thought about getting the warm polarizer, and even without having seen the original scene or your transparency, I can see the effect of that filter.
I'm one who is not adverse to arranging an intimate scene like this, adding or removing elements like leaves, etc.... so I have to ask, did you arrange anything or capture it "as found?" Kudos to you either way.
This would make a gorgeous print. My only minor, minor, minor critique would be to have removed the leaves on the bottom, especially the one with the light green in the lower right. They're not overly distracting and too much for cloning out in PS, so again, just a nit-pik.
Lon, very good to hear from you here. No problem in sharing ideas either way. So far as arranging itmes, I go through issues with this at times. I have images where I did not touch a thing and should have, with the end result it was of no use. In this case I did arrange the stick a bit. It was twisted slightly downward, but not much. In away, I wish I had "gardened" a little more before shooting. The one leaf you point out in the lower right I plan to eliminate. I'm not sure about doing too much cloning to the others, although I agree it will improve the image. I really get torn between what has a natural look, and what has a contrived or planted look. I appreciate your input, as your observations are very keen & valid ones, and it helps me improve my photography, which is why I'm here. Truly, thanks for your help Lon.
Posted by John W. Wall on December 16, 2006 at 6:37 AM
I like this little scene. Just this morning I was stalking the spawning coho in Muir Woods when I found a big yellow canyon maple leaf. I carried it with me quite a ways in the hope of finding a good background to set it on for a shot. I think moving stuff around in a shot like this is not only fine but often mandatory.
Thanks John for the comments and review overall. I agree with your thoughts on the subject of arranging or not arranging things. I learned the hard way of not doing cleanup work. You cannot make clean clones of everything, it is best to get the image in the field as best as possible to cut down or prevent major surgery in PS......take care!
Posted by Lon Overacker on December 16, 2006 at 6:29 PM
Looks great Paul.
I have to tell a little story about arranging a scene. I'm especially prone to doing it with leaves and even carrying them around all day just as John described. A few years back along Lee Vining Creek I found a simple scene in the creek. I'm always drawn to the reflected golden light and there a single rock in the creek just begging for a leaf. So I obliged and shot this with my 4x5.
http://www.capturingtime.com/imagepop.asp?ID=24014SH
I think that's a cottonwood leaf and not an aspen. But in any event, I'm always conscious, or feel guilty that I've done something that wasn't natural. Of course leaves fall on rocks all the time, so I don't feel that guilty. Well, I felt vindicated the following autumn when I returned to the same spot. Yep, there was a single leaf on the same rock. Of course it wasn't as clean of a leaf and not in the same spot, but a leaf was there none the less - and I didn't feel so guilty after all. :-)
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This is a beautiful image. I love the range of colors, the detail and composition. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought this tree was petrified! There's a great arrangement of the elements with the leaf, twig and even the pine needle add's to it. I've always thought about getting the warm polarizer, and even without having seen the original scene or your transparency, I can see the effect of that filter.
I'm one who is not adverse to arranging an intimate scene like this, adding or removing elements like leaves, etc.... so I have to ask, did you arrange anything or capture it "as found?" Kudos to you either way.
This would make a gorgeous print. My only minor, minor, minor critique would be to have removed the leaves on the bottom, especially the one with the light green in the lower right. They're not overly distracting and too much for cloning out in PS, so again, just a nit-pik.
Great find, great image.
Lon
I have to tell a little story about arranging a scene. I'm especially prone to doing it with leaves and even carrying them around all day just as John described. A few years back along Lee Vining Creek I found a simple scene in the creek. I'm always drawn to the reflected golden light and there a single rock in the creek just begging for a leaf. So I obliged and shot this with my 4x5.
http://www.capturingtime.com/imagepop.asp?ID=24014SH
I think that's a cottonwood leaf and not an aspen. But in any event, I'm always conscious, or feel guilty that I've done something that wasn't natural. Of course leaves fall on rocks all the time, so I don't feel that guilty. Well, I felt vindicated the following autumn when I returned to the same spot. Yep, there was a single leaf on the same rock. Of course it wasn't as clean of a leaf and not in the same spot, but a leaf was there none the less - and I didn't feel so guilty after all. :-)
Lon
http://www.photoportfolios.net/portfolio/pf.cgi?a=vp&pr=27959&b=up&st=1&la=80&ph=18&sid=19004&pi=TRAILIMAGES&u=19004