Last Forest Image for a While?

Thanks for the feedback on the last, particularly Mearle Gates whom I didn't get to thank on that thread. This image is chosen with particular attention to the points that Mearle raised. Comments welcome.

Eric, you can pretty much take everything I said in my last response and apply it here too. At least I'm a little more involved in your thought process now though, and I think I can see what you were trying to achieve. It just dosen't work for me.

Eric,
I don't doubt for a second that you were out in nature enjoying the moment of the light, smell, and sounds of the forest. When this happens, you develop a personal attatchment with that moment thats really hard to capture on film(or digital sensor). I have a feeling when you see these images, they help you go back and let you experience those moments again. This happens with me on alot of my images that I like and don't even come close to striking a cord with anyone else.. Am I correct or totally off base?

Erik: I don't remember anything in particular about shooting this image. It was months ago, note the fall colours of the leaves, so it's not fresh in my mind.....so I don't think my motivation is happy memories. I think what's happening is I just love the way light catches leaves in the forest, and keep trying to share this feeling. It is valuable to know that I'm not succeeding (yet) in conveying any of the wonder I find in sunbeams falling on things. I suppose it's not surprising, given that (1) my skills are necessarily limited and (2) sunbeams have fallen on things since the beginning of time, generallly without striking most humans as being in any way remarkable. 'Tis a gift to be easily amused, to have one's Muse close at hand.

Thanks, though, and any tech pointers are more than welcome.....and I'd love to see what Marc (or you, Erik) have done with the same forest settings.....

An example of using softer, early lighting and a 4-stop soft graduated ND filter to control a forest exposure in direct light.

Radiance

An example of using softer, late day light and backlighting to reduce contrasts, the sun was positioned on the edge of a tree at F20 for the burst effect.

SunForest

An example of a using softer light, filtered through high clouds on foliage at mid day. I had only a 10-second window to capture the light as seen in this image.

FairyFalls

Eric, I think I understand what you're motivation is. I have been trying to do the same thing for years with similar results. I have come to the conclusion that the medium is still too limited in its ability to capture the neccesary range of light to get what I'm after. But of course, that doesn't stop me from trying!

Buring Bush is just about the closest I've come, but still not high enough contrast. When I increased the contrast during post processing, I didn't like the result... it just still wasn't what I was going for. However, I do like what I got by accident

Eric,

I get what you were going for now. I also agree with what was said in your previous post that the dynamic range of the slides and time of day was a limiting factor. After I read what you were going for my first thought was to get closer, maybe picking out a just a few leaves getting hit by the light and try to emphasize them as a focal point. There looks to be some really nice colors in this shot that might be taken advantage of better giving that a try. I stop a lot and ask myself "What do I really like about this?" then I try to expound on that. Sometimes things really fall into place, most times not. I'm not much of a landscape shooter though so take that FWIW.

Dave

eric lee - The term helter skelter comes to mind when I look at this image. Perhaps it would make a useful background for context if you were photographing a close-up of a particularly colorful branch of leaves. Anyway, you have seen some images as examples of great scenes to be on the lookout for. I'll offer one as well.
http://www.gototem.com/Yellow_Cedar_Web.jpg

Mearle, That's what I've been trying to capture without success. Good, now I know it's possible.

Curtis, I can see your jaw dropping when you spotted that "burning bush". That's a Wow! shot, I would say. Mine was taken along the north shore of Lake Wenatchee last fall. How about yours?

Thanks all, especially those who sent images. Marc---your Radiance and SunForest took my breath away when you first posted them, and again in this post. Dave---post some, your landscapes might be better than you thought. Mearle, thanks again, I couldn't access your image thru this website but am going to it after this reply.