Embracing

I crawled unde this brushy madrone tree with my 10mm lens because I liked how the branches seemed to wrap around me.

This is a five shot HDR image with 15 stops difference in exposure. I'd be curious to see whatcha all think of this one.

the sky is not blown out, that's good....

the branches, "reach out to me", that's good too....

I only wish this was a 10 shot vert pano so that you could blow it up HUGE!!!!!!!

it does have a slight HDR look to it.....but thats ok

It does have that HDR look that doesn't seem quite like a normal photograph, on the other hand, it is probably a lot closer to what the scene appeared to your eye. I sort of wish there was some true black in the deepest shade, because it looks a little light or washed out. I like the comp, and the leading lines of branches.

like this?

You are right, the first one really does feel more like my eye experienced it...

Rick, I like the technique and the concept and I think it conveys what you were trying to show if I attend to the way the trunks go. And the foliage and sky is good. It's just a darn bit scraggly on the left with all those icky smaller branches going chaotic all over. On the right side there are some too, of course, but there's a little more order, a pattern, there.

I think I like the second one a bit better. It seems to have a little more depth to it.

hmm... This one's not speakin' to me Rick... it's interesting, but the interest just doesn't stick with me...

Surely not a wow shot, and maybe not even a good one. I agree it is too brushy, expecially on the left side.