Here's a shot from last winter, taken at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. It's two focus-bracketed exposures, combined for DOF purposes, using Helicon Focus.
Not sure just why but I like the shot better on my laptop monitor it shows brighter and to my eyes the bark shows up better, I like that much brighter but it may be my eyes. Like my lens, I find I like more light most times. Interesting shot nonetheless, and again would be better bigger I think..
Posted by Toni Lankerd on January 28, 2009 at 9:22 PM
That's one thing I really like about winter..the shadows such as this on the snow. Good eye, Kerry!
Posted by Mitch Erwin on January 28, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Kerry, these type of shots always spark an interest in me to look. This one is well done too. Is the trunk on the left a stump? It has a hunk on the right side not extending up through the frame?
A very formal image, with a heavy interest in design. The elements all work well, though I think it might be more effective after a fresh snow (to clean up the ground surface a bit). The brightness seems appropriate to my eye given the lighting conditions. Nicely captured Kerry.
Mitch, the trunk you're asking about isn't a stump (look closely and you can see the shadow it's casting), but it may have had a secondary trunk hacked away, which would explain its shape.
Joel, no question, a fresh snow would be great, but this shot would require not only a fresh snow, but also an immediately succeeding clear sky day (i.e. to get the shadows). The next one of those occurrences around the Chicago area would probably be the first. I've been out at the Arboretum twice this season the day after a fresh snowfall with the same, predictable result: solid slate-gray skies.
Ha. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who encounters the gray wonderland effect; well, at least it makes me feel better! It's obviously true that we can't control the weather, and I understand where you're coming from. It's a very honest image as-is, and in some ways is probably more indicative of reality.
Posted by Brian Vance on January 30, 2009 at 4:45 PM
I like the composition and the placement of the three trees in the frame. I've also enjoyed the comments in the thread, with Joel's 'probably more indicative of reality' still lingering in my mind. I like the idea of capturing the beauty of the natural world honestly.
Discussion
7 repliesD200, 24-120 D
Mitch, the trunk you're asking about isn't a stump (look closely and you can see the shadow it's casting), but it may have had a secondary trunk hacked away, which would explain its shape.
Joel, no question, a fresh snow would be great, but this shot would require not only a fresh snow, but also an immediately succeeding clear sky day (i.e. to get the shadows). The next one of those occurrences around the Chicago area would probably be the first.