Posted by Mat Malone on August 16, 2009 at 3:57 AM
Round Top Lake, Sierra Nevada, California.
As I was hiking back to camp, the light hitting the tops of the trees caught my attention. This tight grove of junipers alone on a small peninsula echoed the quiet solitude that evening alongside the lake.
This is one of those images where I really enjoyed the moment being there, but I'm not sure there's enough drama for a general audience. Thoughts? C&C greatly appreciated. Feel free to be completely honest. Thanks!
The light is very nice, here. Given that the light on the trees is what attracted you, you could have opted to accentuate them. I think the mountain mass overwhelms the trees. There is a nice feeling of solitude.
I am not sure the trees are juniper. This looks to be at or near timberline; too high for western juniper. I believe these are whitebark pine, given the color of the bark and the shape of the trees. I'd have to see the needles and the trees up close to make a positive ID, though.
Posted by Robert Dayton on August 16, 2009 at 9:51 AM
It certainly does suggest solititude, Mat. I don't think that the reflection is helping
the composition that much. However, I do like the stand of trees and the warm light.
Posted by Dan Baumbach on August 16, 2009 at 3:07 PM
The image has nice elements, but I agree with Preston that there's too much in the frame. I thing concentrating on the trees might be a place to start.
- Dan.
Posted by Steve Sieren on August 16, 2009 at 7:04 PM
I like the symmetry here. I think maybe a bit more light in the frame might of helped brake up the shadows. Might of been nice to get a 50/50 of just that reflection with the ice so more on the bottom but still with just a bit more light.
Posted by Lon Overacker on August 16, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Mat,
I like this. I think there's a story here; a relationship between this grouping of trees (I think Preston's correct about White Bark) and the steep, rugged and barren environment above. I like the way the trees are all leaning in the same direction and grouped so tightly together - makes me thing of a group of people all huddled together.
Looks like you did a great job with the exposure as well.
That's a pretty neat stand of trees, and good light. I do think with the cropped snow reflection it looks a little messy in terms of composition - either a full reflection or cropped to above the snow reflection would help I think.
Posted by Mat Malone on August 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Thanks for the comments everyone. I have tighter crops of the trees, but I didn't go with them because I like the sense of place from the taller view. I think cropping some of the reflection off may be an improvement.
Preston & Lon, thanks for the ID help! I'm terrible at identifying plants/trees.
The tight stand of trees does look compelling, I think a horizontal view that places more emphasis on the trees (but not necessarily a tigher crop) would also have worked.
I can totally see where this is one of those cases (we've all had it) where the feeling of being there doesn't transfer over to the camera. I can imagine trying to capture a sense of place and that cluster of pines, but as a viewer I want to see those pines in more detail and less of the surroundings. They look very interesting... but to be honest, I'm not sure what could have been done differently. Did you happen to take any close up shots of those pines like a group of aspens... that might have been interesting too?
Discussion
9 repliesAs I was hiking back to camp, the light hitting the tops of the trees caught my attention. This tight grove of junipers alone on a small peninsula echoed the quiet solitude that evening alongside the lake.
This is one of those images where I really enjoyed the moment being there, but I'm not sure there's enough drama for a general audience. Thoughts? C&C greatly appreciated. Feel free to be completely honest. Thanks!
The light is very nice, here. Given that the light on the trees is what attracted you, you could have opted to accentuate them. I think the mountain mass overwhelms the trees. There is a nice feeling of solitude.
I am not sure the trees are juniper. This looks to be at or near timberline; too high for western juniper. I believe these are whitebark pine, given the color of the bark and the shape of the trees. I'd have to see the needles and the trees up close to make a positive ID, though.
Western Juniper-Sonora Pass Country
-P
the composition that much. However, I do like the stand of trees and the warm light.
- Dan.
I like this. I think there's a story here; a relationship between this grouping of trees (I think Preston's correct about White Bark) and the steep, rugged and barren environment above. I like the way the trees are all leaning in the same direction and grouped so tightly together - makes me thing of a group of people all huddled together.
Looks like you did a great job with the exposure as well.
Lon
Preston & Lon, thanks for the ID help! I'm terrible at identifying plants/trees.