Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! This is an older digital image I've played with for a long time. I never really got it quite right in color, so I started exploring in BW. Since I don't usually work in BW a lot, have I got the contrast and brightness right here? I realize there are a couple of branches in the LRC that may be distracting, but elected not to clone them out, to see what you guys think. All comments welcome. Feel free to be honest. Best Regards.
Michael, I'm probably the last person that should comment on B&W, as it is over 40 years since I've really worked with that process during the years I was stationed in Alaska.
With that all said; I do like the total isolation of this tree and the effort you applied overall, especially working with the entirely bank sky too. I think the main comment from my perspective would be on the actual framing. Although the tree top is tight on the frame, it still works OK, but the loss of the base leaves me wanting to see more of it.
Sorry I cannot help again with the B&W process in general, but thought I'd at least comment about the framing here. Not sure if you took any verticals, but that might have worked better here, although, I'm a big fan of horizontals such as this one.
Posted by Eric Good on December 26, 2009 at 7:40 PM
I like how the details of the bristlecone standout in relation to the smoother tones in the bg. I might consider a slight CW rotation and maybe cloning out those brighter limbs peeking in from the LRC. Other than that, this works for me.
Posted by Steve Sieren on December 28, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Michael, this is nice. The twisting of these trees always amaze me. If you are able to mask the tree completely you might be able to bring some more tones in it. Looks like you have some uneven dodging or burning in the ground to the left of the tree, if it was the dodge or burn tool that created that you can try a wider brush with up and downs strokes, I don't know why up and down it just works better that way. With the large brushes you'll have to mask or create another layer. Hope that helps!
Discussion
4 repliesWith that all said; I do like the total isolation of this tree and the effort you applied overall, especially working with the entirely bank sky too. I think the main comment from my perspective would be on the actual framing. Although the tree top is tight on the frame, it still works OK, but the loss of the base leaves me wanting to see more of it.
Sorry I cannot help again with the B&W process in general, but thought I'd at least comment about the framing here. Not sure if you took any verticals, but that might have worked better here, although, I'm a big fan of horizontals such as this one.
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