Ghosts of Hayman + Edit

I shot this in 2008 and I've been on the fence as to weather or not I sould keep it or can it. Personally I like it, I'm just not sure if it works for anyone else. I would appreciate a little feedback on it. what you like and why or, what you don't like and why.

Michael, I don't think this works ... as is. While I don't feel it will ever qualify as a great image, I do feel it can be strengthened. Three things bother me in the image. First, the foreground fallen tree breaks the overall vertical effect of the image. Second, the foreground is so dark it lacks detail (even on my balanced high end monitor). Third, the horizontal aspect ratio is counter-intuitive to the vertical thrust of the trees.

I would use a 4x6 vertical crop on the left side of the image and use Levels to add some detail to the foreground. Try it and see what you think.

I really like the trees in the background. REALLY like them. I have been wanting something similar for quite some time. Unfortunately you have one big black broken one in the foreground that is demanding all of my attention. The foreground is a bit dark but I am not certain that is a problem with a moody image like this.

I feel that if you can remove the broken tree from the image you will have a keeper. I do like Howard's idea of a 4x6 of the left side. That may do it.

I had to keep coming back to this before I could comment. I like the "otherworldly" feel to the image but agree with the others that the broken tree is a distraction. I think the suggested crop could help this.

I think it's otherworldly and beautiful! Sure, the broken tree is a bit of a distraction, but it is what it is. Sometimes you can analyze an image to the point where you invent reasons not to like it. Fark that! I think this image stands on its own, aided by a perfectly matched title. One slight mod I'd make is to brighten the fog just a tad with a curves adjustment.

As it was said...It is what it is...and, it is a bit of history that can never be captured again.
I like it a lot for the mood it reflects.

I'm with Todd. Brighten the fog just a bit, except for the spot at the top center. I personally feel that the foreground doesn't need any additional detail.

Agree with Todd's comments. I like this.

I love the mood here. I think the image could use some brightening and even a bit of a crop from the right side. Have you played with a B&W conversion at all? Along with the fog, the graphic nature of the trees is really appealing and B&W would bring that out more than color.

I like this as it is; maybe just a tad brighter, but not too much. I wouldn't change the crop. We've all probably seen shots of "ghostly" trees in fog (maybe in a wildfire burn area, maybe just because of winter hibernation) and they have a certain type of elegance like the top part of this image does. However, the reality is sometimes things are more chaotic. I like the broken tree at the bottom because it is a reminder that this is indeed a wildfire area, a place where there was a violent natural disaster and an untidy regeneration of the forest is now taking place. Dead trees snapping and falling down are part of that process. Like Todd said, "it is what it is."

One word--Black and White...well, ok that's 3 words, but you get the point.

thanks to everybody for the feedback, it's greatly appreciated. Here's the color version slightly brighter with a slight crop to the right side

And here's the B&W version. Is it me or does the foreground seems to dark in this version.