I took this shot this evening on Lumpy Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park after a short rain storm. I tried a number of different compositions and feel like this is the best one. I am still not really happy with it though. I'd like to go back and give this another try. Any ideas on what could I do to give it a little more zing or am I just being overly critical?
Yes, as usual, you're being overly critical. Ask Joanna, she'll tell you.
I don't think the image leans right, but the way the trees are makes it seem so. And in photography as in politics, perception is reality. It also might be a bit busy. I'd love to see this place two months from now, when the ferns are big and lush and green and in your face. Then I'd like to see you get down to their level and have at it.
Thanks for your honest comments. I think you confirmed what I was feeling. I guess I was playing off the different colors with the dead ferns, but it is quite busy. A lower composition didn't help a lot either. Todd, thanks for the suggestion about trying again later in the year. I'll try to get back there to check it out then. Ken, Lumpy Ridge is just outside of Estes to its north. It is the area with all the large rocks.
I'm with Guy. That foreground is a setup for the rest of the shot.
It's not a hard and fast rule, but Bill Niell gave me a provocative prod for shooting in trees: Try to find the one POV where trees don't overlap. This calls for very subtle POV changes, but can have dramatic results in how your eye moves among the trees. He should know, if you are fortunate enough to find his book "Trees."
I think for me I find that I feel like I am looking down too much with the shot. I think I would like a lower perspective. I might try to richen up the colors a bit too.
I love the spring color of the ferns contrasted with the white trunks and think this is a nice composition. I'm sure that you had some limitations when composing.
I agree with Nathan that a lower perspective could help and was also thinking that by moving to your right you could use the 1st aspen bole as your lead in to the forest with the ferns sprinkled between the aspens. A more prominent aspen trunk may anchor the image.
Discussion
8 repliesI don't think the image leans right, but the way the trees are makes it seem so. And in photography as in politics, perception is reality. It also might be a bit busy. I'd love to see this place two months from now, when the ferns are big and lush and green and in your face. Then I'd like to see you get down to their level and have at it.
Maybe one thing you could try would be to include more of the boulder in the composition?
I sort'a like the contrasting color of the dead ferns, but I'm undecided whther they add to the total scene.
Guy
It's not a hard and fast rule, but Bill Niell gave me a provocative prod for shooting in trees: Try to find the one POV where trees don't overlap. This calls for very subtle POV changes, but can have dramatic results in how your eye moves among the trees. He should know, if you are fortunate enough to find his book "Trees."
One thing you could try is to find find a clump of ferns right around a tree and get down and do a lower composition right up close to the ferns.
Has it been as windy up in Rocky this week as the forecasts have been saying?
Nathan
I love the spring color of the ferns contrasted with the white trunks and think this is a nice composition. I'm sure that you had some limitations when composing.
I agree with Nathan that a lower perspective could help and was also thinking that by moving to your right you could use the 1st aspen bole as your lead in to the forest with the ferns sprinkled between the aspens. A more prominent aspen trunk may anchor the image.
Good Luck,
Dave Showalter