Tree touching sunlight

[monicaorange]

I took this picture while on a retreat last week. I have several other photos, but I'd like to share this one first.

...Oh yeah, by the way, I'm new. I'm Monica and I've been taking pictures for the past couple of years. I'm quite a novice willing to learn new things. I'm more into video production, but from that background I was drawn to photography. I respect and appreciate it and I really admire what you all do on here. I've been looking at the pictures posted here and they're just lovely, and your comments show how well informed you all are. Well, let me stop before I get too sappy...

Here it is...



At first it bothered me that the sun was cut out of the picture, but I kind of like how the rays gently touch the tree. I messed with the white balance a bit and gave it a more yellowish tint. It was a lot more blue out there, but I wanted it to feel more warm.

[Chrislowshow]

i love it, its beautifull, hiya Monica and welcome, try to lighten the leaves a little, give it a brighter look
great shot though

[GB1]

Nice shot Monica. I could offer the advice that perhaps even more of the sun should be cropped out, since it becomes dominant. You prob dont want that because the leaves are so pretty here.

It would have also been a little more artistic if the sun's rays were diagonal instead of almost veritical. But that's for next time. Good job. And welcome to the PR boards

GB

[monicaorange]

Thank you Chris and GB1. Glad to meet you both.

I actually just arrived on campus a few weeks ago, and I hear they have a PC lab here with photoshop. Perhaps I can brighten the leaves then.

I agree, it would be more artistic if the rays were at an angle. I received a comment that it almost looks like the tree is being lit by a cigarette lighter. If the angle were different, I think it would have been a different story.

Thanks for your reponses and for welcoming me

[Greg McCary]

I'm not so sure about the diagonal thing. I might crop it so that the ray is shooting straight up and ps some of the ray on the right making it a more intense shot into the tree. My head just keeps wanting to lean to the left as is. I also might flip it 180 just to see what it looked like that way. But no matter what I really like it just as is. This is a good picture......
Greg

[Fillmoe Slim]

Welcome. Funny thing i'm also new to this site today and was drawn to photography from the video world. It's amazing to me how similar but how extremely different the two are to each other. I did a quick crop on it cuz I think the sun was a little overpowering like Monica mentioned and also did a quick level adjustment to brighten it up. See what you think.

[Don Schaeffer]

Lovely shot. The subtle highlights on the leaves are beautiful.

[monicaorange]

Greg, I tried the 180 thing...



It seems totally different now. The tree almost seems like it's in the right position now. At first look, it threw me off, but it's a very neat perspective.

Fillmoe, I like the crop actually. Now the sun isn't as powerful, but the rays are just as good. Thanks.

Thanks Don

[monicaorange]

Whoops...I edited the pic on flickr and now it changed the original. It's still intact though.

Fillmoe's image is the closest to the original.

[CLKunst]

It's ALWAYS about perspective!

I thought this would look cool flipped. Good thing someone suggested it, I was certainly going to. Very nice job with the sun flare. That's a tricky exposure situation.
For the record I like it upside down, very unusual that way and fun to look at. Welcome to the PR Boards!

Regards,

[monicaorange]

Yes, you're absolutely right, it is about perspective.

I think I like both perspectives equally. The first shot seems more unusual than the second (flipped). Yeah, the sun flare took me a couple of shots, thanks for the compliments.

Thanks for the welcome

[gahspidy]

Welcome Monica, the image does look to be cropped too much from top and bottom. Thats the impression I have when I first view it, but at the same time I find the image pleasing to view because of the subtle detail in some leaves and the stark sihouettes of most of the others, and the yellow/orange tones throught the picture. Is this cropped at all or did you frame it this tight? I would suggest opening up your frame some more as we ( I know I did/do) have a tendency to zoom in too tight on subjects. I look forward to more pictures from you.

[monicaorange]

Thank you Gary.

I did zoom. I wanted to just get the tree and the rays of the sunlight. I was actually standing by the pier and there were a couple of boats floating around. If I would have widened the shot, the boats would have gotten in the way.

I have a couple of shots that are widened, but the tree isn't in the shot.