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Again, I really love your scene, but I still think that I'm seeing too much. I think what you are wanting me to focus on is the tree trunk and the lovely red leaves around it. Try cropping it to that and see whether my suggestion makes any sense. Just remember: This is just what I think. And that and USD$4.50 gets you a Caramel Mocha Latte half caf, low fat!
Thank you D. I really, honestly didn't know what I wanted to do with this. It was one of those "Oh, hey.......cool, a tree with red flowers around it" type deals. Cropping certainly is an option, and I've thought about it. One of the things I really have to fight myself over is composition. Then again, like you say--that's what the cropping tool is for.
BTW......no latte.....just meat, potatoes, black coffee.
I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty to showing just one option as to a possible crop. It's really not the best practice to rely on the crop to make up for our poor composing though so STOP THAT! Yeah, yeah, I know! I'm the guiltiest of them all, but I'm working on it. But it is nice to know that you won't lose an image just because of that right?
While cropping is good in some cases....the prime consideration always has to be composition......something I need a lot of work in, so I appreciate what you're showing me here. I have to go back and look again at everything....
I agree with the crop. A nice tight zoom works well, though trees aren't my favourite thing to look at. Nice mix of colors, though I may try sharpening it a tad if possible.
I'm writing this without reading the other posts, so I might be saying things that others already have...
My first thought was, what's the subject? I think your scean has potential, but the comp you have here is very busy, with no real point of interest. Perhaps your subject is the contrast of the read leaves against the rest of the image that doesn't have any dominant colors, or the leaning tree? Either way, I think you could improve the shot by doing a couple things. 1. Take your subject out of the center of the photo. More often than not, a centered image seems very static. Remember the rule of thirds. Also remember that rules are made to be broken. The key is to know when and how to break the rules. A second way to improve the image is to make your focal point more dominant. Zoom in and bring your subjet into sharp focus. Your whole image seems pretty soft to me. Use depth of field to help set your subject apart from the rest of the scean. I think you have done that a little with this image, but I still find the BG too busy. Just a few of my thoughts.
"I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
Aldo Leopold
Technically it is flat and needs contrast and saturation adjustments. There is certainly potential for a colorful scene. The sky is pretty flat as well, though it looks as if there's a hint of possibility in the upper right.
Compositionally, what does the title tell me? It appears this could be a woodland floor anywhere, so why this title? There's no walk or path or direction.
Not to be overly harsh, but you did want comments. Merely as a suggestion, I'd call this ' woodland floor' or something with 'Fall' in the title as that is what I'm sort of seeing...
The tree in the middle needs to be to one side or the other, or it is just bullseyed in the middle and blocks the view of the rest of the scene. Unless the tree is the focus?
Make me, the viewer, see something or help me to connect with what you saw when you made the photo.
Best wishes.
Last edited by drg; 12-16-2005 at 08:07 PM.
Reason: editing
Michael.......I called it A Walk In The Park simply because I was absolutely devoid of any creative names at the time. Call it a senior moment. ;)
As far as the comp....well, I can only say -- it was a good idea at the time. Looking at it now, I see what you're all getting at. The center is a heckuva place for a tree when there's nothing else to compliment it. I'm thinking maybe a different angle from either side (left or right) would have made a difference.
Saturation....I did boost the saturation a little, but didn't want to reach the point of gaudiness. I could have done a little more, in retrospect.
Thanks all for your suggestions and help. I'm taking notes, and will have them with me on my next excursion.
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A second way to improve the image is to make your focal point more dominant. Zoom in and bring your subjet into sharp focus. Your whole image seems pretty soft to me. Use depth of field to help set your subject apart from the rest of the scean. I think you have done that a little with this image, but I still find the BG too busy. Just a few of my thoughts.
