Quiet Green

[RussHeath]

I love this scene, but am not sure about the picture. I have about 50 shots of this spot, this is one of the best with a little post-production work. The place, on a secluded trail, made me feel very peaceful. The lack of wind made the shot easier. I still feel like something is not "quite right," however.



Maybe it's a little unbalanced with the dominant curved tree on the right and only open space on the left??

Here is a cropped revision with a little more color work. I think the composition is better, but I had to give up the curvy tree. Maybe that's OK?



All comment and critiques welcome, but specifically I'm interested in the following:

1) Which is better?
2) Is there a way to crop the first one to preserve the nice curved tree and still have a balanced shot?

Thanks for any help.

[jiminyClickit]

newbie,

Green and dark, weeds and bark, serene to the point of not having a subject. Technically, a little dark and framed too tight. Things in the background might present better material, or if you cropped to leave just bottom right quadrant. Better, but still not a strong subject. Lightening would give you a better idea of what to do next. I'd go back for more of the curvy tree.

[knickers71uk]

Oh I have to concur with Jim, the curvy tree is the best bit of the shot, but could have done with much more of him.

[Sime]

I am not here to critique - I just wanted to say that your photo made me want to lay down in the middle of those trees, in the green grass (?) and goto sleep... thank you

it's 11pm and i'm going to bed - this is the earliest i've been to bed in months.. thanks newbie - you've inspired me to something...

sime

[RussHeath]

Originally Posted by jiminyClickit

newbie,

Green and dark, weeds and bark, serene to the point of not having a subject. Technically, a little dark and framed too tight. Things in the background might present better material, or if you cropped to leave just bottom right quadrant. Better, but still not a strong subject. Lightening would give you a better idea of what to do next. I'd go back for more of the curvy tree.

Jiminy - I think this is one situation where my memory of a place is much nicer than any of my photos. Oh well. In retrospect I should have probably circled around the side of the curved tree to isolate it. I was so focused on the dappled sunlight on the green canopy the rest of the composition ended up weak. Unfortunately, I won't be able to return to that spot until it's covered with snow. As to it looking too dark, I think that it may be a difference in monitors. I have several that are brighter, but they have less depth and only add texture to the tree bark, which is boring. Thanks for the intelligent criticism. I'm amazed that with the quantity of your posts they are always so helpful!

On a related note, here is one with less green but more subject:

Originally Posted by knickers71uk

Oh I have to concur with Jim, the curvy tree is the best bit of the shot, but could have done with much more of him.

Thank you, kindly. If I ever make it back there during summer, I'll make it better.

[RussHeath]

Originally Posted by Sime™

I am not here to critique - I just wanted to say that your photo made me want to lay down in the middle of those trees, in the green grass (?) and goto sleep... thank you

it's 11pm and i'm going to bed - this is the earliest i've been to bed in months.. thanks newbie - you've inspired me to something...

sime

So happy to assist with your insomnia! Now if only I had a comercial and lots of disclaimers, I'd have the safest alternative to Ambien ever made. . .

I'm not sure what the green stuff in the picture is. Not grass -- it's a little thicker and with very small leaves. And it makes a very comfortable place to stretch out and stare up at the trees.

[knickers71uk]

Its a kind of fern i believe

[RussHeath]

Originally Posted by knickers71uk

Its a kind of fern i believe

Maybe -- I'm not much of a botanist but it looks a little woody on the stems to be a fern. Attached is a very close crop from another picture showing the same plant.

[knickers71uk]

Originally Posted by newbie

Maybe -- I'm not much of a botanist but it looks a little woody on the stems to be a fern. Attached is a very close crop from another picture showing the same plant.

Niether am I lol from the close up it looks almost moss like, along the lines of alpine kind of plants you get in europe

[RussHeath]

Yea, kind of looks like the scrub brush all over Scotland (I haven't been there in a long time) but less fuzzy . . . Anyone out there have a clue what the green stuff is?