Natures Bow

[Shindy]

Walking one of the nature trails in the County Park next to my house,I came across one of natures little quirks. A young tree bowed to the ground by a large fallen dead tree. What setting changes could I have made to improve this photo. It was cloudy wtith some sun shinning through.



Canon 50
Shutter 1/500
Aperture 4
ISO 400
ef 70-300mm@70mm
pp: Contast 2 stop &shardenoing.

[Krusty79]

Well, since no one else has commented, here is mine.

I don't have a problem with your settings, but it looks like you took the shot in the middle of the day when the shadows are harsher. Also, while the angle you took the shot shows the bending of the tree, my eye does not find that angle that interesting. It might have helped if you moved closer to the base of the bent tree and took shots of the tree bending away from you at different angles and at smaller apertures to add more of a sense of depth to the image. I do not get a sense of depth with the current composition.

Greg

[RecurrentNerve]

I agree with Krusty, my first thought was to move in, open the aperture for a shallow DOF and shoot down the branch, having it curve away out of focus.

Not sure of the possibilities what with the trees but if you could get a low angle and try and shoot it against the sky that might work too. The problem with woods is that the subject is often lost against the trees behind.

[Shindy]

Thanks for your input, being very new at SLR photography and have a lot to learn on composition. I'll have to try try your suggestions.

[RecurrentNerve]

One of the great things about digital photography is that you can snap away without worrying about running out of shots. When you see a subject you like move around it as much as possible and experiment - you can always delete shots you don't like.

[Michael_2010]

I agree that putting your lens in unlikely positions may produce a more interesting capture. However, just working with this one, I might try to use a digital filter to introduce some haze in the background and keep the bending tree sharp. May, or may not, give the setting some needed sense of mood.

RecurrentNerve's comment took me back in time. In my early 20's I managed to scrape up enough money to buy a 35mm SLR. Bought me several cans of 36 exposure film and started clicking like a mad man. Then I took those cans to be developed and discovered buying the camera was just a downpayment on this hobby. lol

Love this digital stuff! Click, click, click and then review the end result at your leisure in the comfort of your home. No chemicals to drag out. No tin foil covering windows. No proof sheets........ We have come a longggggggggg way!