Cedar Stump in the Forest

[greenroomsessions]

I am new to photography and this site. So, I took this picture on my lunch hour walk from work. Should I have cropped this at all? How is the exposure? Would it have been better if there was someone sitting on the big cedar stump? Looking forward to what you have to say.

[SwissJon]

Can you please provide the EXIF data?

[greenroomsessions]

Camera Nikon D40X
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 1600
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[Corey Thompson]

There's a lot going on in the photo that it leaves me questioning what it is that my attention should be drawn to. I think what would help is if you used the forest as more of a background, got in closer to the tree stump, and found an interesting angle to shoot it from. As it is, the stump doesn't demand my attention.

[Krusty79]

I usually enter Yosemite from 120 or 41, so I don't normally pass through Mariposa. It must be cool to live so close to Yosemite, though.

In general, it is usually not a good idea to place your subject right in the middle of your shot. However, even if you used the rule of thirds to place your subject, I don't find that stump a compelling subject either. Even if you kept the stump in focus and blurred the trees in the background, there does not seem to be any reason for my eye to linger on it. Maybe if you had an axe stuck in the stump, it would at least tell a story and add interest.

[greenroomsessions]

Thank you for all your input. I will keep taking photos and remember what you guys said. Thank You.

@Krusty79 It is great living so close to Yosemite to bad I have not made it up there since I started getting into photography.