The Forest Floor - Need Advice.

[theeventof]

Started running a weekly post on my blog with one and only thing in mind - make myself a better photographer.

To do this I've decided to post an image on each Sunday that doesn't necessarily satisfy my goal for the shot and hope to receive some feedback so I can reshoot, reprocess and repost the shot in the future. This week's shot up for critique is The Forest Floor.

Basically, I'm not happy with it, the sky was cloud covered so maybe would have been better to go when there's more blue sky? The trees are too dark so there's no much detail in their trunks. Overall I think it's an interesting location, I'd just like to make it pop when I venture out to reshoot it later this week.

You can also visit the official blog post The Forest Floor

EXIF DATA
Camera - Nikon D3100
ISO - 200
Focal Length - 18mm
Exposure - 1/80th sec

Thanks for the help

[navcom]

Couple things I might suggest...

First, you appear to be thinking about your composition but you need to take it one step further. You need a definite main subject. Getting so close to the ground and then not having anything to get close to might be a bit disappointing to the viewer. Maybe aim the camera up more to get rid of the ground and focus more on the vertical lines of the trees? It might help. Or find something to use as a main subject on the forest floor.

Second, I might consider coming back early or late in the day to add some color to that sky. It might also add to the interest of the shot. Colorful skies shouldn't be the main subject but they work wonders painting your main subject.

Hope that helps a bit!

[ravncat]

A blue sky depends on the brightness of the sky, blue might match with the green - but chances are the sky will be much brighter than the forest and you might still end up with a "whitish" sky. Looking at your composition, I`m not sure if it would help to replace the white with blue. You can do an experiment with that - use photoshop to select the white areas between the trees (Color select should do it) and fill that selected area with a blue that represents sky - I know that it won`t look great, but it should be enough of a meter to help you visualize how it would look with a blue sky...

If you expose for the bark on the trees, you`re certainly going to lose your sky, that`s a very contrasty subject. You`d be better off going to that location when the sunlight is hitting the trees more directly if you want to give them more exposure and not blow out the sky - I don`t know which direction you are facing - but something like the photographers ephemeris might be helpful for that. I`m not sure that you really need lots of detail in the trees as the trees are a background element in your composition - In my opinion the background should support the subject. I also think that lots of detail can be distracting. Maybe you should be focusing your whole composition on the details of the tree bark?

"Overall I think it's an interesting location." - Why do you think so? Can you choose one or two elements that make it an interesting location? Try to emphasize those elements in different photographs.

You might take a piece of cardboard - and hold it across your image, split it into halves at first, left and right, then top and bottom. (you can look at smaller areas too) Can you improve this composition by cropping? What elements in your composition are strongest?

In my opinion, it`s the larger leaf on the forest floor that has my attention, I would be working more with it. Considering the whole thing as a scene - the trees are very flat and show little depth (Particularly on the left side). The curve of the floor is interesting - either you have terrible distortion in your lens, or the ground isn`t flat. You`ve also titled this image "forest floor" but 60% or more, isn`t the forest floor. (Nothing wrong with the title) What compositions can you make by emphasizing the floor and depth and it`s relationships to the background?

Hope this is helpful =D
(btw, im detecting a difference in the image posted here as an attachment and the one posted on your website)
(I see (what I think is) a stronger vertical crop within your image, but I`ll leave it as an exercise for you to find a crop you like better yourself, cause I think that would be more beneficial to you. I`d be happy to tell you if you want to know though)

[benchdog]

Nice location but what I think is bothering you is the lack of a focal point as navcom mentioned. On days like this try focusing on the details not the wide view.

[theeventof]

@navcom & benchdog - Thanks for the replies - I agree that the lack of a definite subject seems to be potentially the major issue with this photograph. Someone else commented on my blog post about possibly moving the trees higher in the frame to focus even more on the floor and possibly even finding something specific to draw focus would work even better.

@ravncat - Thanks for the very detailed reply! You clearly put a lot of thought into it and I'm very grateful for that. Overall you gave me a lot to chew so I’m going to take my time, but I wanted to respond with some general comments on your thoughts.

First I like that you pointed out to the large leaf on the floor, the more I’m looking at this shot the more I like that as a potential subject. I will play around with various crops tomorrow and hopefully I can figure out what this mysterious vertical crop is that you’re referring to

To answer some of the questions you raised – I think I’m facing northish maybe northwest. It’s always so disorientating when you’ve been wandering around the forest for a couple hours. As far as time of day it's probably 1-2 hours until sunset on an overcast day.

The ground is not level, my lens might have some distortion, but it's definitely not that bad .

Thanks again to everyone who's taken time to respond and help point me in the right direction. I'm looking forward to heading out to this spot again to use the feedback and really think about this shot in a new way when I get there.

If anyone has anything else to add I'm still open for suggestions so feel free to speak your mind here or on my blog.

[Krusty79]

There's a sign for a trail in your shot. Why don't you try a shot using the trail as a leading line into the shot? You can even put yourself or someone else on the trail for a focal point (because you're using a tripod, right?).

[Michael_2010]

I think the perspective given by the low angle of the lens adds to the composition. A shallower depth of field might emphasize the "forest floor" and make the overall shot more artistic.

[theeventof]

@Krusty - I'll have to look at the scene again, I think the last time I was there I wasn't very impressed with the trail as a leading line, but I could be wrong so I'll check it out. As far as a tripod - I hate the dame thing! I prefer to not use it unless I need it due to extended shutter speeds. Maybe I'll carry it along with me the next time I go just so I have the option for this particular shot.

@Michael Thanks for the idea I was thinking of trying the same thing to kind of bring the focus to the floor and create a more artistic idea.

[Aegea]

I never thought I would say this as I am not a fan of the technique, but the first thing that popped into my mind when I looked at the shot was "this could benefit from some HDR". I guess that's because the tree trunks are too dark to show detail, and the sky is too bright. I do agree with the earlier comments that the composition needs a focal point, and that if you could get some nice sunset colors in the sky it might be interesting. I'd add that I always find woodland scenes extremely difficult to photograph, so I am finding the other comments very helpful.

[theeventof]

Originally Posted by Aegea

I never thought I would say this as I am not a fan of the technique, but the first thing that popped into my mind when I looked at the shot was "this could benefit from some HDR". I guess that's because the tree trunks are too dark to show detail, and the sky is too bright. I do agree with the earlier comments that the composition needs a focal point, and that if you could get some nice sunset colors in the sky it might be interesting. I'd add that I always find woodland scenes extremely difficult to photograph, so I am finding the other comments very helpful.

Thanks Aegea I have thought about snapping a few brackets the next time I go just so I have the option for HDR. I especially think it'd be nice if the sky had some oranges and reds in there, but then again, there are some other options as well.

It'll be an interesting experience when I head back there this week as it'll be the first time I'll really be walking to the forest to photograph a specific scene, typically I wonder around until something catches my eye. Can't wait to head back there and see what becomes of all this feedback!