Footprints in a snowy woods

[Joneck]

Wondering how some of you more experienced photographers feel about the contrast in this photo. Also, do you think it would work better as a B&W? Any tips on what I could do differently with composition? I would appreciate some of the more technical shooting tips as well, such as what the proper setting for lens aperture would be in this situation -- I'm still very new at this.

Aside from that, just general feelings about the photo would be nice. How does it strike you? Is there enough to entertain the eye or do you find it boring? Other general likes/dislikes?

As always, thanks for any and all input. Much appreciated.



Exif info:

Camera Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Lens Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 59 mm
ISO Speed 100

[BCampbell]

This may be more appropriate for the landscape section.

The footprints create a nice leading line. But they don't lead to anything. It's entirely possible to make a greta photo out of a scene like this, but very difficult. You have to be very careful about the placement of the trees and need some interesting visual elements in that background. Instead, this just fades off into a middle value nothingness.

The partial tree on the right does not create a frame and is extraneous. Getting rid of it would open up the frame much more and give the eye more space to move around... as it is, that tree completely blocks off the right side of the image and force the eye back to the center, here the footprints again lead to... not much.

Another problem is that this is entirely underexposed. It is really hard to get an exposure like this without underexposing the trees and/or overexposing the snow. You'll have to be very careful and use some processing tricks. Or else make do with an underexposed photo. If you print this as it is, the trunks will come out almost totally black.

Keep at it. You saw an interesting detail which is great. You'll have to work that detail a little more, and pay attention to the rest of the scene. Look into the forest landscapes of Ray Metzker, and try again.

[bbtom10]

It;s a shame you weren't able to get the footprints in that shaft of bright light, perhaps be turning 90 degress to the left and moving across to where the light is shining on the snow you would have got a more dynamic contrast between the footprints and the dark shadows within them, against the snow and the trees.

Tom