just a wet spot in the woods, close to a lake with a creek running through. I came upon this while on a hike and thought that it was an interesting subject. give it a look over and let me know what you think and which you prefer. thanks
just a wet spot in the woods, close to a lake with a creek running through. I came upon this while on a hike and thought that it was an interesting subject. give it a look over and let me know what you think and which you prefer. thanks
I like it!
I would crop off the bottom just above the branch in the bottom center. Your eyes would then naturally follow the stumps from the lower left up through the frame to the wonderful tree in the background...
Just my two cents...
thanks, that's what I was thinking also
Sorry, John, but this image doesn't captivate me. It's a bit too "messy", without enough of a clearly defined composition to guide the eye. The "flat" light further impedes my ability to "read" the scene. However, I note that Peter likes it!
I wonder if the succession of mossy trunks leading into the scene might provide a focus if they were more diagonal, leading in from the bottom left corner (i.e. step forward, to the right, and look down and left more), perhaps with a longer focal length to include less of the forest.
Alternatively, the russet leaves in the top half could look quite arresting if they caught some sunlight, creating a pattern of copper glowing spots as the main compositional element, set against a background of the tree trunks.
Finding a composition reasonably free of clutter in the chaos of a forest setting is often difficult. In addition, the light was not favourable here.
thanks for your feedback, I value your opinion as you seem to have a pretty good eye for a scene. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
The crop is an improvement to my eye, John. It's heading in the direction of the first alternative I mentioned. I've fiddled further with this composition to illustrate what I was thinking.
yes I see that the crop off of the right side does help thanks
I've also moved those stumps around.
yes I can see that you straightnd them out but I think that the crop made more of a difference overall
I think that as a compositional element they have promise but are a bit lost in the complexity of the original. It pays to think of simplifying in such forest scenes while you're at the viewfinder. If that means sacrificing an attractive element (say, the russet leaves at top here), so be it - it could then be the focus of another, different image. Milk the scene for all you can before you leave.
Just my thoughts on this...
I duplicated the layer and simplified out all the minor details then blended that layer into the original thru illumination. Then brought down the medium and large details while boosting the minor details and added a texture layer also blended in as illumination; then (perhaps a bit strong) a vignette... and just removed the two little branches at the bottom.
The idea was the break the scene down into shapes after simplifying the minor details; ending up with a leading line of the stumps, to the log, to the tree with leaves on the bank.
It may not be to everyone's liking, but if it sparks new ideas, then it is all good. :)
i think maybe a little less vignette on my cropped image above may be just the trick. i like the idea but I do think that yours is a little dark
My 2-cents: you were caught betwixt and between what would be the main element here - the water in the foreground, the red-leafed tree in the mid ground, or the stand of trees in the background? You've got all 3 receiving equal emphasis, which results in nothing standing out and attracting attention. My thought would be to choose one of those 3 subjects and concentrate on it rather than dispersing all 3 evenly throughout the image. And, I think it's never good to chop the tops off of background or mid ground trees.