[fionaB]

took this shot away last year. I always loved the tree but thought it blended too much intot he background so i ecided to see what i could do about it............
as always honest CnC appreciated

Fi

[Dabhand16]

I rather like this one Fi is it a processed daylight shot or did you creep up on it in the dark? I'm guessing from the shadows on the branches and the even light up the tree and in the background that is a daylight shot.

I like the effect, but not knowing how much room you had makes it difficult to comment on the composition. The low branch going out of shot to the right could be trimmed and the vignette would hide the trimmed end.

I think it's better than the tree in front of the church anyway!

[Gary Bagshawe]

very dramatic Fi

[Angela]

I keep coming back to this picture because I can't quite make up my mind if I like it or not. It certainly is dramatic, as Gary says, and I also agree that losing that bottom branch would help. I think it's the vignetting that I don't like particularly - any chance of seeing it without that?

[nichpr]

I've looked at this shot for a couple of days now trying to figure out why I find the photo lacking when the subject is one that I, too, would have wanted to shoot. I like the contrast between the tree and most of the background. I think what I have concluded is that the subject, while initially compelling, is imperfect. I shoot a lot of leaves and trees and so often find when I get home that there is something about a particular subject that I did not see in the field that just spoils the shot. In this case, most of us seem to feel that the lower branch is the imperfection that spoils this one.
I'm learning that one of the things that generates that "Wow" reaction is not just the technical execution but finding that truely rare subject that seems "just perfect."

[fionaB]

ok have lessened the vignetting to just a tad.... lopped the branch......... any better?

Fi

[nichpr]

I like it! As I look at this poor tree now I see all the stubs of limbs that once were and the twisted and knurled branches above and think what a tough life this tree has had, yet there it stands tall and proud...... Not quite a thousand words but a story none the less. ;-)
- Paul

[water]

I think this one works better.It is a subject/shot I have tried many times to take after seeing an Ansel Adams photo of,I think,a stand of Silver Birches [Aspens].I had many attempts but never got there,the light and/or my darkroom skills failing me .

[fionaB]

many thanx, although i still like the original i can now see where everyone was coming from about taking the branch away.

Fi

[Angela]

Looks great now Fi, really like that version!

[skipper954]

Great job removing the offending branch, Fi. Did you just clone or do something else?

I, too, have looked at the first image a few times, and yes, something about it just wasn't right. Now I think that it was the vignette that bothered me. The branch may have been ok.

And I think that Paul's comment is really great. That is the kind of interpretation of which I would like to see more. (convoluted enough for you Rob? ) None of us, myself included, comment enough about our FEELINGS.

skip

[Rob Barron]

Ok, gotta go middle ground here: I liked the original except for the bough branch being a bit too intrusive because it fought with the vignette. But I don't like the entire branch lopped off because it has left a large bare area in the bottom right of the picture.

I think the branch could have been cloned out at halfway along, this would allow you to keep the other branch that crosses it and give a more balanced feel to the whole tree. I would have had a go at it but it's very difficult to do that on the vignetted version. Maybe you could give it a go Fi or pop me the original over and I'll have a go at it.

But I DO like this shot a lot, it has character and gives me a feeling (had to get that in ) of a wood that looks imposing and a place to keep out of at night. Interesting shot, well done.

Cheers,
Rob

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

The low branch going out of shot to the right could be trimmed and the vignette would hide the trimmed end.

I have already agreed with you, Rob.