This is quite a stunning subject matter. An excellent choice, with "branch" being obvious on several levels. The lighting is great, as you have taken the picture at a time with some good side lighting (early morning or evening?), which has thrown shadows of the branches onto the webs, and lines the edges of the branches very nicely (almost a sun kissed silhouette).
The trouble with subjects like this ( which are intensely interesting) is how far to document them (ie get everything in) and how far to limit the extent of the image but capture the essence of it in an image - the latter will often be a better photo, at the expense of not recording the whole moment for posterity. I think that this image records an amazing scene well, but falls down a little on recording its "essence".
Compositionally, the visually stimulating parst of the image appear (to me) to be the centre of each of the webs in strong light and the largest of the branches. I would be very tempted to move in with the camera and fill the frame with just these (probably trying to follow the Rule of Thirds rule). I would experiment with moving in much closer and filling the frame with the webs, and taking photos of just one web in focus with the others in the background. The bits of web at the side of the image and away from the tree are interesting from a documentary point of view, but less so from a strength of image perspective.
One of my main aims with this subject would be to get one or more webs into focus, some branches into focus, but to get that background out of focus (outside the Depth of Field). As others have commented, there is so much detail in the background that it detracts from the focal point of the image. It is not attractive enough or plain enough to leave in the image.
You have some technical limitations with your camera in selecting a shallower DoF, but there are ways around it. I think that any portrait mode would be one of the better modes to use, combined with getting closer to your subject. At an extreme, you could see what you could do with the macro mode.
In any case, this is a strong image that rightfully did well.
Now this is an unusal capture. It's a shame that the fence in the background slightly ruins this image. I think it would have looked superb in black and white with a black background, or maybe even a closer/macro shot of a single web clinging to a branch to place the background out of focus. 6
While -as I'm sure you know- this has been dones many times, your lighting and texures really make yours stand out. I cant help but wonder, however, if the imaged would have been improved by taking the picture through one of the webs looking at the others... just an idea...
This shot has great potential. Since the color of the fence doesn't add anything to the shot, I think I'd go with black and white, boost the contrast and those wonderful spider webs would really POP. The light is well done to showcase them with the existing monochromatic theme. 7
Wow! I can't think of anything to say. That's usually good :) I really like the way this picture is bright. So many others would have tried to put a dark cast on it and it may have been a great picture too, but it wouldn't have been the same. This is a picture about brightness, lightness, creative workmanship and interesting design.
A bit too much is sliced off the right side. I would have cropped down another millimeter to get the top horizontal slat off on the top right.
Fine work. Good eye. Glad you were quick to shutter, but slow to broom.
6 - Indeed it is, but I think you have not 'grasped' the full potential within this 'set'. Criticism; I would like to have seen either a much tighter crop, different angle, possibly even close enough that only one or two webs/branches were in the frame. The back fence (?), especially the posts/rails, detract too much from this shot. There is just a lot more potential here in my opinion that is not captured.
Great concept for the challenge. The branches are the supporting pieces, but that works well here since without them the webs could not stay standing. Technically a little flat. Not sure how you'd get better perspective...
I'd like the photo better if the background was black, or some other solid color. The wood in the background is distracting and too similar to the branches. I like the webs, however.
WOW.... love the capture.. although kinda makes my skin crawl... thats a whole lotta 'Piders for my liking LOL ... I've tried getting spider webs and didnt get nearly the detail you did.. Great job .. thanks for sharing
This reminded me of arachniphobia.... so beautiful. Its simple and complicated and truely a great capture. I know how hard it is to get "just the right lighting" for this pick.... wow
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