Some of you may recognize this tree, it did pretty good in the Landscape II challenge ("Say Goodbye To Summer"), it's just in the perfect spot where you can get a good clear picture of it!! Hopefully it does well in this challenge :)
Edit:
Crop
Levels
Curves
Color Balance
Brightness/Contrast
Save For Web
Statistics
Place: 91 out of 352 Avg (all users): 5.8138 Avg (commenters): 7.1667 Avg (participants): 5.7065 Avg (non-participants): 5.8774 Views since voting: 1217 Views during voting: 327 Votes: 247 Comments: 11 Favorites: 1 (view)
I am a huge fan of silhouettes. They are typically very clean and allow the viewer to concentrate on forms that can otherwise be lost in other situations. I think this image is a prime exampe of that.
The tree has a feathery feel to it that would be lost in a normal capture of it simply because of the lighting and color of the leaves. Now that those distractions are gone, there is nothing to get in the way of the basic form of the tree. Its well-balanced and that shows - as does the make up of its branches which are helping to provide some excellent lines.
The dillweed or whatever that is on the ground is fantastic too, I love the forms being shown off there AND I like how my eye has not just one area of interest but three. The ground cover helps draw the eye along and it has a nice contrast to the strength the tree is exhibiting - in comparison the weeds look frail and delicate.
Finally the sky is awash in gorgeous, yet nicely subdued colors. You could've saturated into some deep colors but I'm so glad you didn't. The result is a dynamic look at the clouds and a pleasing softness to the sky that makes for a perfect foil to the stark black, instead of competing with it as a more boldly colored sky might.
The focus is perfect and the composition works very well. The one thing I don't like about the image is the sun behind the tree. I feel it hads a harshness to the image that is out of place and its vivid brightness doesn't seem to mesh well with the surrounding elements. It may not have been possible to capture this image without the position of the sun where it is though. Luckily, its not a huge issue either, I don't think it is a 'problem' for the image, there may be those who like its inclusion as it does add to the atmosphere - I just find its intensity out of place.
This is a great image and you've managed to balance a number of different elments in a way that is pleasing to viewers in a general "oh pretty" level but also some more sophisticated visual interactions for those who want to take time with an image.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
