I was working near Southampton and staying in Lyndhurst on the edge of the New Forest. I woke up early and saw that the sun was just coming up, so went out shooting with half a mind to the challenge. Driving along, I saw some lovely shadows projected by the trees through the early morning mist. Unfortunately, by the time I'd parked and got myself into a decent spot, I didn't manage to get the shot that I had originally envisaged. This one didn't look too good on the camera, but I kept it anyway and found, to my delight, that it looked a whole lot better in full size. It was worth getting wet feet from drudging through the dew-soaked undergrowth.
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Place: 3 out of 128 Avg (all users): 6.8491 Avg (commenters): 8.0000 Avg (participants): 6.3462 Avg (non-participants): 7.0935 Views since voting: 7687 Views during voting: 274 Votes: 159 Comments: 46 Favorites: 12 (view)
A masterful exposure permitting the shadows to go to black with graduating golden auras emanating from the sun's light that go to complete white. The sky however represents a rich mid tone blue to darker blue. The symmetrical composition is usually a drawback but given the straight on direction of the light, you really had no choice but to center your center of interest. I've shot in early morning and late evening lighting and you have no time to find a different location before your lighting is gone completely. The subject is clearly focussed although it seems small in the overall canvas. Perhaps a horizontal comp would have permitted you to make the subject larger but then you would have lost the foreground and sky with the ribbon like cloud. I'm giving it a 6.5 only because the subject is smaller and although it is interesting, it doesn't hold my attention as I think it should in a more highly ranked photograph. Great job with the exposure and an interesting image overall.
I find it hard to actually show that it is morning rather then the afternoon at sunset when shooting the sunrise. You did a very good job of showing that it is morning. Also I like how the sky goes from light tones to dark. 9
The shadows of that central tree merging into the larger foreground shadow on the land are just amazing - especially the way in which they are softened by the early morning mist. THe light and cloud lines are magical too. Great image.
Early Morning View
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