When I saw the announcement of Branch II I knew immediately what I would shoot, The Birthing Tree. It is a massive Oak tree in McMinnville Tn that is in the historic tree register. And yes, you are seeing correctly, this branch and a couple more actually rest on the ground. Over the past year a couple branches had to be removed for the health of the tree and cables have been added to support others. Getting a full shot of this tree is hard work, getting a clean shot of this tree is impossible as the town has grown up around the tree. The tree was a landmark to settlers and it is said that many many births took place under this very tree.
//www.tufc.com/trees_birthing.htm
I didn't do much editing to my shot
adjusted saturation and tempature
made slight adjustements to exposure and contrast
re-sized and saved
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Wow that is one big tree. Not sure I can really add to what these great minds have already said, just keep on shooting, love to see what's next from you.
I think the last four commenters have said it all, and said it well. "Cluttered" and "undramatic". A different angle, or a different approach could have worked, or if you'd included a point of interest to compliment the branch... a person or animal. it's not a bad image, not by any definition, it's just not interesting enough, especially for the DPC crowd. They're tough!
It is not a bad picture, but in my opinion, I found the photo to be too busy yet, undramatic. Nothing really brought me into the photo and I seemed to be held off by the unfocused foreground of the photo. The colors, while natural, didn't evoke any sort of emotion and I felt like I was wanting more. I guess, to say it short, the photo was kind of bland.
Looking at the tree (from your notes), I can possibly suggest a couple perspectives that would have made the photo more "active". For instance, an off-balanced, tilted shot from the trunk, moving down the branches w/ a shallow DOF could produce a more interesting feel to it. The branch could have provided some leading lines, rather than just being in the photo. Having the picture done at some "colorful" time (sunrise, sunset, night) may have also helped out with the colors to it.
These are just my opinions, of course, and not by any sort of professional knowledge.
You say it's difficult to get a clean shot of this tree, so why not go in the other direction, include elements of the town in the shot and show how the tree is part of the community.
I think your problem here is lighting and composition. The shot is cluttered, the focus is on the branch in front, but what are we looking at that's interesting about that branch? Bear in mind that most of your viewers don't have the same emotional attachment to the tree that you do so to them it's just a branch on a tree.
I think you have an interesting subject here, go back at different times of the day and try taking it from different angles. Try it with backlighting, eg, setting sun, try it with long shadows, try a whole bunch of different things that you think wouldn't work. Take hundreds of photos of it, examine them, find the angles and positions you like and go take hundreds more like them. I'm rambling slightly now, but that's how I find good pictures of difficult subjects, it may or may not work for you :)
Composition is a bit clutterd. As already said, cropping off the bottom might have helped. I addition, the lighting is quite flat, bw-conversion along with a push in contrast might have been a way to add impact.
Great sharpness and tones. The light here is a bit flat, but somehow beautiful and compliments the moss. The problem with this shot is the composition. The bottom branch detracts dramatically, and it is like you didn't really know what you were focussing on with the image.
Not sure specifically how it could have been improved without being there, but perhaps more around a little, looking through the viewfinder constantly until you get something that is pleasing. Keep the concepts of leading lines and the rule of thirds in mind.
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