Japanese Maple (+repost)

Gallery: FloraPosted October 31, 2010115 views12 comments

I love the twisted trunks and colorful leaves of Japanese Maples. This one is at the Hakone Japanese Garden in Saratoga, California.

Canon 5D
24-105mm f/4L IS @ 24mm
1/100, f/11, ISO 400
6-3-2010, 2:09 pm

Critiques and comments are very welcome and appreciated. Thanks for looking!

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on October 31, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Carol: Wonderful comp of a beautiful scene. I think a slower SS rendering the water softer would compliment this but that's a pretty small nit. Well done.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 31, 2010 at 6:32 PM

Beautiful scene and I agree with you about the Japanese Maples. My only suggestion would be to consider a rotation of a few degrees CCW. The water may be perfectly straight as posted but it seems slightly tilted to me. If you don't see it, it may just be me.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 31, 2010 at 7:26 PM

A simply marvelous intimate landscape shot. Very well done!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Duff on October 31, 2010 at 8:27 PM

Excellent POV Carol.

Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on October 31, 2010 at 9:16 PM

A very calming and soothing image - as good as being there in the Japanese garden itself. Very nicely captured.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on October 31, 2010 at 10:58 PM

Beautiful muted colors and that twisted trunk is awesome to behold. I would suggest isolating the tree and the trunk to make a mask and applying curves so that tree really pops out.

Nice job.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on October 31, 2010 at 11:37 PM

Thanks for the critiques and comments. I have now rotated the image 1 degree CCW per Pat's suggestion and applied curves to the tree and trunk to make it pop per Carol's suggestion. I love the changes and greatly appreciate your suggestions.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on November 1, 2010 at 2:12 PM

The repost works better for me Carol. I really like this overall. It feels like a very balanced and pleasing comp. I think I would also darken the shot overall just a tad.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on November 1, 2010 at 2:29 PM

the repost is beautiful Carol, if u can reshot this, i agree with Bill suggestion of a lower shutter speed the smooth the water, i think it'll take make this image right at the top

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 1, 2010 at 7:08 PM

Carol, the re-post is just excellent.
I agree a slower shutter speed would silken the water. With water, I often take10-20 shots at different SS's, since each rate of water flow is different. The flowing water is such a defining element, you want it "just right."

Sandy

(GO, SF Giants!!! Only one more to World Series Champs!)

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on November 1, 2010 at 8:10 PM

I definitely agree about the slower shutter speed to smooth out the water. I didn't have my tripod with me when I took this image (I was at the Gardens with nonphotographers) and so I didn't want to shoot a handheld shot too slow. Next year when I'm back in California I will be sure to bring my tripod!

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on November 6, 2010 at 11:23 PM

Carol: Really nice work on the repost.

>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments