Cypress & Mist (repost)

Wow, loads of mystique. I like the subtle soft look for this shot, really lovely.

What a fascinating phenomenon! I love the soft pastels -- processing looks great to me. I'd crop a little off the left, there's a dark branch there that is distracting me.

Wonderful image David! Love the complex shapes and light. Excellent!

Wow, really cool image, lots of mood and mystery. As for processing, I really like the cooler and lower contrast of the trees and background. I'm thinking, but would have to see it before I commit, that the brighter highlighted areas of mist could come down a notch in exposure so they are closer (not too close) in tone to the background, just a thought and take for what's it's worth, it's an amazing image as is

Incredible mood, David. The combination of the backlit mist and the forest behind is quite amazing. Kurt's idea of slightly reducing the luminance of the lit mist sounds good as the lit fog does hold the eye a bit. Regardless, an amazing image.

Lovely! Liked the warm patches of mist scattered around. Beautiful moment, well seen and captured.

Amazing lightning here David! Processing looks fine, maybe a tad more contrast and saturation to bring out the light a bit more.

Very interesting moment and well captured, David.

Wonderful rendition of cypress and water. The mist around the trunks create an eerie beauty one would expect from the morning swamp. I too would play with dropping the luminence a tad.
But I'd retain the textures of the left side of the image as they allow us to see beyond the mist. Maybe clone out the dark branch.

Maybe clone out the branch and play with increase in contrast, although you probably already have tried that. You might also try a slight increase in saturation. I love all these swamp images you come up with.

Ctazy cool! Such a great moment you captured.

I like the mood and colors, David. Thanks for sharing.

David,

It is an interesting phenomena but I think I am on the fence about the processing as well. I was not there with you so I can't tell if the image as is conveys the experience as you experienced it. I usually let how I experienced a scene dictate the processing rather than a standard set of processing steps. So I guess I would have to ask you to relate to us what your experience was like seeing this before I could really give some feedback on the processing.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I've made a few minor tweaks but I'll let it sit for a few days and take a second look.

Youssef,,,,,,you bring up a great point about the experience dictating the final result. The posted image is very close in contrast and color to what I perceived. The major difference is in how rapidly the scene was changing. The floating mist was like a living breathing thing and every frame had a major difference in the location of the high lights. Getting the feeling of mist drifting through the rays of light was the goal. Thanks for the reminder.

Beautiful image ! look like from another world .
Perferct light and mood

Very cool! I absolutely love the mood!

Fantastic mood and great colors...

Brigitte

The thumnail defintely does not do this one justice. I'm really looking forward to the your 2010 fall series from around here.

Love the mysterious feel to the scene. Can't really comment on the processing as it looks fine to me. If anything I might be inclined to darken the warmer coloured fog ever so slightly.

Thanks again for the input. After a couple of test prints I think this is improved. A little more contrast in the darks, a little less in the fog high lights and a lightening of the branch on the left. This version prints a lot better, but I still like the hazy original.

Fascinating, mysterious and extremely intriguing image!

Lots of mystery in this one; it takes a moment to get our bearings. Both versions look good to me, so maybe 50:50 for the web version? Regardless, impressive shot.