Dogwood and ... +alt

Here's a vertical crop for comparison.

I don't know of anyone else working today who takes such thoughtful and stimulating studies as these. Another excellent image Lon, the warmth of the reflected rock walls creates a beautiful pastel BG for the graphic and vibrant life.

I prefer the original post. This is truly delightful. The water canvas is gorgeous an amazing foil for the delicate subject.

Both are stunning!

No faces? No funny titles??
Ok, i like this, maybe not quite as strong as the simpler ones but pretty cool i think. Vertical or horizontal, the one thing i would do is crop so that angular branch is gone-- a bit distracting. Real interesting otherwise.

Lon - The mix of colors and graphic style with the branches definately works for me. There is a heaviness that the larger right branches give the image, so I might try a vertical crop, but eliminate the right sided branches and keep the left portion. This gives the image more of a lightness for me. Where's the Larger version? Would love to see the detail in the leaves.

Awesome! I'd prefer the second version...though both of them are great. It's just a matter of personal preferences.

Beautiful! The wonderful color and glow in the river works so well here as a background. I like both version but might lean towards the original if I had to pick one over the other. This image has a wonderful and delicate feel. Very nice Lon!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Thanks for the response and comments folks. Ali, especially thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it!

I think I'm favoring the horizontal as well, but what's the best compromise between the two? How about square? I also wondered if that heavy crock of a branch would get mentioned. I think it's better without it now too.

So here's a cropped version. This may become my final version that makes the website, but the jury is still out.

Full disclosure - I cloned out one of the dogwood blossoms in the URC after the crop. Just seemed misplaced in the extreme corner. Also, there is a 10% opacity Orton layer on this too. I had a couple versions going so I don't remember if the first two were Ortonized or not - but probably.

Thanks! I appreciate the assist and feedback.

Lon

Lon, I really like the square crop. To me it feels much more dreamy and abstract as well as emphasizing the warm hues in the background. If you hadn't of pointed out the hidden blooms, I would have had to look for a long time before I noticed them. I really like the arching branches and the color/feeling contrast between the leaves and the background. Having reality intrude at the bottom in the form of the grasses halts the dream in its tracks. I don't feel much difference between the original and the latest post.

I think this is a very artistic image. I can see it blown up really large and hanging on a wall. The subtle colors are just great.

Beautiful. I prefer the first (non-vertical, squarish) version. The various reflected colored really make this for me. I believe I've seen several similar renditions before from you on this subject if memory serves me correctly, all beautiful. I love the flow of the branches, except for the one larger branch at the bottom right that kinda goes against the grain. Excellent work, as usual.

You are definitely a master at capturing trees and light. You're like some modern day druid.

Lon, as others have said beautiful water canvas, the tones are really nice. I prefer the last version posted, I too was found the angular branch on the right side a bit distracting. Especially since the other branches all flow in the same direction making the compostion dynamic.

Lon the square version is best of all three and seems most balanced. I do wish there were a few more blossoms as I think the white adds greatly to the overall color scheme but it is what it is.

Very nice with beautiful background, Lon. I prefer a crop off of the right that removes the larger vertical branch on the extreme right. Oh, i see you have the same crop down below. This is much better IMO.

I like all three images, Lon, though probably like the amount of orange in the squares best. I like what appears to be slightly more vivid color in the first image, though URC seems a bit bright.

Just love how you visit this grand landscape and find it possible to concentrate on such intimate scenes.

The cropped version works best for me, but this one is not rockin' my world.

Blossoms just enough to identify the tree. The pattern of the tree's branches combined with the glow of light on the river make this really cool, Lon. Very cooperative tree, and persistent photog, to discover such a graceful drape of branches. The image has a feel of calmness and hopefulness to me; it's an appealing enough sense to ease me into a long period of gazing.

The square is also awesome, and I may favor it... It feels somehow "cleaner!"

Hello Lon ...

Perfect .... all three Images are outstanding in colours and graphics .... very well done

Helmut

Very pleasing Loni and I prefer the slightly more delicate vertical study with occasional Dogwood blooms.

Beautiful work Lon. The reflected pinks and oranges on the bg water are a really wonderful backdrop to the green leaves of the fg branch. Love it's delicate and soft nature. I prefer the last square crop without the crooked branch on the far right.

Lon, I really appreciate your subtle image, the unique glow in the background keeps my attention.

Regarding the crop, the last version (without the angular branch) works best for me. Maybe an illusion, but my impression is that the glow is more intense in the first (square) version than in the two others?

Peter

Lon,

Beautiful intimate work as always! I prefer the flow of the horizontal version the most. I really love the way you found balance in every corner of the image and the soft gold water reflections in the background really pull the intricacy of the foreground into relief. This is masterfully artistic. I love it.

My favorite is the square crop Lon. The square crop has no distracting elements, just beautiful reflected light and a nice arrangement of dogwood branches. You did an excellent job exploring all of the different possibilities in this single frame.

Love the balance and gracefulness of the square version Lon as well as the pastel background.

Lon, this is such a fine photograph! Beautiful colors and detail, I can feel the breeze and freshness going through the air. Very plesant to view.

Your repost hit it on the head. Great flow now in the lines of the branches. Gorgeous stuff, Lon!

Classic Lon shot, love the golden backdrop. I don't have a preference between the two Lon, both look fantastic.

Gary.

Third one is the charm Lon. As Stan mentioned, not as strong as your simpler comps, but beautiful nonethe less! The third one has a really nice flow from top to bottom.

I like the color contrast on this image. By using a slower shutter speed you were able to blur the background, which works perfectly.

Yes, That's great the third one. wonderful colors, well seen and well captured, Lon