Shattered Sky

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 7, 2013146 views11 comments

I couldn't help but admire these gnarled trees surviving on top of a rock island on the southern Oregon coast, and spent some time trying to work out how to photograph them. In the end I chose to focus on the sky, with the trees as more of an anchor for the image. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 5d Mark ii, 1/500 sec at f/11, handheld

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on October 7, 2013 at 9:55 PM

This is simply amazing.
I'd personally crop a 1/5 off the top.
Great framing!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on October 8, 2013 at 1:06 AM

Thanks Matt, I'll give the crop a try. You know that would make the rock cliffs about 1/3 of the overall photo, maybe there's something to that "rule" after all....

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 8, 2013 at 9:51 AM

Great sky and good job on finding a fine comp to make the trees work. I like this a lot. However, I would second Matt's crop suggestion.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on October 8, 2013 at 11:36 AM

Man, this photo is playing tricks with my mind, since I see waves in stead of clouds! Really cool! I agree with the others about the cropping.

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on October 8, 2013 at 1:33 PM

Great job thinking out of the box and an awesome image Thomas. I agree with the crop but super clouds. Well done.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 8, 2013 at 4:28 PM

Not sure which is more gnarly, the trees or the clouds. They sure do work well together. I like Matt's crop suggestion because it removes the bit of clouds at the top that aren't so gnarly. Very well seen.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on October 8, 2013 at 5:55 PM

I like this a lot. You might experiment with different crops from the top. Also, you could look at deepening the darks in the sky just a bit. I like the detail in the foreground rock and trees..

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on October 8, 2013 at 8:45 PM

Thanks for all the comments. I've tried cropping from the top, but it's not really working for me because the clouds are really the focus of the image. Maybe I'm just too used to seeing it this way. I am including a version with deeper blacks in the sky. It's a little more altering than I normally do, but it certainly is compelling.

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on October 8, 2013 at 11:29 PM

Great perspective. I actually like the re=post a bit better for its drama and energy. Nice work.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on October 9, 2013 at 12:40 PM

Great eye on seeing this image the clouds seem to mimic the trees in a way and the cliff adds some great texture to the scene. I'd be tempted to crop a bit off the top though as my eye tended to stay up there too much.

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on October 12, 2013 at 3:52 AM

I love the image.

I might keep the top but graduate more contrast toward the top. Also, kill the strong haloing on the ridge-line and trees area.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments