Chaos Maximus 2016

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 31, 2016248 views9 comments

For some it's already 2017, so HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! 2016 and this image one could say were a bit chaotic, many would say an understatement. All I can say is that my hope for 2017 is the same I strive for in my photography.... let's hope for creating a little order out of the chaos. cool

I'm really on the fence with this one. If I were critiquing my own work, I might nit pick the small white patches poking through from the background. Does that bother anyone? Also, I'm not sure that the random structure of the big branches are enough to hold this together.

Would love your thoughts on this one.

My BEST to everyone for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
devil

PS. I made the opening statement as generic as possible so as not to create a discussion. Just trying to be clever with somehow tying my image of chaos to the old and new year... angel

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 1, 2017 at 11:09 AM

I like this, especially in the larger version. The brightly colored leaves stand out well against the strong dark lines of the branches. I personally have trouble making a good composition out of subjects such as thing.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cordes on January 1, 2017 at 8:55 PM

I like the somewhat random arrangement of the dark branches against the brighter colors. The white patches, to me, are not a bother at all.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on January 1, 2017 at 9:30 PM

Really well done abstract. It has some of the attraction of a Jackson Pollock. The key is the balance of colors, shapes, and lines and this is well thought out and executed. I'm really getting off on how complicated yet perfectly balanced this all is. Not an easy image to pull off and easily overlooked as inconsequential. Great image.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on January 1, 2017 at 10:13 PM

Nicely done, Lon. I like the way the tree branches create bold, criss-crossing lines amid the all the beautiful leaves. The upper most lateral branch looks a little soft for some reason in the large view, but that's a minor issue. You could even crop below it.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 2, 2017 at 8:44 PM

This works for me Lon. Looks a little under sharpened for the web to me eyes (large version). The white areas do not bother me as they are subdued and not overly large. The lower left tree branch that appears to bend in then out of the frame doesn't seem to go with the flow of the other branches. Clone or crop depending on your tastes, though you would have to crop from the top or bottom to keep the same aspect ratio. You have controlled chaos here. Happy New Year to you as well, your insightful critiques are a New year's gift to us all.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on January 3, 2017 at 1:27 AM

Love the name!
Yes, those white patches bother me a little bit. Also, that corner of a branch sticking in down there in the lower left seems out of place.
I am on the fence about this one, I guess. I see some straight trees in the BG, and my eyes kind of lock onto them. I guess I might almost want more chaos........would this work as B&W?

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 3, 2017 at 12:02 PM

Lon, I like the juxtaposition of elements you show in this image. My idea would be to simplify the chaos a bit, maybe by cropping from the top to remove the uppermost vertical branch. To my eye it might also help to clone the small bent branch at the left border.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on January 3, 2017 at 2:03 PM

This works for me, Lon, especially when viewing the larger version. The crisscrossing dark limbs create an intriguing abstract and successful composition against the colorful foliage. For me, the white spots do detract slightly, but this is getting picky. You could probably experiment with cloning out some of the larger patches without too much effort. Kudos to you for even seeing this composition.

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 3, 2017 at 4:11 PM

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Good call on the round branch along the left edge. I wondered about that, it's kinda out of place. If I was ever going to do anything with this I'd work on cloning it out as well as cloning some of the small white patches. (call me lazy why I didn't in the first place.)

And thank you for your kind words Harry!

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments