Spruce Survivors+RP

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 10, 20171,553 views6 comments

These Sitka Spruce trees were found along the trail to Beach One of Olympic NP this past May on a trip to the coast. The trees have been buffeted by the wind for years; one can tell the ocean is just to the immediate right. The patch of moss surrounded by salal and other foliage had an interesting design complementing the straight trees. Used a long lens to isolate the design. Would appreciate your thoughts and comments on this image.

4x5, 360mm, Provia 100F, no filters. M1 scan, Tony Kuyper's masks and other techniques.

Large size image provided.

Thank you for your comments on the last image and thanks in advance for your thoughts on this one.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on June 11, 2017 at 12:11 AM

Another very nice forest intimate, Vance. I love the patch of moss and the detail throughout. I have a couple of suggestions concerning the top tree. I think I would crop a little off the top, to just where the diagonal limb contacts the trunk. The space between the branch and the top of the frame and the bright limb also at the top would all go away. Not a big deal and really only an issue in the large. I love the way you see these images.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on June 11, 2017 at 9:49 AM

Very nice image, Vance, with the stark gray trees beautifully set against the nice moss and foliage. Beautifully processed and the detail is again outstanding. Like Gary, I an inclined to tweak the comp at the top, but I really can't settle on what, if anything, I would do differently. I feel like that the top tree trunk needs more or less, or maybe even cropped out altogether, but I would not want to lose anything off the other two trees, including any of the curving branch at the top of the closest tree, so I think my inclination is not to crop it at all.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 11, 2017 at 5:51 PM

This is another nice forest image. I was also thinking of the same crop as Gary, plus cropping the bottom to the bottom of the almost round lump of the bright green mossy stuff. It feels too stretched to me as is.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on June 12, 2017 at 1:38 AM

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Attached is a repost incorporating the suggestions. Cloned out the branch on the tree in the upper left as Gary and Scott suggested as a crop would have eliminated a neat curled branch on the center tree. Also cropped this a bit tighter as per Harley's suggestion, eliminating some of the extraneous foliage and giving the moss more prominence.
Would appreciate any further feedback. Thanks.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 12, 2017 at 1:07 PM

This is a big improvement to my eye!

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

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on June 14, 2017 at 12:47 AM

Gorgeous color palette!! Original and repost work equally well for me - this is exactly the type of detail that never bothers me!!

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments