Lightning Tree

[janet Smith]

Before

5D 50mm f1.4 lens 1/60 @ f16

This was taken last September when I was in the Loch Torridon area of Scotland, a remote area of the north west highlands. This tree stood all alone on an exposed windswept hill side. I've been struggling to get what I wanted from this shot, I was shooting into very strong light, the tree was dead and almost white, but silhouetted against the sky, I've not managed to make this shot look the way I wanted to. Aida of BGAgraphix a member here at OPF has kindly worked on this for me and has produced this next version, which I like very much....

After

I've rotated this version, I think it looks better this way round, what do you think?

I'm going to carry on working on this and will try a b & w version.

 

[Aida BGAgraphix]

Hi Janet !
I'm really glad you liked my version using the "colored pencils" effect. Your picture was perfect to apply it to: sky, tree, grass, composition and beautiful mood.
Looking forward to see the b&w. I think it will underline the solitude/meditation mood in this pic.

 

[janet Smith]

I'm really glad you liked my version using the "colored pencils" effect. Your picture was perfect to apply it toLooking forward to see the b&w. I think it will underline the solitude/meditation mood in this pic.

Hi Aida

Thank you so much for your help with this, I love the result you achieved, looks surreal, yet it's almost as it was....

I'm looking forward to having time to work on it some more and trying the b&w version, I'll post the results when I've done it. I think it's one of those shots that can be worked on in many ways, I'll have fun with it now!

 

[Nathaniel Alpert]

Hi Janet,

I can see how you were attracted to this scene. You have made a strong compostion that includes the elements that we strive for. I often react strongly to a scene like this when on location. Typically, I'll expend considerable effort composing and bracketing, etc. Then later, I can't communicate that which attracted me. You will just have to go back, enjoy the scene again and make another attempt.

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Jan,

I very much prefer the 'before' version. The 'after' looks rather unnatural and over-processed. Each to his own though
In addition, the reversed image looks 'wrong'. Maybe something to do with the way our eyes read from left to right?
Regards,

Stuart

 

[Ray West]

I think the reversed image, the copyright notice clashes with the composition. Possibly the sky in the second one should be more like the first sky - sort of further away. Where is it intended to go - e.g. size of print? Noticed some very dark blue in the sky in the second, bottom lhs. I think that makes it look odd. Difficult to say.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[Asher Kelman]

Janet and Aida,

Congrats on working together. This is fun!

The second image has some remarkable characteristic which I'm not saying is good or not, or even if I like it, but it's there. There's a severe almost giddy dimensionality and layering which is either breathtaking or disturbing. The tree no longer points back, but almost is separate from the picture and thrusts back. The grass is similarly a separate entity of the image. So one gets a dynamic world of severe layers, which is unsettling. I'm not say that is bad or good, just that it's noticeable or rather experienced.

So one gets a much more impressive and remarkable scene in the processed version. What we lose however, is an integrated smooth comfortable view of nature. This to me is a fascinating outcome that I don't believe was actually intended.

So which do you value and which has life and might end up be burned into you brain to remember months from now?

Asher

 

[janet Smith]

Thank you everyone for your comments, as Nathaniel said I did react very strongly when we came upon this tree, and spent quite some time photographing it, I would like to go again at dusk but would need to be more sure of the ground before venturing there in near dark.

I was actually stood underneath the tree in a landslip shooting up at it, the land immediately below it had fallen away. I was restricted because of this where I could safely stand, it is an amazing desolate location with the sea below.....

And yes I have many more similar ones with bracketed exposures and slight variations on this theme, I love Aida's version, and it has been an absolute pleasure to collaborate with her on this image, I will definately work on other images with her. Aida has brought out an abstract quality that was already there but has emphasised it more than I had. I'll be working on this image more, and the others that I took at the time.

There are many more things I want to try with this shot and the others I took at the time, if I get anything else interesting I'll post the results, but I'm glad that it provoked strong feelings either good or bad, that is kind of what I hoped for.

 

[Aida BGAgraphix]

Thank you !

I would like to underline the fact that this version is with what I call: "colored pencils" effect. This includes: sharpness, a lot of contrast and a surreal feel. This is not a "traditional" editing, just an almost surreal version