I prefer the second crop which helps focus slightly more on the path.
I am bothered by the dark tone/shadow/colors on the upper right. This bring the eyes tp it and distract from the subject.
Luc,
Appreciate your comment. I personally think the second crop is better for the same reason. After stepping back, looking at the image more (its so hard to see with the same critical eye when looking at one's own work), I think I went to far on the darkness upper right. I'm awaiting more feedback, but tempted to tone it down as you have suggested.
Thanks.
Scott
I also think it may be a little too dark top right, but I might also be tempted to burn in a bit lower to carry the eyes through the path way. There seems to be a 45 degree line through the bushes I would probably use this as my limits but not burn as dark as you have I think it will be a bit more subtle. I might also be tempted to darken the area by the rear trees just a tad.
I'll tinker at home, but will say, imo, it seems a bit tight to me in that the pathway disappears (prematurely) under the cover of leaves. Too, perhaps darken the bottom corners (vegetation) to direct the eye down the path - "Rabbit Hole" variation .
I like Kaden's rendition but might not darken the top as much - cannot say without playing around first.
Is is possible to get the CR2 file?
<edit> I looked at it in NX2, looks a bit over-sharpened in that environment
Mark, thanks.
Appreciate your suggestions.
This s an image that seems to me to be close, but not quite right. Some, I think, is the business and lack of tonal range of the composition. So then it becomes, to me, a question of effective processing to see if can be made into a much more of an image. Original, BTW, is much larger. These versions are significant crops.
Scott
Scott, this is one of those images that I would really struggle with if I took it. It does seem to need something else, but I don't have any firm ideas that jump out at me. It seems cluttered and lacking a specific point of interest. Maybe this is because as you mentioned the colors are all so similar. If there were something else there like a person walking away, or an overgrown park bench or picnic table that the eye could really latch onto it would help. I did notice the building that the path seems to lead to, so I am wondering what if anything can be done with that to make it stand out a bit more? Like I said I am just throwing out some ideas without a clear or obvious suggestion. One thing that I am not crazy about in the image beside what has already been brought up is the dark area along the path. To me it looks like a patch of asphalt, which I am not a fan of in a forest path. I am also wondering if you have any other angles from this path that we can also view?
I went this route because I was overwhelmed by the fine details of the brush, branches, etc. all of which seem to get in the way - hence I used an Orton Effect plug-in someone was kind enough to put together for NX2. I think that helps knock down some of the specular contrast and I like the gossamer effect.
I also cropped a bit and corrected for what looked like some distortion (at least to me) plus other tweaks along the way - I can't leave things alone
Hey Bob, that's great!
Totally different feel that I think really works well with this subject, and all its problems. While I love to shoot wide open in many images, I think of sharp, deep depth of field on landscape type images. But the softness you have created works fabulously and, as you said, addresses the busy-ness of the branches and having a bit too much detail.
I love to play with images to see what I can come up with. Glad you took this one on.
And I am happy to have anyone else play with this image, or provide some of their own to see what can be done.
Enough of my scrounging thru older images; got to get out and shoot again. Maybe todays snow (about 10 inches) and the upcoming icing will provide some opportunities.
Good luck shooting Scott, it's been 75-80 here most of the week -far above average temps - dropping back into the 50's with lows in high 20's begining of week. Only fresh snow scenes I'll see are yours
Mark (sifpandor)
Appreciate your time and thoughts about the image. Your "throwing out ideas" is very helpful and I appreciate your candid remarks.
Scott
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