So this is a shot that I have been sitting on for a while because I couldn't figure out if I liked it or not.
After pretty much being pressured into processing it.. this is what I came up with.
6 shots for DOF at f8 and ISO1000 after the sun had set and one shot at f4 and ISO1600 after the moon had set.
Ideally I would have waited until the moon was no longer an issue because even though it had set on the land it was still washing out the MW. But then the MW wouldn't have been where it is. So wait for a better moon cycle. Ha!
I shot this with Alex Noriega and Jordan Ek and they helped me out with some pointers in the field and Ted Gore gave me a lot of feedback in post processing that guided it to where it is now.
Dustin Gent wrote:
really like this one - I kinda wish there was more sky though
I'm on the same boat as Dustin here. I would like to see more sky in the frame. However, I do like how you incorporated a nice foreground element to get the viewers eye to gaze into the rest of the image.
I really like this photo.
You did a good job on it. Yeah, maybe less tree stump are more sky might have been a better comp. Still, I really like this a great deal and glad you persisted.
I think the processing looks good. You did a good job there. I am thinking though that there is too much foreground, which of course takes away from the sky. But not only that there is too much foreground, but with the way the logs are in the foreground, and also the bright area in the lower right of the sky, you have everything visually being directed to the upper right side of the shot and there is nothing there... the logs all guide up to that bright area.
Now if this was a day time shot without many clouds in the sky, then your composition could have worked, but as it is, it's unbalanced to me. So next time, I would go for a simpler foreground, because you have to think... what's the focus of the shot? Is it about the foreground? Since the foreground takes up 2/3rds of the shot, the focus ought to be that. But it's a night shot with limited details in the foreground, so it doesn't fly.
Again, I love your processing on this, you nailed that. But next time, let the foreground be only a 1/3rd of the shot or so. Find just one log to anchor it, or just a few groups of flowers, and then let the Milky Way take center stage.
I agree with the too much FG. I was running around like a clown while the light was fading and this was a comp I felt like I had to settle on. If I didn't take this one then I likely would've come away from the shoot with nothing.
To me the main focal point is the mountain in this shot. I wish it had been the milky way but I just wasnt able to capture it well enough with the remnant moonlight to really make it shine. And then if it did.. it would be even more unbalanced.
TJ, it's fine. I love it. There are too many MW emphasis shots anyway, it's becoming landscape photography cliche anymore, IMHO. Lower right 1/4 of the image I fell a shade "claustrophobic" if that makes any sense.. like the logs are boxing me in down there. The second log, right-center, adds nothing to the image (to me at least)... but it's there... it is what it is.. Technicals are fantastic!!! All around "A" for me.. -Mike
If this is the type of work that you come up with when you get pressured into processing, I'm almost afraid to see what you come up with when you're in the zone Well done!
I don't agree about there being too much foreground. To me this works pretty well: the stump leads your eye to the mid ground, second log towards the mountain and then onto the sky. I'm not blowing smoke up your butt. This is one of those images that at least for me, everything works really well together.
