Backlighted dogwood...for C&C

[IzzieK]

It's raining and it will rain for another two days more...so in between the breaks of rain and the harsh winds outside, I just edited this shot I took from the safety of my dining room window sometime ago while learning my camera's focus points system through an article...some things that caught my eyes...



I cannot re-shot this anymore as the leaves are almost gone...and I ain't going to go out there in the rain to look for a different shot either. But I can edit...will appreciate any and all comments from everyone passing by to take a look. Nothing much to see here but leaves...in the last vestige of autumn...

[Shadowman]

Nice effort, what does the ground look like? Might be some potential color contrasts from the fallen leaves; please tell me you didn't rake them yet?

[Wavelength]

Very beautiful colors and well framed; i liked it very much

[Donald]

That is a lovely, engaging picture. One of these you can just look at and feel relaxed.

One thing I would question is - Does it need that bit of branch cutting across the top left corner? If you cropped just to the right of that to exclude it, you end up with something close to a 5:4 ratio and I don't think it loses anything by that.

[mknittle]

Nice effort, what does the ground look like? Might be some potential color contrasts from the fallen leaves; please tell me you didn't rake them yet?

Great idea John.

[mknittle]

It is a nice image Izzie, I agree with Donald on the branch though.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Isabel. I like the colors and the DOF in the image. Good seperation from the BG . I would brighten the dark branch on the top left corner as it distracts a bit. Donald's crop suggestion might worth trying too

[IzzieK]

Nice effort, what does the ground look like? Might be some potential color contrasts from the fallen leaves; please tell me you didn't rake them yet?

I let the boys do the raking, John... This tree is very near the garage so most of the fallen leaves either goes to the concrete and only a little bit near the grass up front. The grassy part up front's fallen leave are more from the magnolia tree. The boys had vacuumed and shredded the first heavy leaves covering. Now we have some more...

Thanks for commenting and asking me subtly to go out there and look for more contrast on fallen leaves...that was clever but it ain't gonna work!!!

[IzzieK]

Very beautiful colors and well framed; i liked it very much

Thank you for commenting, Nandakumar...I am glad you like this experimental shot...

[IzzieK]

That is a lovely, engaging picture. One of these you can just look at and feel relaxed.

It is very relaxing that is why I stationed myself here in the dining room instead of my den...When I see those movements in the trees, birds...beautiful cardinals mostly and robins, a few squirrels now and then, and those chipmunk (ground squirrels) is s warning that it will go to my bird feeder at the back -- then it is time to put the trap and bring it over the other side of the Missouri River...

One thing I would question is - Does it need that bit of branch cutting across the top left corner? If you cropped just to the right of that to exclude it, you end up with something close to a 5:4 ratio and I don't think it loses anything by that.

Here is the version without that pesky branch. I had cropped it the way you described before but I thought I lose a bit that I like so I put it back...what do you think?



Thanks for the guidance again from you...I appreciate it very much.

[IzzieK]

Great idea John.

Uh...oh...no! no! You too?

It is a nice image Izzie, I agree with Donald on the branch though.

OK...done...see above...appreciate your comments, mate!

[IzzieK]

Hi Isabel. I like the colors and the DOF in the image. Good seperation from the BG . I would brighten the dark branch on the top left corner as it distracts a bit. Donald's crop suggestion might worth trying too

And here is the version you suggested....thank you for commenting...Now I do not know which one I like best... And thank you for the suggestions...I do appreciate your input...



What do you think? Is it better? or too much? I thought of loading just that selection in Nik's Viveza but it was greed out so I just used the brightness effect in Photoshop after quick selecting the branch...

[FootLoose]

I think you have nailed it with the 2nd version, Izzie. It is about the colours and as others have remarked it is very engaging.

[Sam W]

I like the second image best. I've never seen a dogwood look that good. - Sam

[IzzieK]

I think you have nailed it with the 2nd version, Izzie. It is about the colours and as others have remarked it is very engaging.

Thanks Greg. You know I value your opinion and I am glad you like it.

[IzzieK]

I like the second image best. I've never seen a dogwood look that good. - Sam

The leaves are green all year round until autumn decided to change its colour at this time of the year. It sort of forms a little bit of a screen from my dining room instead of looking across my snooty neighbour's house. I am glad you like this shot...'appreciate your comments.

[Ziggy]

Edit number 2 works for me Izzie.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Izzie,

The second (cropped) version for me too.

The first thing I did when I looked at the top of the thread, before reading any posts, was to put my left thumb over that branch to 'remove' it from the shot, but the crops works better still.

Pictures like this usually don't work for me, but this one does - too late in day to try to analyse why though.

Cheers, Dave

[mknittle]

It is very relaxing that is why I stationed myself here in the dining room instead of my den...When I see those movements in the trees, birds...beautiful cardinals mostly and robins, a few squirrels now and then, and those chipmunk (ground squirrels) is s warning that it will go to my bird feeder at the back -- then it is time to put the trap and bring it over the other side of the Missouri River...

Here is the version without that pesky branch. I had cropped it the way you described before but I thought I lose a bit that I like so I put it back...what do you think?



Thanks for the guidance again from you...I appreciate it very much.

much better Izzie

[Mike Buckley]

Wonderful image, Izzie. Perhaps your best yet.

I prefer Binnur's solution of brightening the large limb but Donald's solution by cropping also works really well.

Try darkening the bright beige tones in the background to determine if that helps the leaves pop even more than now.