First Signs of Spring in AK

[NorthernFocus]

One of the first signs of spring in Alaska is willow buds coming out. They appear long before any other plants show signs of life and prior to the appearance of any migratory birds. I tried unsuccessfully for several years to capture a willow bud image that I was satisfied with. The fuzzy texture of the buds is the key. Then one day (when we lived in Fairbanks) my bride and I were out walking the dogs and I saw the top of a willow bush backlit by angular evening sunlight and with a shadowed hillside as BG. The bush was down a steep embankment which placed the top buds at eye level but too far away for the lenses that I would typically use to shoot flowers. I hurried home and grabbed a camera and long lens.

As mentioned the image is backlit with natural sunlight against a dark BG. The lighter patch of BG at upper right is the OOF trunk of a birch tree on the shaded hillside. I tried a version with the tree trunk cloned out but then it looks like a studio shot so I elected to leave it alone.

Shot several years ago.
D300 and 200-400mm VR w/1.4xTC@550mm
1/1000s, f8, ISO400

[Shadowman]

Nice capture, I think there's too much gradation, too much color in the transition of tones on the right side.

[Brev00]

I like it but it feels like it could have been longer on the bottom side since the willow branch is so thin. What about a pussy willow image from this year?

[JBW]

One of the first signs of spring in Alaska is willow buds coming out. They appear long before any other plants show signs of life and prior to the appearance of any migratory birds. I tried unsuccessfully for several years to capture a willow bud image that I was satisfied with. The fuzzy texture of the buds is the key. Then one day (when we lived in Fairbanks) my bride and I were out walking the dogs and I saw the top of a willow bush backlit by angular evening sunlight and with a shadowed hillside as BG. The bush was down a steep embankment which placed the top buds at eye level but too far away for the lenses that I would typically use to shoot flowers. I hurried home and grabbed a camera and long lens.

As mentioned the image is backlit with natural sunlight against a dark BG. The lighter patch of BG at upper right is the OOF trunk of a birch tree on the shaded hillside. I tried a version with the tree trunk cloned out but then it looks like a studio shot so I elected to leave it alone.

Shot several years ago.
D300 and 200-400mm VR w/1.4xTC@550mm
1/1000s, f8, ISO400

Leaving the bg alone I have felt the thankfulness of the first sighting of the pussy-willow. I have trouble imagining a tougher feeling to shoot. You and your bride did good.

[Wavelength]

Really beautiful

[mugge]

This is one great shot. I do have a problem with the very light 10mm on the right side. That is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

[John 2]

...................As mentioned the image is backlit with natural sunlight against a dark BG. The lighter patch of BG at upper right is the OOF trunk of a birch tree on the shaded hillside. I tried a version with the tree trunk cloned out but then it looks like a studio shot so I elected to leave it alone........................

Understand your reasoning Dan but the problem for me is that the lighter area is not identifiable as anything but - a lighter area. This is good both in execution and artistically. It wouldn't bother me if it actually was created in the studio. It's a great shot.

[NorthernFocus]

OK, it seems fairly unanimous. So below is an edited version. I actually did the edits a long time ago based on similar feedback. I just thought maybe CIC was a more discriminating crowd (i.e. agreed with my opinion)

...What about a pussy willow image from this year?

We don't have nearly as much willow growing in the area where we now live. Nor nearly as much sunshine. It's budding around here now which is what inspired me to pull up this old image. Which was a lot easier than going out and finding some worthy of shooting

[joebranko]

I too prefer the edited version.

[Mike Buckley]

I prefer the first version if you want it to convey that it's not a studio shot. It was immediately clear to me that the bright areas on the side were not a mistake. To make those areas perhaps more appealing or convincing (though they're thoroughly convincing as is for me), try brightening them and/or increasing the saturation in those areas.

If you're going to go with the revised version, make sure the background is totally black throughout (right now there is a bright area on both sides of the subject using my calibrated monitor). Otherwise, it will look like a studio shot that produced a less effective background than subject.

I would love to see a larger version of the image, as it seems that the transition from grey to white tones in the subject and the backlit red tones are just luscious.

[wilgk]

Very well captured indeed!
We had similar plants in the Deep South of NZ where I gre up, we used to call them 'pussy willow' if it's the same thing, that's kind of nice, having it grow at both ends of the earth

[Shadowman]

Nice edit.

[JBW]

OK, it seems fairly unanimous. So below is an edited version. I actually did the edits a long time ago based on similar feedback. I just thought maybe CIC was a more discriminating crowd (i.e. agreed with my opinion)


We don't have nearly as much willow growing in the area where we now live. Nor nearly as much sunshine. It's budding around here now which is what inspired me to pull up this old image. Which was a lot easier than going out and finding some worthy of shooting

looking at both I can't help but state your first shot is much more interesting. I had thought of a solid black bg as an improvement but it doesn't work as well.

[FootLoose]

Regardless of the background debate, I like the play of light on the catkins. Well captured, Dan.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the additional comments, everyone. Now there seems to be some split in opinions as to which version is best. Imagine that ...

...We had similar plants in the Deep South of NZ where I gre up, we used to call them 'pussy willow'...

That's the "official" name of them here as well. But since there are no weeping willows or other varieties to confuse them with, they are simply referred to as willows. They are the moose's favorite munchies in spring when they have the tender red shoots on them.

[IzzieK]

Late to this post Dan but I like the first one better as it is more natural looking and pretty isolated. The second one is more technical. Both versions work well though.

[bnnrcn]

Although the edit looks good too, I prefer the original

[NorthernFocus]

You ladies are awesome!