Winter Wood

[Loose Canon]

I am an admitted tree fan.

Still in the throes of winter here. Instead of fighting for my Life in it, which is about the usual for me, I had the chance to get with my favorite Dogwood! Got a little snow storm on my tree!

This tree is absolutely gorgeous when it blooms in the spring. No less gorgeous in the winter.

Man, do I love the Seasons!

This photo is a color shot (not a selective color processing).

A seven shot composite lit with eight lighting zones.

Well, nine if you count the flashlight I had to break out to find where I left the stupid tripod/camera in the dark!

[jeeperman]

Very cool winters night scene.

[pnodrog]

It works for me.

[Stagecoach]

Terry,

I think it's different, and, superbly done.

[kdoc856]

Fantastic. I love most tree shots and this one is just outstanding. I'd be interested to know more about how you lit it.

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[Mike Buckley]

Agreed with all of the above.

[Loose Canon]

Hey thank you guys. It was a long, fun, cold shoot!

Kevin I used one speedlite and moved it for each shot. I had an idea of what I wanted out of this shot and how I was going to go about achieving that, but I did it one shot at a time so I could adjust my lighting accordingly.

I hit the Dogwood from four different points behind it. Two of these were primarily for getting the shadows coming into the foreground as much as back-lighting the tree. With one shot I set the light behind and at the base of the trunk and fired it straight up. I used two different side light points, and one fired straight up under the bench to give it some illumination.

Manually composited using various layers and masks.

This shot is in progress. I think I have some more work to do on it before I can call it done. I may have to look at it a while to find out what that may involve.

[RustBeltRaw]

Killer shot, Terry! The details in your tree are superb. The light and bench add neat little warm touches. Truly beautiful. My only suggestion is to see if the long shadows pointing in from the bottom corners of the frame could be lightened or removed. Might be impossible depending on whether you have lit shots covering that area, and you could certainly argue that those lights lead one's eye to the tree. But to me, they're distracting, high-contrast shapes that don't complement the rest of this wonderful shot.

[Loose Canon]

Thank you, Lex.

Interesting suggestion.

I actually shot/lit for the shadows because I thought I wanted them.

They could be removed such that if you never saw the original you'd never know the difference!

I think I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.

[Fit]

I like!

[Loose Canon]

So I have this shot here.

Though it was a lot of fun to shoot it, it took some time and trouble.

Then it took some time to composite it.

I feel a little like a dog chasing a car though!

Now that I’ve caught it, what am I gonna do with it?

I thought Lex’s suggestion had merit and tried to eliminate the shadows in a different version. Not to mention just to see if I could pull it off! If I hadn’t seen the original I honestly don’t think I could tell they had be eliminated in post. Well, if I don't look too close!

I have cleaned it up a little and and made a white balance adjustment. Which I think I like better. With most of my stuff I try for a “correct” WB, especially with people. Seems like I rarely use WB for aesthetic purposes. But I think a cooler color temp is appropriate for this winter scene.

Besides, I guess I really don’t have anything better to do today than obsess over this!

[kdoc856]

I hadn't thought of it, but I like the cooler temp a little better. I do like the shadows extending into the frame- adds a little mystery and a touch of foreboding for me. Your most recent edit has my vote. Congrats on a lot of vision and work to pull it together- was well worth it.

[mknittle]

I agree with Kevin. the cooler temp makes the me feel cold just looking at it
Very nice work Terry!

[Loose Canon]

I agree with Kevin. the cooler temp makes the me feel cold just looking at it
Very nice work Terry!

Hi Mark,

Thank you. It made me feel cold shooting it!

I hadn't thought of it, but I like the cooler temp a little better. I do like the shadows extending into the frame- adds a little mystery and a touch of foreboding for me. Your most recent edit has my vote. Congrats on a lot of vision and work to pull it together- was well worth it.

Kevin,

From one Tree Lover to Another, thank you for saying, sir.

I am going to go with the shadows.

The more I try to be conscious of light, the more I realize that the most important part of light is the shadow it produces. We strive to get nice lighting, but there is an opposite and just as important side.

That is, after all, why we light and try to get the best lighting available! Be it ambient, supplied, and the combination of both. It is to deal with shadow.

So I am looking at lighting as a way to make the shadows in a shot. They are what gives the shot life.

I guess a Yen/Yang thing!