How do you see the wood for the trees?

[Donald]

Can you make an image of trees in a forest?

Well, I tried. What do you think?

Prerequisite seems to be, to me, a low sun so that you get some light into the heart of the forest so that there is some definition on the trees.

The Abernethy Forest is the largest surviving example in the country of the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest that emerged after the last ice age and blanketed the country. It mainly comprises Scots Pine.

I really worked hard on location to try and make this work. And put a lot of time into it in post-processing to get what I had in my head at the time of capture.

Very much an image about light and shade and texture.


40D, 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 24mm. ISO100. 1.5s@f16

[kdoc856]

Can you make an image of trees in a forest?

One can; it is much harder than it looks, and you've done it beautifully.

Another prerequisite is in finding a space of openness within the crowded constellation of detail to gain some separation-paths and the confluence of paths suits that need admirably and you've taken full advantage here.

Also the paths make beautiful sight lines. On a sunny day the dynamic range can be difficult to handle to get any bark detail, and you've also managed this to perfection. Beautiful shot, Donald.

[dje]

Donald I think some images like this work and many don't. IMO yours works a treat and you've achieved your exact aim of displaying light and shade and texture. Very nicely done.

Dave

[Digital]

Donald, very nice photograph.


Bruce

[Trina]

Donald
Can you make an image of trees in a forest? You most definitely did! I really like it a LOT. This is one of those photo's that I could sit and look at for a long time.... all the different details that draw you in... inviting you down the path.... Very nicely done!!! I would frame it and hang it!!

[geoz]

Donald,

Really an excellent image, tonality, composition, exposure, etc. The interesting way the paths cross and the light comes in. But when I looked close I'm not sure that the sharpening/grain is needed.

George

[pnodrog]

Very majestic and tranquil - well worth the work you put into it Donald.

It reminds me of a sign I saw on the back of 4WD ute -"If a man makes a statement deep in a forest where no woman can hear him is he still wrong?"

Oops this could end up worse than SOOC vs RAW.

[Steve S]

Works very well, donald. The low crossing light.......path to lead you in.......great depth.........and you managed to get the height into the trees.

[Rob Zijlstra]

Donald, Stunning picture.
Great comp and fabulous good pp! Compliments indeed!

[Wavelength]

Truly marvelous; the sidelighting makes it non-Earthy
Regards

[rudi]

Very nice indeed Donald.
I am sure you have thought about that, but I just wonder how a portrait orientation would look like. Not recropping this picture, but another one, so you can see more off the height off the majestic trees. Maybe there is only canape, but I am just curious...
Kregards, Rudi

[Stagecoach]

Good one Donald. I keep looking for hidden animals in it.

[Dave Humphries]

Not sure what I can add to everyone else's comments, it is a difficult subject well handled

I like it

[John 2]

Many try and occasionally someone gets it right. This is just excellent Donald and perfect in mono.

[Donald]

Thank you all for your positive comments. It's encouraging when your peers send a note of approval, because when you really, really want something to work well and you're translating a vision that you had long before you even arrived at the location, you (well, I) can sometimes have a tendency to become blind to any faults, or to the fact that it's just not good enough.

Rudi - Re the crop and whether showing more of the tops of the trees would work. To me this aspect ratio did not work. Why? Because it then included a lot of the sky showing through and because of the dynamic range it was impossible to stop it being blown; i.e. being grossly over-exposed. Also, in my opinion, such brightness distracted attention away from the trees and the forest floor.

Grahame - There is lots and lots of wildlife in the forest, particularly the elusive Capercaillie. I'm no wildlife photographer and despite my trying to move quietly, I suspect I was making far too much noise.

[Clactonian]

Very impressive Donald. Definitely the right decision regarding the sky, which I always see as a distraction with this kind of shot.

[Wavelength]

Can you please post its original in another thread?

[Donald]

Can you please post its original in another thread?

Not sure what you mean, Nandakumar. The above image is the only version that exists.

[Karm Redland]

Hi Donald. It's hard to make this type of image compelling to look at. I've tried many times with few successes. You definitely succeeded in this one. I think your processing really makes this photograph work.

karm

[Wavelength]

Not sure what you mean, Nandakumar. The above image is the only version that exists.

Oops!!!
I thought that to be a conversion from color; sorry