I've gone square......

[ST1]

But not black and white yet (although I have processed such a version)
It amazes me how a tree can survive on limestone pavements like those shown in the image. For the uninitiated the pavements consist of "clints" (the limestone blocks) and grykes (the fissures or spaces that isolate the individual clints).
This image is within the Southerscales Nature Reserve near Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales. As always I welcome your thoughts and comments.

[Donald]

Making 1:1 (square) images does, I think, free you up top be much more creative in composition. Look at this one, for example. You've got the tree pretty much bang in the middle ... and it works. You've got the horizon pretty much on halfway ... and it works.

That, for me, is an image that grabs you attention and makes you look at it.

[ST1]

Making 1:1 (square) images does, I think, free you up top be much more creative in composition. Look at this one, for example. You've got the tree pretty much bang in the middle ... and it works. You've got the horizon pretty much on halfway ... and it works.

That, for me, is an image that grabs you attention and makes you look at it.

Thanks Donald, just for you here's my attempt at square and B&W

[Geoff F]

Yes, that works well; plenty of fine detail and an interesting sky in the background.

[Rainforest]

A lovely image Peter. I like the softness of the colors in the first one and the composition is spot on. Really nice one!

[IzzieK]

Peter, I like the coloured version and wished you will crop a little from the bottom. Just a thought...the foreground seems too long in the teeth when I am looking at the same thing over and over again. I like the shot though...looks like a big (large overgrowned) bonsai.

[Shadowman]

Nice composition.

[purplehaze]

Both versions are very nice, Peter.

[Manfred M]

I definitely prefer the colour version, but am not sold on the square. I find that this includes too much of the rock foreground and suspect that trimming that back a bit, in a horizontal / landscape orientation would result in a stronger image.

[Mike Buckley]

Your monochrome image is far more than an "attempt" for me. It's far superior to the color version because it emphasizes the shapes and texture. Extremely well done!

[JohnRostron]

I much prefer the original, both for the colour and the format. The foreground shows the limestone pavement nicely, very Yorkshire! I have seen a lot of limestone pavement in my time, but I cannot recall seeing a tree growing from it like that!

John

[Donald]

Thanks Donald, just for you here's my attempt at square and B&W

I am honoured.

Just because there is so much rock in the foreground and there's not a lot of tonal variation in it, I'm not sure it's the best candidate for a B & W conversion.

I'm a great advocate of 'seeing' the final image at the time of capture. If, for example, you have been looking through the viewfinder and telling yourself that the final image was going to be B & W, you might have composed it differently. I'm convinced that thing about 'seeing' in B & W exists and that you can train yourself to do it. I know many people just make up there mind about colour or B & W when they're processing. I cannot do that. Mt decision is made at the time of capture. And I NEVER change my mind.

[DanK]

A very nice image. My two cents: I much prefer the color because I think it does a much better job of drawing the eye (mine at least) to the tree. The detail in the rocks pulls my eye in the B&W. However, I think the color version could use a bit more pop. I also agree with Manfred and Izzie--I would crop some off the bottom.

[Rent]

I wish I'd a pound for every time that tree has been photographed
Roy

[Mike Buckley]

Just because there is so much rock in the foreground and there's not a lot of tonal variation in it, I'm not sure it's the best candidate for a B & W conversion.

I would appreciate it, Donald, if you would expand on that. If I interpret your statement to mean that there is not a lot of tonal variation in the foreground rock, I note that Silver Efex Pro indicates in the monochrome image that every zone except zone 10 is present in that area. If I instead interpret your statement to mean that there is not a lot of tonal variation in the entire image, I note that Silver Efex Pro indicates that all eleven zones are present in the image.

[Donald]

I would appreciate it, Donald, if you would expand on that. If I interpret your statement to mean that there is not a lot of tonal variation in the foreground rock, I note that Silver Efex Pro indicates in the monochrome image that every zone except zone 10 is present in that area. If I instead interpret your statement to mean that there is not a lot of tonal variation in the entire image, I note that Silver Efex Pro indicates that all eleven zones are present in the image.

But you didn't mention, Mike, in what proportions to each other there was a spread of tonality.

There is a huge percentage of that area in front of the tree sitting on Zone 7. There are very small percentages of the other tones in that area. Yes, they are all there, but not in a way that would lead me to talk about a good spread of tone.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for clarifying that, Donald. Interestingly, your analysis of the amount of Zone 7 tones relative to the amount of other tones is not at all the same as mine. It makes me wonder if Silver Efex Pro is inconsistent about that or if the results could be different perhaps due to monitor settings, calibrations and the like.

[DanK]

For what it's worth: I cropped the starting a bit below the tree base, leaving only the rocks in the bottom section. Here is the histogram from photoshop:

[Wavelength]

I like both the original and its conversion....really well done

[ST1]

But you didn't mention, Mike, in what proportions to each other there was a spread of tonality.

There is a huge percentage of that area in front of the tree sitting on Zone 7. There are very small percentages of the other tones in that area. Yes, they are all there, but not in a way that would lead me to talk about a good spread of tone.

I'm now intrigued as to how you can use Silver Efex Pro to identify the tones/ zones. Can either Mike or Donald help me with this.


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