Madrone glow

[lovelife65]

One of my favorite trees out here in the PNW.
Beautiful, funky, twisty and bark shedders. They love the coast and rocks.

This photo could use some work, I don't know if my monitor is showing me things correctly. Wonder if a tighter crop focused more on a single tree or two would be more effective.
But, overall I like the photo. And LOVE these trees.

Madrone Glow by sharonkay finley, on Flickr

[pschlute]

They have an interesting shape and lovely colour. I bet they would look even better in late evening light, to bring out the reds.

[Shadowman]

It is an interesting subject, I think the composition as shown works, processing depends on your final desired look. The leaves look a bit oversaturated so wondering how much your processing is affecting the reds. The sky looks too pale for the amount of sunlight beaming through.

[Cantab]

Sharon, I think the photo works but I may be biased since I also like arbutus trees. I'm writing just a few miles distant from you; but these trees change their name when they cross the international boundary (as you almost certainly know but others may not).

I have a sense that there's vignetting down the left side of the image. Perhaps it's just shade from something?

Both our arbutus trees (as do our neighbour's) have the disease that's affected so many of these trees here in BC and in Washington State. Am I correct in seeing some affected branches on the foremost tree?

[lovelife65]

It is an interesting subject, I think the composition as shown works, processing depends on your final desired look. The leaves look a bit oversaturated so wondering how much your processing is affecting the reds. The sky looks too pale for the amount of sunlight beaming through.

Thank you John.
The light, these trees were along a rugged tail on the water, and despite some fog, the light was coming through. Yet, the sky wasn't exactly blue. I could change that I guess
I am careful on bumping up saturation, but in this case the leaves were strong enough to where doing so even a bit probably overdid it!

Thank you so much for your comments.

[lovelife65]

Sharon, I think the photo works but I may be biased since I also like arbutus trees. I'm writing just a few miles distant from you; but these trees change their name when they cross the international boundary (as you almost certainly know but others may not).

I have a sense that there's vignetting down the left side of the image. Perhaps it's just shade from something?

Both our arbutus trees (as do our neighbour's) have the disease that's affected so many of these trees here in BC and in Washington State. Am I correct in seeing some affected branches on the foremost tree?

Bruce, thank you for your comments.
I did not realize the madrone (or arbutus) trees were struggling. I did not see evidence of disease in these, but most likely because I wasn't looking. Very sad indeed. I'll have to look a little closer on the hike again. (and look it up online) This was in Anacortes in Sharpe Park on a hike. We have a street named for the beauties here on Whidbey/Coupeville. I'd like to capture the way it looks soon, maybe in better lighting. Yet, there is a bit of vignetting which is unnecessary, great eye!!
In california, the Oaks were the big victims. Sudden Oak Death was killing thousands of trees.

[Rufus]

I think your framing works well, Sharon. My impression is that the farther tree has come to a logical cropping place and the nearer tree extends well beyond the frame but remains the dominant subject. The arc of the canopy and the track suggested in the lower right hand corner add to a sense of depth in the image, which would be lost if it was cropped.

They are certainly beautiful trees.