Macclesfield Forest - C&C Please

[PaulMiller]

I shot this image on Wednesday during a walk in Macclesfield Forest. The sun was just shining over the hill, lighting up the trees ahead of me. I've tried to capture the glow of sunlight and the dark forest, with the path leading the viewer through the frame into the light.


Macclesfield Forest #996a by Paul Miller 2009, on Flickr

Nikon D3100, ISO 1600, f/8 1/20s. 18-55 kit lens at 34mm

[Donald]

Paul

That's got a lovely feel to it. You obviously had a very difficult lighting situation to deal with. You have composed it well.

[RockNGoalStar]

I like it a lot Paul!

For me it's got a sort of magical, fairytale, lord of the rings style feel to it! if that makes any sense :P

Good stuff

[Shadowman]

You can get great golden tones at sunset, very nice image.

[Camellia]

I like it a lot Paul!

For me it's got a sort of magical, fairytale, lord of the rings style feel to it! if that makes any sense :P

Good stuff

My thoughts exactly. What magic is there in the distance?

R

[whited3]

I like it a lot. My only comment would be that the way the tree's lean in from either side make me think there's some lens distortion.

[ChrisH]

This gives a real feel of the forrest - well captured

[PaulMiller]

You obviously had a very difficult lighting situation to deal with.

The most difficult part was getting the white balance right - that was a matter of trial and error in post processing (hooray for raw). The auto white balance from the camera was way off - presumably confused by the mix of different light sources. I eventually settled on two versions - this one, and a cooler version which I think is probably more true to the actual colours. I liked the warm version better though. Would shooting a grey card help do you think?

The exposure turned out to be easy: matrix metering got it right first time.

I increased the contrast and vibrance a little, but I was wary of making the foreground too dark.

For me it's got a sort of magical, fairytale, lord of the rings style feel to it! if that makes any sense :P

My thoughts exactly. What magic is there in the distance?

That's what I thought too! If it comes across in the image, then I must be doing something right

My only comment would be that the way the tree's lean in from either side make me think there's some lens distortion.

I hadn't noticed that! I think that is probably because I had the Camera pointing slightly upwards (the path is actually quite steep here). Aperture doesn't have perspective or lens correction built in, so I'll have to look around for another solution. Something else to add to the list of things to remember when shooting...

Thank you for all your comments.

[Szczur]

Well, I managed to live the first 18 years of my life in nearby Leek without knowing that this place existed. To this day I still visit the area from time to time because my family are still there, so I shall make a point of visiting. The photo is fantastic and very nicely shows the sort of terrain the wooded areas in South-East Cheshire and North Staffordshire are full of. It very strongly reminds me of the woods around Lud's Church (a huge post-glacial rift in the rocks near Gradbach in Staffordshire). Full marks for your photo. I love it. The light coming through from the horizon is sooooo enticing.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Paul,

I like it too - and it is better still here at Flickr, larger and in a Lytebox though

Cheers,

[ilovelucydog]

I like it. I like how you see the sun shining through and wondering what I'd find out there.