BW Of Farm Poplars

[DaddyO]

Work in progress... :D Your thoughts on this would be welcome.
Michael

http://daddyoh.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/Fall-Poplars5858/704990379_BNsAv-L.jpg

[Dogdots]

My thought -- My eye is drawn to the top of the stump and the stump in whole with the leaves around it. I like how there's a little path near it with the leaves all around it.

[Azzaro]

Hi DaddyO.....I'm with Mary K., my eye go's to the stump and your shot is the row of trees ....... IMHO........ AZZARO

[Panther]

Howdy Michael,

Neat image and processing, I have to agree with the others, the tree line, the path and the leaves work so well together, but the stump throws off the continuity of the 3 elements.

But if you're happy with it, that's all that really counts:D

[DaddyO]

My thought -- My eye is drawn to the top of the stump and the stump in whole with the leaves around it. I like how there's a little path near it with the leaves all around it.

Thanks for your thoughts Mary Kim. Means a lot to have them. Looks like I am
going to have to rethink where to go with the total image from where I thought I was going. :D

[DaddyO]

Hi DaddyO.....I'm with Mary K., my eye go's to the stump and your shot is the row of trees ....... IMHO........ AZZARO
Quite correct... it is of the trees and leaves more than anything.
The stump framed in for foreground interest to complete the whole
balance of things as I saw it.
Looks like a reshoot is in order. :D Thanks for the feedback.

[DaddyO]

Howdy Michael,

Neat image and processing, I have to agree with the others, the tree line, the path and the leaves work so well together, but the stump throws off the continuity of the 3 elements.

But if you're happy with it, that's all that really counts:D
Thanks Craig. :thumb Looks like the stump goes. I had the best intentions
including it but it is very good to know it does not work there. I'll go back
and frame up a photo without it and try that.

[Richard]

The stump framed in for foreground interest to complete the whole
balance of things as I saw it.
Looks like a reshoot is in order. :D Thanks for the feedback.

Just to confuse you, I think the stump does exactly what you wanted and think the composition would be less interesting without it. If anything, I would make it a bit darker so that it stands out more. :thumb

[black mamba]

Hey Michael,

Isn't it great to see how differently folks react to a picture? I'm with Richard on this one. I see the stump as an important integral part to the story. I love the sense of " life " in the living trees, yet, right across the simple little trail, rests the spectre of " death " as evidenced by the stump.

The dichotomy in this shot is most arresting.

Take care,

Tom

[Dogdots]

I had the best intentions
including it but it is very good to know it does not work there. I'll go back
and frame up a photo without it and try that.

Oh no, don't take the stump out. I should of been more clear in my posting. The stump is an eye-catcher. I like how it drew me to the trail/path that was exposed, but surrounded by leaves. Reminded me of when I was young and would walk funky to move the leaves out of my way...sorry I digressed :D

Maybe it was the title.....I really don't like giving my photos titles because it draws a person to a subject within a photo or it gives a person a perception of what to feel when they see the photo. You called it BW of Farm Poplars...I looked at the trees in the background, but my eye kept going to the stump. Not that the tree's weren't interesting, but the stump was more so to my eye. :D

Tom said it best -- he liked the life of the living trees along with the death of the stump.

So I think we were all seeing it the way you wanted to present it - just some of us drew a different reaction to the stump :D

I've come back to this photo many times because I like how you processed it and because I got an idea from it. I used your photo to set up a photo I'd like to take. Your photo inspired me :barb And you thought it was all about a stump :rofl

[DaddyO]

Just to confuse you, I think the stump does exactly what you wanted and think the composition would be less interesting without it. If anything, I would make it a bit darker so that it stands out more. :thumb
Thanks for your feedback Richard. I'll try to get past being too confused. :D
I can see the moderate need for more dark to the stump. My concern was losing any detail to the
stump by going any darker than I already have with the burn and dodge tools. I'll play with it some
more none the less to see if I can manage more dark there. :D

[rwells]

Hey Michael,

If your interest point was the trees, not the stump, then I think you shot it backward, or maybe processed it that way. Meaning: Your eye is drawn to contrast first, color & lines. The stump is SHARPER than the trees, and is also contrasting to the leaves around it. So, that's what's drawing and holding my eyes there.

I think the composition is good, the leading lines are good & I definitely like the stump for foreground interest and depth.

So, to me, if you are showcasing the trees, make them the star, not the other way around.

YMMV :D