Manzanita Forest - what do you think

[Richard Cabesa]

OK, I hike through this stuff often and have taken many shots but struggle with getting what I think I see there. It may be just not a wide enough lens. Any suggestions?
http://richard-cabesa.smugmug.com/photos/2110961-M.jpg
Thanks, David

[wxwax]

David, tough question to answer. I went digging at Trek Earth (http://www.trekearth.com/) for shots of trees, to see how others have done it. Beyond lighting and composition, a big one is figuring out what the shot is trying to show.

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2135195-M.jpg

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2135194-M.jpg

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2135093-M.jpg

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2135091-M.jpg

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2135095-M.jpg

[wxwax]

One more than might work for your situation.

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2136705-M.jpg

[motojedi]

Just a guess. The lighting is the same from front to back of the pic and doesn't demonstrate the depth of the trail. If it were darker in the front or at the other end of the trail, I think that would help.

[Richard Cabesa]

Thanks guys. I'll try some more. That's what's great about digital, shoot, shoot, shoot to figure out what works.

David

[ian408]

I was trying to capture the dramatic light on these trees but I just couldn't
seem to get it.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/1401664-M.jpg

In this one, I was going for the starkness of the bare
tree and the contrast between blue and green.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/2158202-M.jpg

What I like about the Manzanita's is that my eye is drawn first to the
center of the picture and then guided along the trail as it seemingly
winds its way through the trees. It really draws you in.

The image is a little over exposed but could be fixed in photoshop. Instead of
a wider angle, I might have tried that shot (from farther away) with a short
telephoto to give it some depth.

Ian