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Lone Tree - original

© Jeff E Jensen

Lone Tree - original

Uploaded: February 05, 2013

Description


1/320 Sec - f/18 - ISO 320 - 36mm
Canon 5D Mk III - Canon EF 17-40 f/4.0L


Exif: F Number: 18, Exposure Bias Value: 1.00, ExposureTime: 1/320 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 320, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 36.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Comments

Stephen Shoff February 06, 2013

The concept is great. A lone tree on the horizon is always dramatic. I think this picture would have worked a lot better if the hillock was completely snow-covered. That would have left a much more minimalist composition with the tree and the 3 boulders as the strong primary elements.

How about vertical crop with the left border right at the edge of the bare earth with a little more differentiation between the tree and hill-side from the sky (probably an overlay layer)? #1513182

Stephen Shoff February 06, 2013

The concept is great. A lone tree on the horizon is always dramatic. I think this picture would have worked a lot better if the hillock was completely snow-covered. That would have left a much more minimalist composition with the tree and the 3 boulders as the strong primary elements.

How about vertical crop with the left border right at the edge of the bare earth with a little more differentiation between the tree and hill-side from the sky (probably an overlay layer)? #10556078

Michael Kelly level-classic February 06, 2013

I like the shot but think the tree is a bit small in the frame. Something along the lines of Stephen's suggestion should help make it more dramatic. #10556586

Rita K. Connell level-classic February 06, 2013

I wonder what a square crop would look like. I like this shot #10556937

Dale Hardin February 06, 2013

Lone trees are always a favorite of mine, Jeff. Haven't seen one in a setting like this before though.

To me the image is a bit weak,but I don't think the composition changes will help. The comp is very good as is.

What would help is a change in tonal values so that the tree is a bit more predominant and the earth not so dominant. Give this a shot. Apply a 50% multiply blend to just the sky.

Then apply a 50% screen blend to area of the hill that is above the three boulders. This will darken the sky and lighten the earth, giving a better balance of tones. #10557025

Jeff E Jensen February 06, 2013

Thanks for the suggestions. This one just wasn't sitting quite right with me. I'll have to hold off a few days before I get to the edits. I've got a big corporate event that I'm shooting at work tomorrow, including coordinating 7 cameras to record time lapse. Then, on Friday I'm shooting a small wedding. Gonna be a busy few days. #10557052

Susan M. Reynolds level-addict February 06, 2013

In agreement with the rest...Do you have a shot from more of the left side where the tree isn't behind the hill?
Sounds like you are surely busy too! #10557097

Peter W. Marks February 07, 2013

Like all the others have implied, the lone tree, minimalist concept, usually works so well, but not quite in this case. It will be interesting to see if when you have time something can be done to strengthen it Jeff. #10557897

Debbie E. Payne February 07, 2013

Lone trees rock, Jeff. I was told at a workshop that anytime you have a good single "tree" shot, you should enter it because the judges love them! #10558418

Beth Spencer February 08, 2013

I like the tree and it has the snow sticking on the branches. Maybe when you crop it or do your edit it will emphasize the snow more. Looks a lot like our world. I hope you survive all the work! #10559885

Jeff E Jensen February 12, 2013

Sorry for the slow response on this, it's been a busy few days. I had to break away from the "work" editing to do some personal stuff.

I followed Dales's suggestions and then Stephen's suggestion on the crop. Thoughts? #10565892

Stephen Shoff February 12, 2013

With the crop, I think the is now really about the tree. I might have cropped it just a little tighter on the left to exclude the dirt beside the grasses. The original was about the tree, but the tree was losing to the big dark area of dirt.

I think the increased tree contrast with the sky is helping keep attention on the tree, too. I am noticing that the tree trunk got a little darker as well. Not sure you wanted that.

Of course the real question is not what we think but what you think. #10565900

Jeff E Jensen February 12, 2013

Stephen, I agree that the image is much stronger and I prefer the vertical crop. I played with the left edge, but I found that any closer and the tree started to get crowded up against the edge. I guess I could just fill in some snow to eliminate the dirt. I'm not sure that the darker trunk is an issue, lets see what the others say. #10565901

Michael Kelly level-classic February 12, 2013

The cropped shot is a beauty and I think it solves all the issues of the original post - trunk is not an issue at all. This one works well. #10565911

Dale Hardin February 12, 2013

That crop made it an entirely new and beautiful image Jeff. Well done. #10565950

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