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A Fungus Among Us

© Beth Spencer

A Fungus Among Us

Uploaded: March 25, 2013

Description

Canon 7D, Canon 70-200mm lens, 1/125, f/10, ISO 400

Exif: F Number: 10, Exposure Bias Value: -0.33, ExposureTime: 1/125 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 200.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 7D

Comments

Beth Spencer March 25, 2013

I couldn't look at another snow picture today, so I thought I would post this. This is fungus growing on some of the stumps from where they timbered a couple a years ago. This was last week when we were not so deep in snow.
I also thought I would post a close up from the same shot. #1520899

Dale Hardin March 25, 2013

Like this a lot Beth. Both are good but think the close up would look a bit better if at the same tonal level as the first image. #10623849

Jeff E Jensen March 26, 2013

I agree with Dale on both comments. #10624209

Stephen Shoff March 26, 2013

Suggest a crop of the original post starting from the top left corner and extending about 1/2 to 2/3 the horizontal and vertical dimensions of hte frame. Maybe alter the aspect ration a little more to a vertical pano so that you can included the horizontal line of plates to use as natural framing.

My thought is that this would give you the opportunity to strengthen the composition by emphasizing a "c" curve of the tree trunk showing through the the fungus, or the the larger curve of fungus framing it using any form of burning/dodging or masked hue/saturation adjustments, and to create some visual layers by emphasizing the fungus haning over the top of the stump.

As it stands now, what it appears to be compositionally to me is a vertical column (static) with some clutter at the bottom. There's lots of nice detail and tonality, but no "center" and limited motion. #10624326

Dale Hardin March 26, 2013

There is merit to Stephen's suggestion. An 8x10 vertical format crop starting at the top or a 4x6 vertical format created as Stephen suggested, both would strengthen the composition.

However, because there is now no reference to the ground and the height of the stump, the scale would be lost. And you end up with another (albeit a more interesting) version of the second image. #10624342

Debbie E. Payne March 26, 2013

Beth - I like this a lot. I do like seeing the top of the trunk with the fungus "cascading" down to the trunk from the top. I would include the top and go down as far as you can to where the grass starts and even try cloning just a bit of that grass. #10624826

Debbie E. Payne March 26, 2013

Beth - I like this a lot. I do like seeing the top of the trunk with the fungus "cascading" down to the trunk from the top. I would include the top and go down as far as you can to where the grass starts and even try cloning just a bit of that grass. #10624827

Beth Spencer March 26, 2013

I tried to get the tones in the second one to match the first. Then I cropped the first one and tried some dodging and burning. Debbie I am not quite sure what you mean about cloning the grass. #10624875

Dale Hardin March 26, 2013

I like the tonal adjustments, but the changes on the other (taller) image don't work for me. Cropping just a little bit makes the bits of grass look as if they are debris and are no longer discernible as the ground area. I prefer it the original way.

These are very good photos Beth, and don't need a lot of work. #10624924

Debbie E. Payne March 26, 2013

What I meant to say but didn't was to use either the "spot healing" brush or draw little circles around them with "Content Aware: and they will disappear. #10625027

Teresa H. Hunt March 26, 2013

Fungus growing out of tree stumps has always fascinated me. I'm not sure why. I guess I've always wondered what causes it?

Anyway, I really like the close up better. You can see the detail so much better. :) #10625028

Peter W. Marks March 27, 2013

I'm with Debbie on this as I do prefer the original that shows the top of the sawn off tree trunk and I also like the tones of that one. The close-ups are too abstract for my liking whereas the original gives me a much greater sense of it being in a forest, even though I can't see all the trees around me. #10626931

Jeff E Jensen March 27, 2013

I like "Crop and Dodge and Burn" #10627294

Beth Spencer March 28, 2013

Thanks everyone! #10629617

Rita K. Connell level-classic March 29, 2013

I like "Crop and Dodge and Burn" but I like the original post the best for the same reason mention for the tone and seeing the top of the trunk. very cool find. #10633387

Beth Spencer March 29, 2013

Thanks Rita #10633510

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