Golden light

Hi Margo - I kept looking at this image trying to decide whether it works for me or not and finally decided it works really well. It's not something I might try, but now that I see it here, I really like the textures you captured and the composition works well. There's a bit of softness around the tree, but this doesn't particularly bother me. I do like the glow of the smaller branches near the top of the image and only wish you had somehow managed to catch more glow, although the sun probably would not have cooperated with you to do this. Overall, I like this and think you did a good job creating something unusual.

It's a good ploy to use an interesting object to diffuse the strongest of the suns rays I have done just that with a couple of landcsape shots to great effect. You have done that here brilliantly, and the surrounding "Golden Light" is magnificent, Whats takes it to a higher level is the amount of detail you managed capture in the tree. I would have expected near silhouette, but I do like what you have achieved. Care to share the secret?

Sincere Compliments

Alf

Hello Irene and Alf, many thanks for your kind comments - much appreciated.

@Irene, I've been taking a second look at some of my 2011 pics, especially bracketed shots of subjects that might be amenable to HDR production.  This subject seemed to fit the bill.  I remember having to position myself carefully for this one so as not to blind myself!  

@Alf, I've now added some tags showing my settings - apologies ... was intending to do this last night when I uploaded the pic but I got waylaid :) .   I suspect it's the HDR process that has allowed the tree to be more than a simple silhouette.  BTW, this is actually a b/w version (with gold tonings) of an original which has a very blue sky and grey trunk.

the wood may have been lightened a tad too much for me, though.  best, jamie

Margo,  Thanks for explaining how you got to this wonderful and unique shot.  Along with a good shot, you have developed it well to remove the blue sky with a yellow golden light.  I liked the details in the tree with the sun behind but I am not sure about your choice of lesser DoF in the tree.  Still, you created a very good scene.

Rgds,

Divya

Very nice work with beautiful lighting, Margo!

With best regards,

Ruud.

Hi Margo,

Superb composition & wonderful light-effect............Best Regards, KA

Hi, Jack.  The chaos of these dead branches against the light was what attracted me to take the pic.  For me it's symbolic of the fires that decimated these alpine snow gums in 2003.