single photos Three trees

This photo mezmerizes me. It invokes a feeling of peace, of being in the present, but with a faint sense of foreboding beyond the beauty. So lovely.

Nice capture. Brian. It offers some winter charm that I welcome at a time when photo journalism is bombarding me with images of people in pain, in strife.

Beyond the charm, the thing that really makes me take note of this week's Photo of the Week is the seemingly unnatural white color of the snow on the branches of this Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I suppose the photo would not have had the same impact if the snow color were a bit more muted. But I can't imagine why it would be so white, whiter than the snow on the ground, at the same time the ground is absent any shadow cast by the tree. Has no only else noticed this?

This is the first of ten captures, taken only a minute apart. I'm happy for Brian to have found such a beautiful spot to shoot and do like this less than perfect composition for reasons previously well-stated. I don't think it's the best of this photo shoot though and I might not have even included it in my portfolio. Perhaps Brian felt all ten shots would best tell a story. Therein lies the rub with many Photos of the Week: we're commenting on a single photo and perhaps taking it out of context.

Nice job, Brian. And congratulations.

My sense is that the snow on the tree branches should probably be a little brighter than the snow on the ground because light would pass through the snow on the branches from all directions thereby illuminating it more fully. Light does not pass through snow on the ground in the same way. I think I see a shadow cast from the foreground tree (behind and to the right), it's just subtle because the light is not full sunlight. Zsolt, you said exactly what I was thinking. JJ

Having, like Jeremy, also just noted Zsolt's comments, I agree with the latter about the aesthetics of Brian's photo (I also think that had the tree been positioned a bit more to the left, to disengage itself more from the rear part of the stream, that part of the composition would breathe and be somewhat better) and would direct others to Brian's interesting portfolio and some other more satisfying (to my mind) images.

I agree that the blue sky does not imply that this part of the scene wasn't under some cloud or mist cover. I noted, and after its presence was mentioned, that the faint shadow does not (apparently) really align correctly with the foreground tree base at snow level, but is to the right. But maybe the snow at the base of the tree is slightly higher in elevation than the snow further back. Probably.

What I like about the weekly POWs is that they incite us to see the approach and results of others, whereas we are often merely connected by the written word.

Strengths -- Contrast of elements, the foreground tree balanced against the two burned trees in the background.

Weakness -- As has already been said, I wish Mr. Clark had taken a few steps to his right to position the foreground tree a bit more to the left, and open up the view of the meandering stream which would then have bisected the foreground trees and the burned out trees.

Firstly, may I thank everyone who has taken the time to comment on my image. I have found many of the comments interesting and thought provoking. In response to a couple of comments may I say that the image is presented essentially as shot, apart from some basic adjustments in ACR and a curves adjustment in PS. The tree shadow and all the other elements are therefore what was there.
As far as composition is concerned I would hope that I considered all the angles before selecting my preferred ones. There were indeed other options such as moving more to the right but I believe that this would have weakened rather than enhanced the cohesiveness of the image.
I agree that there are stronger images in this series but, of course, this one was chosen to provoke discussion which it seems to have done.
Thanks again.

I've come back to look at this photo a few times and I've finally figured out what it is the I truly like about it - it's solitude! If you've ever had the pleasure of being out in the woods by yourself on a snowy day the quiet of the place can be disconcerting. It's as though you can hear the snow flakes falling to earth.

I've looked at this photograph several times, then went to Brian's gallery, which I like very much. I just don't think this is one of Brian's stronger shots. I can easily imagine why he would have taken it, being such a beautiful quiet scene of solitude and muted color. But I don't think it particularly translated well as a photographic image. I like the "S" shape of the water, but it's interrupted in 2 places; by the tree in the foreground, and by the left-side edge of the frame. I find the angle of view a bit awkward, and I'm a bit uncomfortable with the vertical lines not relating well to each other. Overall, when I look at this image, it doesn't say much to me, I don't find it very provocative. But, it is a very calming visual, just not enough for me.

I like the composition and the simplicity although the image doesn't convey a lot of interest to me. I think it is well done nonetheless! Regards

What's great about hoar frost is that it surrounds the branches rather than sitting on them. The environmental conditions that lead to hoar frost also helped with the dissolve of the background, which is outstanding. No bokeh required. Kudos to Brian for being there, composing and posting this image.

It gets better the more I see it, and that's a quality sure to appreciate in a photo. Hard to pin down what it is, but it's a photo that doesn't seem to try to hard. As many said, it does not "wow", it's not the immersive, grand landscape, but subtle, small. Unobtrusive, but with enough depth to be paid some attention to.
I like the element of irony Alex alluded to; initially I did not quite see that, but it's a nice point. Maybe the unobtrusive, unassuming nature of this photo already is a bit of irony in a world where many landscape photos try to blow us away in spades of colours, grandeur and vastness. I like it for that. It's simple, straight, honest, and it doesn't seem to try to be more than it is. Maybe not the greatest photo in a very strong portofolio, but it belongs in it for sure.

I do find the light a bit harsh, though, almost like a flash is used.