Last light before the storm [16-19e updated version] Please click to see in large.

Based on input from photo.net viewers - thanks particularly to Kenneth Waller's

suggestions - I made a few updates/improvements to this image. Comments are

welcome as always.

Thanks,

Peter.

Nice explosion of color, set against the silhouetting tree you presented a powerful image

Wow, what color!  I love that, but do feel that the pitch black trunk looks strange against it. Do you have it in RAW? If so, I would open that and bring out more detail (and density) in the trunk, then paste that into this one, keeping the leaves' colors and only affecting the trunk.  You can also do this using another layer in PS, applying a mask and erasing the mask only on the trunk.

G

Grand spectacle of nature!

PDE

Excellent colour, silhouette and pov, well captured.

Tony, Gianni - many thanks for the encouragement.

Pierre and Chris - you're both exactly right - because of the back-light had to push up the ISO higher than I would have normally liked. I was on a steep slope, the light was fading fast, no time for a tripod, had to handhold, etc. It all made for an awkward POV. I appreciate your expert eyes and comments. Thank you.

Greg - interesting idea. I played with it a little, but I'm not going to take it too far. The trunk has a distracting pattern of lines that draws my eye away from the colours and leaves. I didn't like that, so I'll let the shot stand as is. Appreciate the idea none-the-less. Thanks.

Peter.

Very well seen and captured image. The color is extraordinary. I vote to keep the trunk black as is. It would be distracting to show detail in the trunk.

:)

Indeed.

Regards,

Peter.