Araralar - Basque Country

I agree with Jason Lucas: There is no need, nor much purpose in asking what the subject is. I like Jason's term "visual entertainment". Individuals look at this photo and react in their own visceral way to the beauty. Maybe photos in the photo-journalistic genre need a well-defined subject. Here the sum is greater that the parts mentioned by the elves, i.e. the light, trees, and fall colours. This is a beautiful photograph, expertly made.

The primary/dominant feature to this viewer is the depth.

This depth is accomplished by the photographer's craft in the understanding and use of colour, contrast, (and probably other subtleties of light) that I may hopefully learn.

Having accomplished this depth, the viewer is brought into the scene; and the subject becomes the viewer's experience in being there.

My compliments

As a supplementary comment, I strongly echo Irv Freedman's second paragraph on the use of "painterly" as a supposed compliment to photographs.

Beautiful photograph. As I feel personally, the side lights and the fall colours are the main things to make this image so attractive.

A very beautiful image. I'd be interested to know what filters were used. In particular, were any graduated ND filters used to balance the foreground light with the sunlight streaming through the top of the image. Again, great shot.

Its all the above. For me its the stuff that fairytales are made of. Just ask Tolkien... Thanks!

The contrasting colors and the balance of shadow and dark against the luminosity and light of the leaves caught by light, makes this a stunning photograph that creates a scene of exquisite beauty, that draws the viewer into the scene.

The subject of the image? It's the composition of those three mentioned elements...which is so natural, as nature itself which intended to be shown...:)

Nice colors for sure - but then again, it's no surprise in autumn. This being said, the "light" doesn't look all that natural to me. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if the light rays had been enhanced in PS. I would be interested to know.

Finally, the picture is imo not really well composed, although the composition is not bad either. I find the main trees too strongly centralized, and the straight-on angle doesn't quite work for me. I'd like to know at which extension the zoom 28-300mm (hmmm... not really a great choice of zoom imo, by the way) was used for this... Unlike Wayne Melia, I feel the picture actually lacks depth, as if it had been flattened by a (short) tele-photo effect...

What's the subject ? Precisely, I think it's nothing specific, because the centralized trees are nothing special to me. Then maybe it could be the light, but then, why expose so bright...?

All in all, I don't find this picture weak, but I don't find it great either, nor really very interesting.

What is the subject? Who cares?

 

This is a type of photograph which I hate (too pretty/picturesque to the point of being unbelievable etc. [note - that is not an accusation of fakery]), so I can't comment on the content much.

 

My biggest gripe is that a scene with lots of fine detail + 28-300 zoom + DSLR + photographer's resizing + photo.net's compression/whatever has resulted in a pile of pixellated mush. I can't comment on the thing that would attract me to a photograph like this (the textures/details) because they have been completely obliterated.

 

If Asier uploaded/attached some 100% crops of this photo (e.g. a bit of a trunk, some tree foliage, some ground/fall foliage etc.), then I would have a much better idea as to whether this photograph is AAA or not. Uploading/attaching the entire thing would be commercially silly, but a few details wouldn't hurt.

Asier, you have captured the woods as they really are in autumn, with limbs down, roots to step over and around, and the overall majesty of the forest without anyone else being around. Yes, of course the light is wonderful, although hard to evaluate precisely because of the filter used, but it doesn't matter. I see overall something approximating many special moments spent in the woods, when the whole truly is greater than the sum of the parts. There are times when one wishes that one could capture the totality of the entire scene, and I think that you have done this. I have failed to do so many times. If one loves nature, this is a great photo--and, yes, nature does put on shows like this for those who seek Her out.

A decent image, but one that's very commonplace, and has too many flaws.

 

I see a path going from the lower left to the upper right --- that could have formed the basis of the composition if it were a little more visible. The large tree in the middle is a bad composition choice. The scene is not photogenic and the perspective and composition unflattering.

Although the colors are attractive, I find the use of 81EF filter a little heavy-handed.

A valid question, but as it's been said, the subject is the nature ;the forest; the excellence useage of the light,it definitely is a piece of art work. The essence of photography to me, is composition, managment of different light , shadow and line play; the choice of color and use of the related tones, these are the tools and ways to present the subject. Any one of these cannot be left alone, the importance of realize what the subject , then use the knowledge of photography to bring it out. With regards of use of PS, it enhances the presentation, however, a complete piece should not be dependent on the PS. This photo is excellent.

The light and direction of it is simply fabulous. It makes the trees and fall colors just come alive. Great shot!

I hardly ever leave a comment on a POW anymore, but I usually look at the photo and read the critiques. But I must say I have to agree with Marc about the light. Something doesn't seem real. The light seems almost like its focused or something - has definite boundaries, but I see no reason for them. The large tree(s) in the front provide quite a lot of darkness in the lower part of the image. Someone else said it looked over-sharpened, and I tend to agree, although it could be a monitor thing.

 

Very attractive and well-presented, though. Congrats on POW. And to answer the elves question, I have no idea what the subject is, but I guess there are others in that same situation.

it's the light, light, light that can turn a not-so-special subject into magic. how to capture that light in that particular moment, well this is Asier's magic and I love it. Excellent capture. 7/7

Hi. First, a nice picture and good use of the filter. I think this picture has a composition problem since the broken tree is extremelly distracting to the eye. Considering the original question "But what exactly is the subject of this image? Is it the light? The trees? The fall colours? " it becomes dangerous to include such a distracting subjetc as the half trunk. Anyway, I still like it.

From a technical standpoint this image is good and of course was taken during the magic hour so all the elemets needed to make this image pretty is included like the millions of other same genre images here on PN.Its a wall hanger,its not unique but I do not totally agree with others that it lacks depth.I think this image has a strong 3D appeal to it precisely because it was taken during the magic hour but I also think there is not enough tonal ranges to really suck the viewer in and set it apart from just another pretty picture.All the elements(color,light,composition)come together but just a little too nicely IMO.Maybe a bit of mystery here with some blocked shadows to break up the 'feel good"ambience would work better but of course thats just a matter of diverse style isn't it?Congrats for the POW...

I believe an important subject for this image is texture and this leads us to atmosphere and the senses we might experience while walking through the forest pictured here. We can imagine the dampness and softness of the carpet of leaves, as well as the moss and fungi, the delicate, almost silky appearance of the leaves on the lower branches of the trees, even the fragile "texture" of visible rays of light and particles which float through the trees touching the leaves and illuminating the forest. These textures bring us to other senses and thoughts also, maybe to a feeling of stillness and quiet, maybe to anticipation.

 

There are elements of nature/evolution/time/motion such as fallen branches on the ground, the aging trees, the changing forest over time, but it doesn't look like a completely natural forest. Maybe a path has been created for people to walk through, so we have a human presence also, and of course we know the photographer was standing there with a tripod etc.taking the

photograph.

I think it is the combination of several factors, that make this image attractive. The light, the trees, the autumn colours( in that order) and the composition and skill of the photographer, evinces "Beautiful Nature". Please do not destroy our natural heritage.

there's simply too much light pouring in from the top left corner and creating an uncontrolled/excessive/dulling haze. twice in three weeks, the elves have chosen pictures with light source coming in toward the lens: it's very difficult to pull off and, although this is better than the first, the effort still falls short.

 

i have a feeling that, if the photgrapher tried a few things apart from the missionary position in setting up his camera angle, we could be looking at something considerably more accomplished.

 

vuk.

muy bonita toma la tonalidad exelente pero debo decirte que hay algo en la composicion que molestahas dejado en el centro del frame un arbol que de porsi solo esta muy bonito pero entu toma es un obstaculo que no me permite entrar y ver toda lavelleza de ese bosque encantado

Its almost sacred. The subject of all photographs is light - and here it is. You have to love the land to make an image like this.

 

Bravo!

-Paul

Looks like one of those expensive office posters that have big one-word titles like SERENITY. This is one to be proud of. Well done.