Rock and Tree

A tree rooting directly on a rock.

a photo that I like very much, compliments, G.

This is a very interesting photo that caught my attention. After a closer look, it feels a bit to dark. If this was your intention, I would be curious to hear your thoughts. Great lines and texture.

many thanks for your comment. The subject caught my eye because it looked like the tree was rooting directly in the rocks. I wanted to bring out textures and characteristics of tree bark vs. rock, yet light conditions were not very exciting.

So, I decided to use this as etude on editing tonal values, dodging and burning certain areas - i.e.. I tried to reduce disturbing effects of moss and fallen leaves (your impression that it's too dark suggests that I might have overdone that) while emphasizing textures of tree bark and rock (by sharpening, increasing detail contrast).

cheers,

Wolfgang

A most beautiful image with excellent b&w tones and interesting textures

Mystic surface and structure: unification is going on. BR Joerg

I find it a very moving and "internal" (personal) photo.

 

It immediately caught my eye, not because it is bold or blatant but because it is moody and sensitive. Grounded and specific as it is, there's something transcendent about it, for me, almost heavenly (metaphorically speaking).

 

Interesting to read the comments and your response. I liked the darkness of it, because to me that adds to the quiet of it and moves me to want to penetrate yet also feel protected by it. So, as the overall quality goes, I don't feel it's too dark. Specifically, I wonder if you might have had a slightly softer touch on the moss itself. I think the glow of the light is wonderful and deepening the values of the moss obviously enhances the feel of the light, but you've maintained such rich and subtle textures in the wood and they seem to get more lost in the moss. I'd like to feel a little more life and depth from the moss and think you could still preserve the contrast that helps make the photo work.

 

The scattered leaves, especially the lighter ones, are a real addition to this. They don't quite allow me to rest, or forget that there's life taking place here.

Jörg and Alon: many thanks for your favourable and encouraging comments.

Fred: special thanks to you for sharing your thoughts and ideas. Here's a revised version where I tried to improve details of the moss' texture while preserving their tonal "zone".

I think the revision very nicely draws out the texture and tones of the moss. ;)

many thanks!

I am not sure how to say it, but I am ecstatic to have seen this photo, Wolfgang!  It is too beautiful to be seen on a computer screen though.  I would love to stare at it printed on Hahnemühle FineArt paper, or something along those lines.  The Zone Masters Adams and White must have be smiling in their graves when you produced this, especially with Fred's final touch...Kind regards, -h.