Catching Some Rays in a Dark Forest

Must be viewed larger than the thumbnail to see darker detail. I usually

photograph forests in cloudy conditions, but sunlight filtering through tree

canopies can also create wonderful opportunities. This vine maple was

illuminated while the trees behind remained in shade. I liked the various

intensities of light and the overall composition. Elements barely seen

create a bit of mystery. Comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

Wondrful capture of light Stephen.  A great image.  Best regards...

-Dave

A square, perhaps?

I don't know, Jeff.  I'm rather attached to those vine maple leaves in the deep shadows at the bottom on both the left and the right.  I think a square would work, however, if I cropped above those on the right and perhaps just a tad off the top; more attention would then be focused on the central illuminated branch, and that would be a good thing.

Here's a square crop.  In addition, I used Nik's Viveza 2 to darken that set of leaves on the left edge just above the midline, and I also darkened (slightly) the evergreen branch on the right edge.  If folks want to comment on this, that would be welcomed.

Steve, I think that it tightens the message. Now the lit leaves are the stars that they should be. OTOH, it could just be my bigotry, although I am shooting a lot more shots that end up full frame lately.

I'll take the original, it's a dark forest not a garden in the shadow. Fairy-tale-like!

excellent the light and your work also best regards gerolamo

I prefer the first version  that fit better with diagonal lighted branch,also bottom leaves in shadow complete this image.

Thanks for the comments.  Personally, this is one where I'm split exactly 50:50 in that I can see things that I like equally well in the original as well as the square crop.  I think I'm just going to "have" to live with two photographs that I like equally well, each for a slightly different reason.

Excellent as it is.

Cheers.

Bela

I'm always a fan of square crops with a lot of my own photographs too. But I'd have to agree with some others here too and say that I like the first version best.

The main reasons is for depth. The square cropped version loses the sense of "height up in the tree" feel that the first one has. The cropped one is more about just the leaves where as the uncropped has a better sense of place for me.

Strange how a seemingly subtle modification can change so much.

Nice Photography by the way. Composition and exposure spot on.

One of your best.  Love it.  The great light makes the whole scene great.  Best Regards,

The croped is even better.  More concentrate on the lighted area.  Just a low opinion.  Best Regards,