Moon Lightin

This tree continues to survive apparently growing out of solid rock.

The processing was a bit more experimental, I pushed the

boundaries a bit further..........too far maybe?

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank You.

Alf, this has a sense of having been photographed at night, and that meshes well with your chosen title.  I really like your composition.  So if you pushed this more than usual, I think you were successful and it comes across very well.  Might be interesting to try a strong ND filter to get a long exposure and subsequent movement in the clouds with this same processing.

Alf-it's gorgeous! no boundaries were pushed and even if they were, it wouldn't matter; this is a beautiful rich image.  regards, cb  :-)

Hi Alf,

  Beautiful night image with amazing details & lighting.  Take care, Patsy

Very nicely composed work with impressive lighting, Alf!

An excellent image!!!

I like the idea of the ND filter to get a movement in the clouds.  But I never really envisaged this as a night shot. The reason being is that it was photographed in sunlight, albeit with the last of the winters sun rays hitting the tree before dusk. I think to get any movement in the clouds would mean using something like a 10 stop filter in the conditions described, and at the time I just didn't consider it. But it is well worth noting for the future though.  

I processed this one using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 software, and the "night" kind of effect came from using a strong vignette effect and also a "burn edges" effect which I used the extreme version of. 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback Stephen, much appreciated! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

CHARLES 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback.

It is very gratifying to read that you think this one works! 

It's all a bit experimental at this stage, but a learning process nonetheless.

Best Regards 

Alf.

PATSY 

Not quite night Patsy, but I'm glad it had you fooled : - ) as that is the effect I wanted to achieve!

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

RUUD 

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words. much appreciated! 

The errm "impressive lighting" came from the sun though,

not the moon : - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf 

NEBOJASA

 Thank you! for your visit and positive feedback, very much appreciated! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

LEO

Its very gratifying to read you like this one Leo, you have such a wealth of expertise in processing I'm very flattered! 

Many Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

Beautiful and maybe even a bit lonely image - it's one of those moments I'm sure in which you feel honored just to have witnessed! I feel like that at times, actually very often! Lovely work and beautiful light! Thank you for sharing. :)

Hi Alf,

Moonlight (even full moon light) is a very small fraction of one percent of Sunlight, and your use of it resulted in a very nice dramatic image.

While I am not a proponent of using F/16 with any quality lens, especially short focal length ones, the rocks look good because they are rough  by nature. These rocks are not a high definition source so the image as completed leave a good impression on the viewer.

For myself, I enjoy this image with limited enlargement applied.

Nice presentation my friend, Mike

Alf, This is an impressive image, has a strong feeling to it. I love your POV and the contrast shown in this image.  Love your composition with this scene with the lighter and darker rows leading to the tree. The clouds are perfect for this shot as most of the clouds sort of run the same direction as the rows leading to the tree. Excellent capture and post process.  Best regards,  Sherry

EXCELLENT shot! I love b/w landscapes with a bit surreal feel. Composition is very apt, with leading lines and a single strong anchoring element. I also very agree for pushing any boundary! You did it well. Just, i suggest manipulating red or yellow channels in b/w conversion process in the way getting more bright contrasting and bold tree branches, popping up it in a dark sky background. I also like the heavy vignette in this scene. Bravo.

My best wishes,

Hamid.

I made a statement for a newspaper recently after being featured as I was "Highly Commended" in a competiton.  The statement said something like.  "My appreciation of my eyesight has grown since the first time I picked up a camera"

So yes I do feel honoured to witness and photograph these places, it is an honour and a priviledge that I never take for granted.

I am glad I was able to convey the sense of solitude and wonder and my sincere thanks to you for providing me with such positive feedback!

Best Regards

Alf

MIKE

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful feedback, your imput as always is very well received.

Aperture of F16 is perhaps outside of the parameters that you would consider as being within the areas where "best quality" can be achieved, and I understand that.

But sometimes I do struggle to find a hyperfocal distance that will ensure front to back sharpness, particularly using wider apertures and also particularly when there are close proximity objects as in this case with the rocks. On reflection though maybe f8 would have been a good compromise.

Glad you can still enjoy the aesthetics even though the application of science isn't the best : - )

Cheers Mike!

Alf

SHERRY

These rock formations known locally as "Limestone Pavements" are a great source of photographic subject, and it isn't entirely uncommon to find a single tree emerging from the solid rock.  I think the rock is porous and the trees get a strong foothold and plenty of life giving water. Even though on the face of it, the rocky terrain looks like an inlikely place to sustain life.

I am very pleased you liked the image and the processing, and its great to get your feedback, particularly knowing your love and appreciation of landscapes.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

HAMID

I must admit I do like a touch of the surreal myself, but its good to get feedback in order to get other members perceptions particualrly when its experimental work like this.

I used "Nik Silver Efex Pro 2" again for the processing, so I didn't get involved with the more traditional method of processing through channels.

I take on board your comments though and maybe I'll run a comparison with a more traditionally processed B & W for future reference ............if I ever get enough time : - )

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback Hamid!

Best Regards

Alf

I like a lot the contrasty look of the tree and stones. Graphically it works very well, it certainly is artistic. I am not sure I see it as moonlit but it is dramatic non the less.

Best Regards, Tibi

Maybe I used a bit more poetic licence in the title than than usual, and maybe a more pronounced blue cast woud be more convincing.   But I am pleased you like it.  It doesn't begin to look like how it orginally started out, but its good to experiment.

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

Alf

Hi Alf, I'm speechless!!!!! 7/7

Warm regards,

Luisa Dasilva

A brilliant capture Alf! Love the dramatic flair you added in processing. The dark night sky gives this a sense of being shot at night. Definitely a spectacular location for a tree to grow. Well done sir!

All the best,
Neil

Well suffice to say I am very flattered!

 Thank you so much!

Warm Regards

Alf

NEIL

Many Thanks for your thoughts and positive feedback

All I have to do now is think of a way of making the stars appear : - )

Glad you like this one, it was an experiment that just seemed to work out first time.

Cheers Neil!

Fine art it is ....

Cheers Dolf

Many Thanks for your interest and kind words!

Best Regards

Alf

Wow...and on what planet did you take this picture?? This is amazing, absolutely amazing. The light on the tree is beautiful, vignetting perfect...clouds leading the eye to the horizon, deep shadows...all stunning!

Tim

This was the Planet Malham  : - ) , a hillside near that small town in North Yorkshire, England UK. The rocky terrain you can see, are features known as "Limestone Pavements"  , which, are the results of exposed limestone rock, subjected to thousands of years of erosion through water and ice.

This photo was in fact taken in daylight, albeit late evening. I used much more in the way of processing than I normally do to make it darker.

I am really pleased you like it!

Sincere Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments.

Best Regards

Alf