travel - new zealand Did you ever wish you were a tree?

I was on a trek, without graduate ND filters, on a ridge between two

Sounds in the North Easterly tip of New Zealand southern island. This

scenery called for a choice between lights and shadows, and I decided

to go for the highlights on the water: I liked the way it gave a 3D

feeling -in my viewfinder- to the series of hills.

 

This is what I got straight out of camera. Was the good choice for

shadows and lights, without post-processing in mind?

 

Comments, criticisms and (if you believe in them) rates appreciated.

If I could sit and watch a beautiful scene like this all day, and have not a care in the world (except a pesky squirrel or two trying to hide some nuts in me) I certainly would. Humor aside, what a beautiful scene, I really love the reflection, I think you did a nice job with the exposure. Great work!

Well done with the exposure...I would have gone for the highlights too.
I think composition works well to render the feel of the place.

the dark element is too dominant

Beautiful shot.

 

Regards...

I agree that the exposure was the right choice to capture the layering - seems also that anything more exposed would have blown the light on the water. The colors of the sky do look a little limp / unnatural though - interesting to see what you could get with some post processing.

 

It's hard to get a clear view when you're in trees like this, and I'm often disappointed in similar shots I've tried to take. But I think here you do a nice job of using the foreground to lead the eye down the hill to the water, and setting the scene for trees that line the slopes of the distant hills - in other words, of setting the viewer up in the environment. Best, Jeremy.

I think you've got the right mood underexposing.

The silver water leads the observer through the different layers of mountains.

I just wonder if a closer framing leaving the main tree on the left border could improve.

 

Congrats. Fabio (For the photo and for the trip)

I really liked the subtle shades of the distant mountains and the number of them sticking out really captured my attention.

The glare of the lake/river attracted the most attention to the right place.

 

If there's anything to improve, I'd suggest a different angle to avoid the 2 shrubs/trees that is blocking the view right at the center.

The left large tree is certainly intended to be included by its location in the frame and starts the viewer's journey by indirectly forcing attention towards the silvered water. The water's movement encourages exploration of the tonal differences in the land. The sky falls into place. ( my sense is that increasing the sky's contrast risks detracting from that which caught your eye.)

Your landscapes are extraordinary.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

Salvatore... i wouldnt change a thing in the composition...it all works well. My only advice is to change the black frame with a brighter one.

I wish to thank you all for your appreciation of this image and, most important, your constructive criticism. I've some answers to your considerate comments.

 

As for the middle trees blocking the view of the water, I had almost not taken this shot at all for that reason. There was just a clearing on this ridge from where I could possibly shot, and wherever I would locate myself I would get something cutting the view of the sound... I eventually decided to go for this angle since the trees did not really block the lightest patches of light.

 

As for the tree to the left, I've toyed a lot with the idea of removing it, or removing the space to its left and I did not like the results. The full image would then just be that light on the water, partially blocked by other trees... while I like to have "spectators" in my picutres. Usually humans, but this time I tried to achieve the effect with the tree, as the name puts it all.

 

Actually, what I should remove is the little bit of highlighted water to the bottom right corner...

I've taken the liberty of bringing out the color in the sky and the shadows to the right of the tree to help transition between the FG and background. I, too, was troubled a bit by the interference between trees and water, but I think both changes keep the eye from going right to the area of conflict. Definitely a keeper.

Salvatore, Technically, I agree with many of the comments made above. I think Carl's rendition is a viable option for this image.

 

That said, when I let myself stop considering the technical aspects of this photo and allowed myself to view the scene, my reaction was quite different. It's those dark trees and the merging foreground and middleground that gave me the sense that I had just emerged from a dark wood to be treated to the beautiful, nearly hidden, river scene before me.

How could one not like a tortuous lake between mountains ?

 

I like the composition including the trees, which makes the landscape unflat. The clouds also play the role of the dynamic in the image.

 

Some more contrast is an option, like some cropping, but I think this is not mandatory.

Beautiful image for composition,contrast and light.

Some how I like the sky of the original. The strength of the dark forground, bright middle and gray background all of them are strong enough, and the eye rest on the lighter colors of the sky. I like the soft light at the end to the right, looks like a reflection of the water.

I would have thined only the upper side of the frame( to the half)imo it is some competition.

Beautiful scene.

7/6.

The composition is spot on. Your eye moves up the water and the tree on the left bounces you back to the center. The black frame should have an inner white liner. Picky I guess.

Striking and beautiful silhouette.

the layered mountains and the reflecting water are a real jewel to find through the trees. As we have the diagonal line leading there the dark trees are no misfortune. I also tried to imagine how to crop at the left side, but I guess it takes away from the dynamic created by the water and the sky. I even would leave the frame as is, it's unusual but a bit mystifying, which suits the picture well.

Marvellous...