"Still Standing"

[Chris717]

"Still Standing"

Here's an image from a local park. What do you think of the picture? How could it be improved? Is the background to distracting?

http://www.christyo.com/images/Still_Standing.jpg

[Steven M. Anthony]

Well, you ask some very open-ended questions. What I would do to make this better would depend on what I wanted this picture for. Am I documenting the size of the tree base? Am I trying to show how trees add to the atmosphere of a park? Etc.

Maybe tell us why YOU hoped to accomplish with this photo. What message or feeling do you want viewers to walk away with after seeing this photo?

[Chris717]

When I came across the tree I liked the large base and defined root system of the tree. The title "Still Standing", contributes to the strength and longevity of the tree.

I'm not sure if this is even a good picture, wanted to get some advice before I go out on my next shoot.

[Steven M. Anthony]

If you were trying to get across the feeling of the substantial root base, I would get in closer--maybe fill the frame with the root base. While you might not be capturing what the root base really looks like (i.e., it might not be an accurate representation of the entire root base), it would better convey what that sight FELT like to you.

If you were trying to get across the longevity of the tree, I'm not sure focusing on the roots is the clearest way to communicate that. To me, the height and fullness of a tree relative to others around it tells me how long it's been around. Or if there are some other signs of age, like dated carvings in the trunk...

[SatanJR]

That is a HUUUUUGE tree!!

[Chris717]

Thanks for the comments! That park is difficult to create a good photograph because it’s very run down and not kept up. I think if I took your idea (Steven) and stood closer to the tree and had less background it would have communicated what I was trying to get across better. The next time I find an inspiring subject I will definitely think about what I want to communicate and reflect.

Yeah the tree was pretty big but nothing like I’ve seen in the Sequoia National Forest…I liked the root system and the size, that’s what motivated me to take the photo.

Other than to subject matter….How does this picture look technically? Is the background overexposed? If so, how can I prevent this?

[Steven M. Anthony]

For me, the "technical" aspects of a photo (i.e., whether they are "right" or not) are completely dependent on what the intended communication is. An overexposed foreground or background (or middle ground!) might be just the thing to communicate what the artist wanted to communicate.

You were focusing your interest on the roots/base of the tree. The fact that the background is kind of washed out helps the viewer focus on the roots/base of the tree, too. It tells the viewer not to pay too much attention to the background.

Here is a shot I did a while ago--I love roots, too! This tree is right next to the visitor center at Everglades National Park, in Florida. It is flanked with a coke machine and a gift shop--not what you want in a photo of roots! So I closed in...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/santhony/roots.jpg

[Chris717]

Awesome photograph! I love to the lighting and the rich warm color. Did you use any filters? Or did you use the WB?

Again great photo, you would never know you were within steps of the visitor center. It looks like you were deep in the woods.

Chris

[Steven M. Anthony]

Here's the original. Shot it with a sony 4MP camera (I forget the model). No filters, no wb. But, as you can see, lots of post procesing. I use PaintShop Pro. This was cropped, and then colorized to get the deep brown, then used CURVES to get the "lighting" the way I wanted.

I was going for that "primordial," "Alienesque" look. Being in the evergaldes gives me that feeling--with all those aligators--feels real prehistoric to me.

Anyway, thanks for the comments on my picture. And good luck shooting. Send me an email when you post again (I don't check here too often as I've found most people don't really want a critique), I'd like to see what you are up to next.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/santhony/rootsorig.jpg

[edsarkiss]

you know, i'd LOVE to see a big red coke machine next to those warm, old roots. that would create some tension that makes for an interesting photo. i like what you did with the post-processing of the original file -- makes for a strong image.

as to the original "still standing" photo ... learn how aperture affects depth of field. shooting in the "green rectangle" does not give you control over these things. if you had shot this with a wide-open aperture and were close enough to the big tree, the background would have been blurred enough to not be distracting.

also, i'm not sure if it's possible, but if your subject was the tree and not the bench, get that bench out of there -- at the very least disconnect the two. or put an old person in the bench to add another element of age.

[Chris717]

Thanks for all the comments everyone was very helpful!

[BDM]

That is quite a tree. Perhaps you might find an angle which loses the railing or fence which appears to be behind the tree and leads out of the frame on the left. It is very much in focus and somewhat distracting.

Perhaps you might try a larger lens opening to lose focus in the background. Again, because it is reasonably sharp and much brighter than the main subject, I think it is distracting.

Depending on available sun angles, you might want to try a shot either earlier or later in the day when the sun hits the bark. If the sun angle permits, a bit of side lighting on the trunk would do wonders to increase detail and give it a more "weathered" look which would be in keeping with what you are apparently trying to say.

You might try taking the shot even closer to the ground so the tree appears to be "looming" a bit more. Or perhaps you might get closer to the trunk and tilt the camera down. That would emphasize the base and help de-emphasize the background.

And I would also try using the widest angle lens you have and then maintaining the image size by getting closer to the trunk. That would emphasize the size of the trunk and diminish the background.

Bruce

[stopbath]

> The original posted tree:

The subject is under exposed, and yes the back ground is over exposed.

The subject is rather boring in this photo.

The use of side lighting would bring some snap into the image. Try overcast too...

Getting closer to the base of the tree (we don't need the park) could enable us to see the pattern in the bark, and the lumps from the roots flowing into the trunk.

A lot of potential here, just not made the most of.

Try early morning or late evening for good cross lighting (if it happens to get any sun at those times...)

Get close and if need be, on your belly (close up of the some roots) or back (to get the climbin up the trunk shot...)

[Sailor Don]

Chris717,

Since you are looking for opinions on "Still Standing", I have to agree with stopbath's (from Froggyveinia) evaluation. I'm not so sure about his remedies. I would have to see the results first. :)