The Tree - Critique Required

This shot is directly from the camera without any basic processing. I'd underexposed to capture the sky detail and liked the look of the RAW file. I was originally looking for "Moody" with the image and took several different exposures thinking I'd possibly do a blend.

Most of the advanced processing on the image has been via layers and blending modes within PS and using different opacities to build up the effect. I then converted a copy to black & white to see how a monotone effect would look.

Your constuctive input would be valuable to me on the overall image as it stands.

The sad thing about the processing for these is...after I'd finished, I re-sized them, converted to jpg, saved them as such and forgot to save at the original size, so I only have the original raw file and I'm not sure if I can achieve the same effects as you see here!:o

Nice capture and I like the effects; as far as not saving the PP image, I guess it could serve as a lesson learned and a great opportunity to see if you can master the effect once again: LOL

David,

Always a pleasure to see your work.

I very much like the composition and colors on the first treatment. I do not know if it is blur around the branches, or a jpg artifact, but it seems just a smidgen too much. If it is blur, you might want to think of throttling back some.

Additionally, if this is a crop I would wish that you opened it up a bit on the lower right. I would like to see more of the path as a nice counterpoint to the tree. (The mental image I got was of the tree hunched over like a vulture watching the path for any carrion.) Either that or no path at all. Of course the point is moot if there is some lame road sign just outside of the frame.

But, getting back to the shot - the colors are so lovely and understated that I would hate to loose them. I vote for the color and not the mono.

Rad

The image is full-size, that which looks like a path is actually the bend of the river which runs along side. It's easily cropped out but I certainly like and can visualise your mental image and using it as a counterpoint to the tree.

There was a blur layer added (about 30%) but there is also some Chromatic Aberration which I left on the original raw file. I felt that the red (to the right of the branches) complimented, i.e. as if the light from the clouds was catching/reflecting that side of the branches.

The area which I was more concerned with was the slight blur/shadow around the hills? I'll try again and restrict it to say 10-15% and see what that does.

Thanks for taking the time to make comment, your constructive criticisms are always welcome.

i'm no expert by no means BUT......

i really have enjoyed it. However, i do perfer the black/white to color. it peaks my interest. I want to walk the path/trail. in the end i want more.

I like the color version better, and think the blur is a bit too much. Maybe use a layer mask to eliminate the bur around the branches? The blur on the sky/ground seems nice. But since the tree is the subject, keeping it crisp seems like it might work better.

I love the composition. That's a very nice scene. Good shot.

David, when I first looked at the colour version, I thought it too blurred, but after a few moments I changed my mind, and don't think it excessive. There seems to be some sort of fringing around the hill and tree.
Apart from that it is a lovely, simple composition that appeals. It has a brooding atmosphere that I find very pleasing.

It's obviously had photoshop work done to it, which I am not a fan of. I'd rather see the real scene.